Your Appointment

You will have up to 20 minutes on your first appointment. You are welcome to bring a family member or a friend with you.

During your first appointment we will:

• Ask to look at the questionnaires you have filled in so we can focus on the things you want to talk about
• Spend time listening to you so we can have a better understanding of how pain is affecting you
• Listen to how you have tried to manage your pain so far
• Help you begin to develop a plan that may help with goals that are important to you
• Look at how best to support you in moving forward, through one-to-one review sessions or by discussion with you referral to another member of the Somerset Community Pain Management Service

What happens after the appointment?

A further appointment, if required, will be made by the receptionist on the day or sent to you by post. Any other outcomes/referral to other members of the team will be discussed at that appointment. We will send you a letter outlining what was discussed and a copy will be sent to your Doctor.

What do we know?

• There are rarely any simple explanations for persistent pain or short term solutions
• Pain is unique to each person
• Pain affects many activities people value the most
• Pain does not necessarily mean that your body is ‘damaged’

People tell us about the different ways pain affects their lives. Some of these Include:

• Their occupation or being out of work
• Their social life
• How they feel
• Their relationships with friends and family
• Their activities and hobbies