I have finished the challenging pain course.

dreamdaisy

Today was the second and final part of the course. The topics we covered included distraction and visualisation techniques, improving one's communication with friends, family and doctors, how to turn a negative thought cycle into a positive one and the role of medication and complementary therapies. I won't go into huge detail (I am tired) but the distraction technique is worth a mention.

We were asked to sit in a relaxed position, concentrate on what was hurting most and focus on that pain for thirty seconds. I did. It hurt and the pain appeared to worsen.

We were then told to imagine we had won a competition that meant we had £10,000 to spend per week for a year - how would we do it? We were told to focus on that for thirty seconds, we did and the time flew by. Not only did it fly by, the pain lessened/diminished and we were actually given forty five seconds to focus on the more enjoyable and positive thoughts. It is amazing how the power of one's mind can affect one's perception - divert your mind and pain eases.

So, am I pleased I did the course? Yes, it has given me a useful reminder about helpful techiniques I had forgotten about, or don't use enough. It also gave me some other ideas about how to cope with not only short-term aims but long-term goals too. It has left me feeling more able to take some form of control over my pain and NOT let it dominate everything. I would recommend this course to anyone, expecially if you are in the early stages of coping with arthritis. This is a condition that rarely eases, it is a progressive, deteriorating health condition and we need all kinds of things in our various armouries to help us cope. Join your local AC branch (if you have one) and keep your eyes open for news about courses in your area. I really want to do the six week one now. I know a lot about this dross but I don't know everything. I want to develop my knowledge and I hope I am able to get the chance to do just that.

I don't know if they ever look in on here but I would like to extend my thanks to the two volunteers who ran the course, Chris and Jane. Thank you both for all your help. (Chris, I think I called you Colin by mistake, I am so sorry. :oops: ) DD

stickywicket

Hey, good for you, DD. You got there, challenged the old enemy and now have a whole arsenal of defences at your disposal. I'm so pleased it helped and, I'm sure, will continue to help. Great stuff.

tjt6768

Hi hun. I'm glad that you found it beneficial.. I hope that the techniques you've learned will be a big help for you.

Please make sure that you rest up now, I know that eben getting somewhere can be rather tiring & painful...

Thanks for the update. Short msg, hands hurty Too much tappity type type today :roll:

julie47

DD this is the 3rd time I have typed this. I keep getting thrown out and having to log in again. :x

I am glad that you managed to get to the course and I am pleased that it has refreshed some Ideas on how you can help manage your pain.

Thank you for updating us and I hope you are now resting

Take care
Juliepf x

Poppyg1rl

Well done DD on finishing the course, I know how much of a struggle it is to go places when you're aching and sore.
For me, one and half years into PA, it is to good to hear about distraction/visualisation techniques as a weapon against pain, when I thought about what you said re imagine you've won some money/what would you do with it etc I understood how that would work. It is something I will try myself, thankyou DD for passing that on
Much love and hugs Xxx

madwestie

DD I am glad you enjoyed the course. it is amazing what you can do to help with pain and possible not even realise.
When i get really bad heads (the OA in my neck joining in the game) I try to force myself ot read a good book and it does seem to help know i never knew why it helped and now you have made it clear Distraction i hadn't thought of it that way.

I hope you manage to get ont he 6 week course we will all learn with you.. thanks for sharing the info with us

Tracey

barbara12

Hi DD
Thanks for sharing that, no wonder you are tired, I do hope it will help you, like you say the 6 weeks one should be better.
Its a long time ago now, but my father did something similar when he went to the hospice once a week, it was really strange watching the changes has he distracted himself from the pain.
Good luck with it all.

ichabod6

Hello dd,

Glad you enjoyed and got benefit from the Challenging Pain
course. If you cant get on an ac challenging arthritis course
go for the epp generic course. The courses are about 95%
similar with the ac course putting a little more emphasis un
physical exercise. There are far more epp courses about than
ac.

constable

I am so pleased for you that you bought something away with you from this course. I shall try and find my local one and see if they intend to do one. Thankyou for keeping us informed DD It has been really interesting.


Karen xx

hileena111

Hi DD....glad you got something out of it. We were having a talk at our branch meeting tonight about pain.....and she was doing the distracting courses........Its wonderful how your mind can work and distract you like that. Did they my any chance do the "sucking lemon" one.....cloose your eyes, relax, imagine you can smell a lemon etc etc then imagine you bite into it......she asked how many peoples mouth watered when they imagined this.....and it was the majority.....how can your mouth water when its only something you are visualising
It was said before if they cant take you on the AC challenging arthritis course.....try for the expert patients course....its almost identical.....Have you put your name down for an AC challenging course? Its worth it

Love
Hileena

dreamdaisy

Yup, they did the lemon - I grimaced as there was no mention of either tonic or gin. Who in their right mind would have lemon sans those? DD

hileena111

Well I'm off to bed now....hear you all in the morning


Love
Hileena

woodbon

Hello, You seem to have had a very busy day, but worthwhile all the same and I'm glad and hope that you can practice it now, especially when you have really bad days. It's amazing how tiring it can be just listening and learning on a good, well filled course. I'm glad you found it helpful, though. Have a good nights rest and a rest tomorrow as well! Love Sue

mp1952

That's very interesting DD. So glad that you have got some benefit from it. I am really keen to go on one myself but can t find on locally.

I haven't been on the forum recently but will be back on a regular basis next week!

Marion x

traluvie

Hi DD,

I enjoyed reading your post and am going to try the technique you learnt, i do something along those lines when i am in bad pain, but will try and see how i get on..
I am pleased it went well for you and i hope the techniques will be beneficial to you.
Would be very interested myself in doing something similar, will have to do some investigating and see if there is anything local..