Painkillers and Opioid Awareness

A recent study found that between a third and half the population of the UK, around 28 million adults, are living with persistent pain. But we know most medicines for long-term pain, only benefit around 1 in 4 people and on average only provide a 30% reduction in pain.

Living with and managing persistent pain, every single day can be exhausting. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t a medication that will remove all pain. Taking long-term opioid pain medication in the hope it will relieve most of the pain is not the answer.

Opioids can often cause more problems than they resolve when taken for longer than three months. Why? Because the way our bodies react to pain medication changes over time. Regular, high-dose prescribed pain medication may be adversely affecting your life more than the pain itself!

Pain medications are not the only option to managing pain. Gentle exercise, physiotherapy, yoga, meditation, improved sleep, mindset and many other elements will contribute to your overall physical and mental well-being.

If you are worried or would like to discuss your current pain medication prescription and how to manages persistent pain more effectively, please book a pain review with a pharmacist or GP at our practice. We are here to support you. Tapering or stopping your current prescription should only be done with management of a healthcare professional.

If you’re worried that you or someone you know could be dependent on pain medication, visit Help and support resources - Painkillers Don't Exist.

In this page, we have collated a number of resources you may find interesting and helpful.

Circle Integrated Health have a range of services aimed at helping patients to manage persistent pain to which patients can self-refer or be referred by their GP.
These services are provided by a team of specialists including physiotherapists, osteopaths, nurses and clinical psychologists who can support via a range of services

• The Circle Integrated Care pain management programme - a multi-disciplinary team approach including pain education, psychology, and physical strategies for managing pain.
• Pain Nurse Appointments - The pain nurse team can offer medication reviews to optimise pain medications. This in some cases can often mean reducing the number of medications which are not reducing pain symptoms but may have unwanted side-effects.
• Pathway through Pain is an online Pain Management Programme (PMP) - This digital PMP allows patients the flexibility to follow the course at convenient times and at a pace that suits them. This course has empowered people to do more, feel better, and reduce the intensity of their pain.
• Other services - such as psychology support, physiotherapy, basic skills training, and self-help is also offered

• Adult Community Mental Health Services
  Patients who are high risk or have severe depression and/or anxiety should be referred to the Adult Community Mental Health Services: Tel: 0800 6444 101; Email: hpft.spa@nhs.net

• Talking Therapy Services (IAPT)
  • Symptoms of mild to moderate depression/anxiety and chronic pain
  • CBT approach/pacing
  • Patients can self-refer via the website or be referred by GP
  • Patients must be registered with a Hertfordshire or West Essex GP
  • List of GPs provided on the Hertfordshire and Mid Essex Talking Therapies homepage.

• New Leaf College - New Leaf Recovery and Wellbeing College offer a series of courses aimed at supporting personal recovery. The courses help build on people’s capabilities, increase knowledge and skills and offer hope, opportunities and the tools for students to self-manage and take control.