Occupational Therapists within the Persistent Pain Service focus on what is important to you to live a fulfilling and satisfying life, whilst living with persistent pain. Working together to form a tailor-made plan can help you identify what matters to you and how best to achieve your goals.
Many associate the term ‘occupation’ as being directly related to employment. However, ‘occupation’ extends beyond this to include everything a person does to occupy himself or herself, including productive roles, self-care and leisure pursuits. An individual’s ability to engage in occupations that are meaningful to them is the domain of Occupational Therapy.
‘Occupational Therapists will consider all of your needs – physical, psychological, social and environmental. Their support can make a real difference giving a renewed sense of purpose, opening up new horizons, and changing the way you feel about the future’ (College of Occupational Therapy, 2020).
Persistent pain can affect our ability to engage in meaningful everyday occupations. This includes day-to-day routine tasks, as well as valued and enjoyable activities. Occupational therapists can assess what specific difficulties you are having in carrying out daily activities and identify which activities you most value. Using a supported self-management approach, Occupational Therapists aim to support you to manage your pain and engage in the occupations that are meaningful to you.
Some of the supported self-management techniques and strategies Occupational Therapists deliver include value-based goal setting, activity management such as pacing, fatigue management, improving quality of sleep and mindfulness relaxation. The evidence-based approaches used supports pain management and can improve confidence and ability to engage in activities. This is considered key to living well with pain and improving quality of life.
Follow this link to the Pain Management Programme web page.
To go back to the Persistent Pain Service web section, please follow this link.
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.