Neuroscience focuses upon the brain. Neuroscience has shown us that the brain is involved with pain. Consequently the brain has been blamed for pain, the unpleasant motivator that is designed to grab our attention and enforce action that protects us from a threat, actual or potential. Recent thinking that sensibly gathers paradigms from both neuroscience […]
Fibromyalgia — creating conditions for change
May 8, 2014 By
Pain and symptoms can and do change. They can change moment to moment and day to day, but if you suffer persisting symptoms, all of the variations can blend into a long physical and mental struggle. Striving for change needs understanding, motivation, resilience and a plan of how to reach your goals. Fibromyalgia is biology […]
When do we seek help for our pain?
April 25, 2014 By
When do we seek help? I am interested in the point at which an individual decides that they need help. The timeline varies enormously from the initial feeling of pain to years of discomfort that finally become intolerable or limiting. Each person will have their own view that is grooved by prior experiences, culture, beliefs […]
An ode to the receptionist
April 22, 2014 By
I once had a conversation with a member of staff who told me that she was ‘just a receptionist’. Anyone who has considered the patient journey will realise that this statement is untrue. There is no ‘just’. There are important people involved with the patient’s experience from the start, and usually the receptionist is the […]
Pain – the unseen force
March 4, 2014 By
“Do we see the hundred-thousandth part of what exists? Look, here is the wind, which is the strongest force in nature, which knocks men down, destroys buildings, uproots trees, whips the sea up into mountains of water, destroys cliffs, and throws great ships onto the shoals; here is the wind that kills, whistles, groans, howls–have […]
Too many cases of “I can’t” — the effects of persisting pain
January 8, 2014 By
Frequently patients tell me at the first meeting that they cannot do x, y and z. Naturally, when something hurts we avoid that activity or action because pain is unpleasant. It hurts physically and mentally. In the acute stages of an injury or condition, it is wise to be protective as this is a key […]
Hypermobility – Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and gastrointestinal problems
January 7, 2014 By
Hypermobility is common and is certainly a feature that we often see in patients at the clinics. Some patients have been diagnosed with hypermobility but do not know what it really means and need clarification, some are suffering aches and pains that are limiting and troublesome and still others visit with chronic pain and hypermobility […]
Humanising the patient journey
January 1, 2014 By
Modern healthcare features innumerable methods of technical investigation such as the MRI scan, blood tests and nerve conduction tests. All provide detailed information about structures and physiology state yet none tells us about the person, the human being. Many people will undergo tests and often this is necessary to determine whether there is a serious […]
Mindfulness programme
January 1, 2014 By
Mindfulness commonly forms part of a comprehensive treatment and training programme for pain, anxiety and stress. The origins of the practice stem from many years ago but in a modern sense, mindfulness is mind training that is akin to physical training used to improve fitness. A great deal of time is dedicated to physical activity […]
Low back pain & neck pain | a very common problem
December 19, 2013 By
Most of us will experience low back pain and neck pain at some point in our lives. In fact, it is unusual not to have some aches and pains around the spine. With back and neck pain being so common in the modern world, you would assume that treatment is very effective. Sadly not. There […]