Chronic Pain Service

There are a number of ways you can help manage the emotional and physical aspects of persistent pain. Some recommended coping strategies would be relaxation, mindfulness, exercise and pacing. More detail for these strategies can be found in the link below for Astley Ainslie Hospital (AAH).

There are two main pain management programmes run within Lothian:

West Lothian

A local 6 week physio-led pain management programme lasting approx. 2.5 hours per session with a 15 min tea/coffee break. Physiotherapists specially trained in pain management facilitate learning of useful strategies to help you manage your pain.

This includes:

• Helping you understand your pain
• Ways to manage your pain
• Relaxation
• Pacing your activities
• The role of exercise
• Posture and movement
• Mood and pain
• Stress and pain
• Managing flare ups.

This is carried out in a group setting with usually 6-10 patients. The classes include a movement and/or tai chi exercise component.

How to access programme:

Ask your GP to refer you to your local physiotherapy department for pain management or if you are already attending physiotherapy, ask your physiotherapist to make this referral for you.

Astley Ainslie Hospital (AAH)

• Visit the Pain Management section of the NHS Lothian website (opens new window)