Chronic Pain: Help with self management.

This month's topic for our public health campaign is chronic pain. the campaign started this week in association with Pain Concern , Pain Association Scotland, Health Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Government.
Chronic pain affects about 20% of the population with 7% of those affected having pain which is severely disabling. This sort of pain affects every aspect of life and can be very complex to manage. The main aim of this campaign to to shift the emphasis from curing chronic pain to learning how to manage your pain so that you can live life to the full.

Drugs are only part of the solution.

At Barnton Pharmacy we are delighted to talk to you about your pain medication, to make sure you are getting the most out of it and not having any adverse effects.
In particular we can help with:

• The best times to take your medicines to fit in with your lifestyle.
• How to manage any side effects
• Offering sign posting to some of the other support services available.

We are also highlighting some brilliant web resources:

• The Managed Knowledge Network website on chronic pain contains masses of information on pain and also links to different pain support groups.
• Pain Concern provides information and support through leaflets, a magazine and an online forum. you can also download a series of podcasts bringing together people living with pain and top pain specialists to talk about resources which can help.
• Pain Association Scotland provide a network of professionally led self management training groups throughout Scotland. The groups follow a programme of self management topics that helps to build skills and understanding.

How to take charge of your pain

Probably unsurprising that the most common complaint we get asked for advice about is pain and painkillers for pain!

Getting the right painkillers is not as straightforward as picking the one you like the sound of or the one you saw advertised on the telly last night.
You will get the most from a painkiller if you take the right one for your pain and take it at the right times.
Paracetamol based painkillers (including paracetamol and co-codamol) are great for mechanical pain, general aches and pains and fevers. Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs are great if your pain is caused by inflammation such as sprains and strains.
We often recommend taking the two in combination. The table below details the best way to do this:

If you have any questions about your pain, how to live with chronic pain or how to get the best from your medications, please ask at Barnton Pharmacy. We can also refer you on the a range of other healthcare professionals who can help you manage your pain.