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Persistent Musculoskeletal (MSK) Pain Support
This service supports adults living with persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain.
MSK pain affects muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, tendons and the spine. This includes ongoing back pain, neck pain, joint pain and widespread musculoskeletal pain that has persisted for more than three months.
Is This Service Right for Me?
This service may be suitable if you:
- Have ongoing pain affecting your muscles, joints or spine.
- Have been experiencing pain for more than three months.
- Would like support to better understand and manage your pain.
- Want to improve your confidence, activity levels and quality of life.
Living with ongoing pain can be challenging, but there is support available to help you understand your pain, build confidence, and find ways to manage day-to-day activities.
What is Persistent Pain?
Persistent pain is pain that continues beyond the normal healing time, usually for more than three months. It can affect many areas of life, including work, sleep, mood, physical activity and relationships.
The Persistent Pain Service works with people experiencing persistent MSK pain to help them better understand their condition and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage it effectively.
How Persistent Pain Service Can Help
Persistent pain can affect many aspects of daily life, including physical activity, work, sleep, relationships and emotional wellbeing.
The Persistent Pain Service uses a personalised approach to help people better understand and manage their pain. Support may include education, self-management strategies, pacing activities, goal setting, and where appropriate, access to specialist clinicians with expertise in persistent pain management The overall aim is to help you improve your confidence, function and quality of life, even if the pain does not completely go away.
Learn more about Persistent Pain
How Can I Access Support?
There are two ways to access musculoskeletal (MSK) services:
- Referral from a Healthcare Professional: Your GP or another healthcare professional can refer you using the standard MSK referral form.
- Self-Referral: You can also refer yourself directly through the MSK Self-Referral Service.
Helpful Resources While You Wait
You do not need to wait for your appointment to start learning more about managing persistent pain. The following resources may help.
getUBetter
Free NHS digital self-management app for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Provides personalised advice, exercises, recovery plans and local support. Particularly useful for patients who are waiting for assessment or treatment and wish to actively self-manage their condition
Live Well With Pain – Ten Footsteps to Living Well with Pain
A practical self-management resource for people living with persistent pain. Covers topics such as pacing, goal setting, sleep, movement, flare-ups and wellbeing to help patients live well despite ongoing pain.
Flippin' Pain – Understanding Pain
Evidence-based pain education resource that explains how pain works and aims to improve understanding of persistent pain.
Tame the Beast
A simple and engaging resource that explains the science of pain and how changes in the nervous system can influence the pain experience.
Living Well Programme
Free 6-week self-management programme for people living with long-term health conditions, including persistent pain. Covers symptom management, goal setting, problem solving, sleep, physical activity, stress and wellbeing. Available online and in-person via self-referral
Need More Information?
If you are unsure whether the service is right for you, please speak to your GP or healthcare professional, or contact the MSK service for advice
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