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.

Getting ready for Christmas - don't forget the medicines cabinet

In case you hadn't noticed, Christmas is coming!!! Are you ready yet?

Most of us will have the luxury of some time off with friends and family. Maybe you have a houseful of relatives (soem more welcome than others?!) or perhaps you are heading off to spend time with others. Either way, I am sure you will be making lists and buying extra provisions. Have you remembered to check your medicine cabinet as well?

A well stocked medicine cabinet will help you care for yourself and your family in the early stages of illness. Even if you have to phone NHS24 for advice when your GP surgery is closed over the festive period, they will quite often advise you to use medicines you should have at home.
Most families in the UK lack basic medicine cabinet supplies and knowledge needed to treat minor illnesses that can be easily dealt with at home, reveals a new survey of GPs, accoring to the Self Care Forum

So what should be in your medicine cabinet?

Barnton Pharmacy can help you
restock your medicine cabinet



• First-aid kit including guidebook, plasters, bandages, thermometer, eyewash solution, medical tape, tweezers, sterile dressing, antiseptic lotion/cream
• Painkillers – ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin
• Cold and flu remedies
• Anti-diarrhoea medicine
• Antihistamines
• Oral rehydration salts
• Indigestion remedies
• Children's medicines including paracetamol suspension and an antihistamine.
• Sunscreen (maybe not needed right now, but will you remember to buy it nearer the spring?)

It is also recommended that every household should ahve a healthcare guide. NHS inform offers loads of great advice about minor illnesses and how to treat them, and would be a great place to start.

Barnton Pharmacy will be closed on 25th and 26th December and again on 1st and 2nd January. Come and see us when we are open and we can advise you as to what you may need to get your medicine cabinet ready for the festive period.