INTRODUCTION
WHO ARE THE PAIN CLINIC TEAM MEMBERS?
CAN I BRING SOMEONE WITH ME?
Your Doctor or Consultant has referred you
to the NHS Borders Chronic Pain Service.
You most likely have ongoing pain that has
lasted for at least 3 – 6 months and has not
responded to conventional treatments so
far.
Within the Pain Clinic Team there are 3
doctors
who
specialise
in
Pain
Management.
The other team members are:
 Clinical Nurse Specialist
 Clinical Psychologist
 Physiotherapist
 Occupational Therapist
 Team Secretary
Yes, if you wish to bring a relative or friend,
please feel free to do so. If you wish this
person to be with you during any part of
the assessment, you may ask him/her to
join you.
This leaflet aims to give you some
information about the Chronic Pain Service.
However, if you would like further
information you may contact the Pain Clinic
secretary.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON MY FIRST
APPOINTMENT?
You will have many opportunities to ask
questions when you come to see us. We
are also able to direct you to other sources
of information as needed.
This appointment with a doctor will usually
last approximately one hour and is usually in
the
outpatients
department,
Borders
General Hospital.
WHAT IS THE PAIN CLINIC?
Prior to your initial appointment your doctor
will review the questionnaire you have
completed and also review your medical
history. This helps inform the doctor prior to
your appointment.
We are a patient centred service which
views each patient as an individual. We
work with patients on a one to one basis or
in small groups.
We know that living with pain is not an easy
thing to do. We also recognise that each
person’s pain is unique. Pain affects us in
our day to day activities, our roles in life, our
relationships, our mood and our emotions.
A doctor who specialises in Pain
Management will see you at your first
appointment. Then, if appropriate, they will
organise appointments with the other team
members. Each team member will have
key skills that they will bring to your care,
although they may overlap at times.
At this initial consultation you will be asked
about your condition and then, if needed,
you may be examined with movements and
tests.
Following this assessment, the doctor will
discuss with you what they feel are the best
possible options for your condition and what
our service has to offer you.
The doctor may provide you with some
information leaflets to take home with you.
Please read these carefully.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Depending on your condition you may
have to undress to your underwear, so the
doctor can complete a thorough
assessment. It would therefore be helpful
to wear clothing that is easy for you to
remove, or to bring a pair of shorts for
back and lower limb problems. If you feel
uncomfortable about this please discuss
with the doctor.
WHAT TYPES OF TREATMENT ARE
AVAILABLE?
We do offer some ‘medical treatments’
such
as
medications,
acupuncture,
injections and TENS machines. However,
we find that these are best used alongside
a self management approach.
The predominant approach used in
chronic pain clinics is a ‘self-management’
approach.
This
involves
learning
techniques, tools and strategies that can
help you to improve your quality of life
whilst living with chronic pain. It may
include relaxation training, learning to
pace your activities, improving your
confidence and functional ability and
helping you to cope with difficult
emotions.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TREATMENTS
OFFERED?
Following assessment, the doctor will be
able to make a treatment plan. They will
discuss with you what our service has to
offer you and what they feel is the most
appropriate
management
for
your
condition.
You are not compelled to receive any
assessment or treatment you do not want
and always have the right to refuse.
FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS
You may see various members of the Pain
Clinic team; however, this will vary
depending on your needs.
You may also be asked to consider an
intervention option and to contact the Pain
Clinic once you have made a decision. We
ask that you do this within a 4 week period.
CAN I CHANGE MY APPOINTMENT TIME?
It would be helpful if you keep your first
appointment as arranged.
If you are
unable to attend, please contact the
secretary as soon as possible and they will
try to arrange a more suitable time.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS AN APPOINTMENT?
If you are unable to attend either your first or
a follow up appointment, please ring to
reschedule, giving at least 24 hours notice.
CHRONIC PAIN SERVICE
Please note that appointments cancelled at
short notice or appointments missed add to
waiting times and may interrupt your
treatment.
An Information Leaflet
(THE PAIN CLINIC)
Should you fail to attend one appointment
you will be sent a letter requesting you to
contact the Secretary to reschedule.
If you are expecting an appointment or
further interventions and have not heard
from the Pain Clinic, we ask that you ring the
secretary as soon as possible.
If we do not hear from you within 2 weeks,
we can only assume that you no longer wish
to be seen and will discharge you back to
the care of your doctor. This will also occur
if you miss more than 2 appointments with
our service and we do not hear from you.
STUDENTS
CANCELLATION OF APPOINTMENTS
NHS Borders is proud to be a training facility
and sometimes students will accompany a
clinician. If you do not wish a student to be
present please make this known to the
clinician.
If, due to unforeseen circumstances, your
appointment needs to be cancelled every
effort will be made to contact you. If your
contact details change it is important that
you contact the team secretary as soon as
possible.
Anaesthetics Department
Borders General Hospital
Melrose
TD69BS
Tel: (01896) 826323
For a copy of this leaflet in

Another language

Audiotape
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
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Telephone us on 01896 826 323