Research has shown that attending a pain management programme can help reduce the disability and distress associated with chronic pain. A pain management programme will not cure pain, but can help people to manage the difficulties that living with persistent pain can bring.
We routinely measure clinical outcomes which show that people who attend the programme improve their physical abilities, are less depressed and anxious, have less pain overall, and are more confident in their ability to cope with ongoing pain.
If you would like to be considered for the programme, you will need to ask your doctor to refer you to COPE. We will then invite you to the introductory pain education programme. After this, you will need to telephone COPE and arrange a multidisciplinary assessment appointment with the team. The telephone number can be found on the COPE homepage.
You will attend a two hour multidisciplinary assessment, with a psychologist, nurse and physiotherapist. If the programme is considered suitable for you, a choice of possible course dates will then be offered. Alternatively, if the programme does not appear to best suit your needs a member of the team will contact you to discuss what other services may be appropriate.
It is expected that you will take away pain management strategies and continue to practise your pain management after the programme. There are three follow-up appointments over the next year to support you with this. At times people have setbacks, or need some further advice to get back on track and therefore there is ongoing telephone support available.
