What does the service offer?
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