Owen Hughes's activity

In group: Mental health and persistent pain

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    Owen Hughes posted an update in the group Mental health and persistent pain 5 years, 5 months ago

    Hi, I am a psychologist leading a pain and fatigue service in rural mid Wales. My career as a pain management professional started over 20 year ago and, somewhat ironically, I have since developed a persistent pain problem of my own. I have worked with individuals in a variety of ways from one to one, community based pain management programmes to residential programmes and am now a member of the Welsg Govt’s Persistent Pain Framework group and Chair the implementation group for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. I have read the outputs of the first research workshop with interest and am glad to see that biological, psychological and social elements were discussed. One thing I would like to add though is the importance of normalizing the responses have to pain and indeed the development of pain problems themselves. Developing a persistent pain problem often comes with a lot of losses (health, self confidence, job and friendships) and as human beings we react to loss by grieving so many of the symptoms of mental ill health are a part of us adjusting to a change in our health circumstances.
    There is also a growing literature that the (some of the) changes in nervous system functioning that typify persistent pain problems can be understood by reactions to chronic stress either as children or adults. My view is that the key is to help people understand this process and give them the skills to work through the process of living with the condition and making the best of life in spite of it. There are many highly effective approaches that have been developed out there to help and they don’t come in needles or tablet form.

    • Profile picture of Adrian McGregor
      Adrian McGregor replied 5 years, 5 months ago

      Hi Owen,great read. Yes agree on the advancement of the BPS model in relation to persistent pain. After being injured and developing persistent pain I went to many ‘experts’ who willingly treated be in an MSK/biological modality. I only lighter discovered that my symptoms were more likely to be helped by looking into the ‘psychological ‘ and ‘social’ domains. I have live a fun packed life, probably living and working predominantly in the sympathetic mode and rarely hitting the ‘snooze’ button. The people I saw unfortunately used language that painted an MSK problem and that I should protect and strengthen my weak/damaged/degenerative lower back. They lacked the skills to delve into other basic health care advice and to teach me ‘self efficacy’ and ‘self management ‘. My own resilience helped to navigate this myself.

    • Profile picture of Anindita Ghosh
      Anindita Ghosh replied 5 years, 5 months ago

      Hi both,
      Thanks for sharing Adrian, language and terminology really came through, and the need to be able to have those conversations. As you highlight, many people have to learn to develop their own understanding and resilience to navigate their symptoms and conditions.

      It definitely came through from both people living with it and also from people working in health and social care.

      Owen – do share any specific examples, it would be great to hear how this approach works in practice, something we’re looking at in the next part of our research.

      Thanks,
      Anindita

    • Profile picture of Sonal Mehta
      Sonal Mehta replied 5 years, 4 months ago

      This is the really exciting bit of it for me as self-efficacy/self-care/resilience/self-management are skills that can be transferred to so many other areas of a person’s life that may also be having an impact on health and wellbeing. The idea that someone is not defined by a diagnosis or an experience and can continuously build knowledge & skills and feel empowered to live well (whatever that might mean to them) is really powerful.