Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2013 | Page 99

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

CHRONIC PAIN:
support is at hand
for all sufferers
Chronic pain changes the way we live
our lives. It can lead to depression,
isolation and can be so debilitating;
making life unbearable at times.
However, a non-profit making
service user group has now been set
up on the Island to help sufferers of
chronic pain, which is deemed pain
that lasts longer than it normally takes
for an injury to heal, or when the pain
has exceeded three months.
The Chronic Pain Support Group is
run by patients who are suffering with
long term chronic pain conditions
like arthritis, fibromyalgia and back
pain. Members are sometimes referred
by their local GP or hospital, or may
have joined from another patient run
group. The aims within the Group are
to support one another; learn coping
methods; practice gentle movements
and perform relaxation methods.
The Group also has Pathways to
other services like Chronic Pain
Service, Pain Management Programme
and other community groups who
specialise in different pain conditions.

Group member Sharon Legg said: “It
is important for us all to realise that
chronic pain is a long-term condition
and together we can help each other.
We want to see people smile when
they achieve something they thought
was impossible – and they will.
“Chronic pain is depressing and
debilitating and we understand. It’s
OK to feel down.
We will always be there to offer a
friendly shoulder to lay troubles upon
when they get that bad. Hopefully
meeting like-minded people will help
others to feel better about themselves.
“Above all we want to raise
awareness of all long term chronic
pain conditions on the Isle of
Wight. We were given a grant at the
beginning of the year from the NHS
Clinical Commissioning group and
Community Action group both on the
Isle of Wight, which has been a great
help in setting up the support group.
“We have used funds to buy
equipment for the gentle movements
- CDs to help with relaxation, a

laptop to do research into chronic
pain and to help anyone who does not
have access to a computer. Also some
funding has gone towards running a
website, stationary and setting up our
second meeting place.”
The Chronic Pain Support Group
meets every Tuesday from 4.0pm to
6.0pm at Red Cross Centre, East
Cowes and the last Friday of every
month from 10.30am to 12.30pm
at Downside Community Centre,
Newport. So if any Islander is feeling
alone with their pain, they are invited
to go along and get some help and
friendship with people who fully
understand the worries and problems
of the condition.
Refreshments are available for a
suggested donation.
For further information contact:
07931473920 or 07773209888
(10.0am to 5.0pm). Email: iowpain@
hotmail.com Website: www.iowcpsg.
co.uk The Group is also on Facebook.

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