Pain Rehabilitation for Adults
BCPS offers a range of interventions for people with chronic pain. All people referred to BCPS are carefully assessed to determine which is the most appropriate intervention for them.
Assessment
Assessments are carried out by a Doctor trained and experienced in adult or paediatric chronic pain and a Clinical Psychologist specialising in chronic pain. A full medical history is taken to ensure that the patient is medically appropriate for a pain rehabilitation intervention.
For highly complex cases where physical disability is significant, a Clinical Specialist Occupational or Physiotherapist or Clinical Nurse Specialist may be involved, as appropriate.
The assessment includes pain education and information about intervention options. It is a therapeutic intervention in its own right.
The Clinicians assess carefully and thoroughly to ensure individuals are offered the most suitable intervention to yield the best clinical outcome.
Currently all assessments take place online.
Treatment Model
Our treatment programmes use an Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Model. This has been sanctioned by the American Pain Society (2010) as having strong evidence in the treatment of chronic pain. ACT has developed from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and has been shown to provide a good outcome for patients where the outcome for CBT has been poor or failed. The interventions provided by BCPS are, therefore, appropriate for people previously treated by an outpatient pain management programme.
All interventions are designed to reduce the impact of pain on a person’s life and to reduce the pain associated disability.
Residential Pain Rehabilitation Intervention
BCPS provides residential group based pain management intervention. Up to 10 adults are treated in the group. The same group work together throughout the intervention, new group members do not join. This means that the group provides good clinical opportunities, a social and supportive space.
Some people receive 15 days of treatment others 20 days of treatment. This means that the group programme can be tailored to meet the needs of each individual. Group members are encouraged to go home at weekends but due to distances travelled many stay in Bath.
Group members are accommodated on our purpose built hospital site. Click here for more information about our accommodation and food.
These groups are appropriate for adults with long-standing pain associated disability that has not been responsive to secondary treatment interventions and who have:
- Moderate to high levels of pain associated disability
- Low mood
- High anxiety
- Reduced activity and fitness
- Low levels of daily activity
- Use pain medication for pain and often mood
- Have had previous pain treatments
- May have mental health needs
- Able to self-care in residential accommodation
To watch an interview with a past programme completer explaining her experience of the assessment process and the programme, please click here
Young Adult programme
BCPS runs specific, three week programmes for Young Adults (approx. 18-25 years). We have long understood that people of this age have specific needs that are not well met by either children's services, or standard adult services (where mean ages are 40s - 50s+). Often, young people develop pain in adolescence, but paediatric pain services remain patchy and the transition to adult pain services can be difficult. Thus, Young People are often still struggling in the post-18 phase, and can be more dependent on their parents than their healthy peers.
We created the UK's first dedicated Young Adult service to meet this need, based on our unique experience of treating both adults, and children in the family context. Our three-week Young Adult programmes are similar to the adult programmes described here, but specifically focus on the skills needed to allow Young Adults to thrive independently outside of the family home. We offer enhanced support and inclusion for parents on these programmes, where appropriate. Numbers are usually smaller than standard adult programmes, to allow for potential parent involvement.
Programme Day
The programme day starts at 9 am and finishes at around 4.30 pm. The programme goes at a steady pace working towards long-term sustainable activity increases. Each day includes one or two exercise sessions, psychology and activity. Pain education and medication sessions are delivered by doctors, healthy living (good diet and sleep patterns) is addressed and communication skills developed. The team work with group members to adapt the programme to their needs and treatment goals.
Supported Group Based Pain Rehabilitation Intervention
This intervention is appropriate for people with higher physical disability and who need assistance with daily living skills. People who have specific health needs may also be most suitable for this intervention.
The programme lasts for 20 days, not including weekends. Group members are encouraged to go home at weekends but due to distance travelled some choose to stay in Bath.
The first week of this programme focuses on improving daily self-care, increasing activity time and introducing a good daily routine. This is in preparation for the rest of the programme, which is similar to that outlined above.
Individual Admission
Some adults with very highly complex pain associated disability may be offered a short intervention designed specifically for their individual needs. We are able to offer accommodation on either the ground floor or second floor, depending on mobility levels. Some of our bedrooms are en-suite, others have access to a shared bathroom.
For information on how you or a loved one can be referred to BCPS, please click on the icon below.