Carron Clark
After being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in my right arm in 2002 I was distraught, despite having to put up with the discomfort of a torn cartilage for 2 years previous to that! I was 15 years old and had already missed out on the start of my GCSEs… more...

Sharon Lawson
For the last ten years, I have endured chronic pain from left-sided spasticity following a brain haemorrhage and fibromyalgia. It began when I was twenty years old and life since then has been a constant physical and emotional battle. Friends slowly disappeared; I lost my much-loved job and eventually even the will to live. Life ahead seemed a black nothing. more...

Michael Collins
My name is Mick and I developed chronic pain due to a series of episodes of slipped discs in my lower back. The pain is usually confined to my lower back, but can extend to both arms, legs, neck, and shoulders, as well as pins and needles in my hands and feet. I also suffer from anxiety and occasionally, panic attacks. more...

Pete Moore
My story is very typical of that of a pain patient. I was, like many pain patients looking for that magic bullet to take away the pain. Managing my pain was like playing a game of snakes and ladders – a game of luck. Most days melted into the next and I have a very poor pain self manager. I did not exercise or generally look after my body, I ate all the wrong foods and when something went wrong with it, I expected the doctor to fix me. more...

John Buchanan
INPUT, St Thomas’ Hospital, London. “Escaping the Spiral of Doom” By John Buchanan more...

John Buchanan Continued
“Escaping the Spiral of Doom” more...

Vicki Harding- Physiotherapist at INPUT
'A Pacing Story' Vicki Harding, a Physiotherapist at INPUT recalls who memories of a real life pacing experience more...

Charles Bush
Even with our well earned stripes, when it comes to understanding the importance of pacing, we are all guilty of perhaps wanting to slip back into old habits. more...

Julia Maguire
I went to INPUT in September/October 2010, and one of the ‘action plans’ I left with was to work towards a goal of being able to travel and go on holidays again. I hadn’t had a holiday since April 2009 and I found travelling any further than about a 40 minute car journey gave me massive flare ups in pain. I decided to give the pacing approach a go and see if it helped. more...

Charles Bush
The Secret is in the Stars Words seem inadequate really to describe what INPUT, Life After INPUT and the emergence of PPIP has given to my quality of life. Though it has been many a year since I originally attended the hallowed halls of St Thomas Hospital, the understandings, learning’s and techniques I gained have set me in good stead and were the foundation stones to rebuilding my life. Each of us deals with our pain, thoughts & feelings uniquely, so felt it right to share one of mine, prompted from the ‘Leaves on a stream’ article in PPIP Newsletter, issue 9. more...

Ex INPUT Patient
An ex-INPUT patient kindly wrote of her experiences with bringing up children with a serious pain problem for a book produced for physiotherapists.  She had experienced many years ago the terrible effects of being allergic to myodil myelograms that some people unfortunately suffered.  She had had 2.The book is still in print but we thought PPIP members would be interested in her experiences. more...

Peter Read
What follows is a very personal and subjective view that explores the experience, examines some of the reactions and frustrations together with offering explanations and directions for those who suffer chronic pain. It is also hoped that maybe the article will offer an element of encouragement for the future and confirmation that, as in my case, relief is possible and perseverance is essential. more...

Jenny Parkes
'Next Step' - A New Job! more...

Vicki Harding, INPUT physiotherapist
Sit or squat? Lessons from other cultures - From my travels around the world in connection with attending and contributing to numerous international physiotherapy and pain symposia, I have noticed that the practice in some cultures of squatting rather than sitting just might have real health benefits... more...