If you find medication or physiotherapy have not helped to relieve your pain, there are some other approaches you can try.
Pain clinics and pain management programmes
Pain clinics and pain management programmes can help you find ways to manage your pain in the longer-term to improve your quality of life. If you are in pain despite initial treatment, and it’s causing you distress or significantly limiting what you’re able to do, ask your GP to refer you to a pain clinic.
Pain clinics provide different treatments and advice to help you manage your pain. The kinds of treatment available from pain clinics vary across the UK.
Some pain clinics run pain management programmes. They use psychological and practical methods to deal with managing your pain and the effect it has on your life. These programmes usually run over several weeks. They are often in group sessions and may be offered in person or online.
Doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists may be involved. For example, a physiotherapist might help you work on physical difficulties the pain causes. A psychologist might help you manage the emotional effects pain can have, such as depression and frustration. You may learn skills such as pacing and planning activities, goal-setting and improving sleep habits, to help you better manage your pain.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
TENS treatment uses electrical impulses to reduce some types of pain, such as musculoskeletal pain. Sticky pads are attached to your skin and linked to electrodes, which are attached to a battery-operated machine. Electrical impulses are then sent through the electrodes onto your skin. These impulses can help to block the pain signals from travelling along the nerve pathways to your brain. At a low frequency, TENS may help your body to release natural painkillers called endorphins.
There is not enough evidence to say definitively whether TENS is an effective and reliable way of reducing pain. It may provide temporary pain relief with no side effects, other than possible skin redness. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with a TENS machine and check with a healthcare professional if you’re not sure if TENS is suitable for you.
It is not usually suitable if you have a pacemaker, electrical or metal implants, heart problems or epilepsy. It should not be used in pregnancy without seeking advice from a healthcare professional first
Complementary therapies
Although there is limited evidence on using complementary therapies after stroke, it’s possible that massage or acupuncture and relaxation techniques like yoga may be helpful. Some pain management programmes may provide sessions with relaxation techniques, such as meditation.