“The Pain Management Programme has given me a new set of tools to help manage my Fibromyalgia”
Helen Keen, 61, from Atherton in Manchester has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia for the last nine years, but believes she’s been experiencing symptoms for much longer.
Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. As well as widespread pain, other symptoms include increased sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffness, fatigue, problems with mental processes known as "fibro-fog", and feelings of frustration, worry or low mood. These symptoms are changeable and can suddenly improve or get worse with little warning.
Helen said: “15 years ago I was having a biopsy for a suspected cancerous ulcer, I struggled to come round from the anaesthetic. In the years after that I began to experience pain and other symptoms.
“Shortly afterwards, I was diagnosed officially with Fibromyalgia, and honestly that was such a relief in itself! Just giving it a name made a huge difference.”
Helen was experiencing widespread pain and exhaustion, which was having a serious impact on her life. After researching options, her GP referred her to The Walton Centre’s Pain Management Programme (PMP) – one of the largest services of its kind in the UK.
Helen continued: “I used to wake up so tired, and the pain was ever-present. At one point I thought I was dying it was that bad, it did feel quite hopeless. But once I started attending PMP I realised there were ways to live happily with my condition.
“The Pain Management Programme has given me a new set of tools to help manage my Fibromyalgia. Coping mechanisms, stretching and mindfulness have all helped me manage the pain and fatigue.
“I’m going from strength to strength and when I look back at how far I’ve come, I’m amazed. I’m extremely grateful for PMP and all the help they have given me to essentially get my life back on track.”
For more information on The Walton Centre’s Pain Management Programme, head to the website: Pain Management Programme
You can also watch Helen being interviewed by Gardener’s World presenter Adam Frost, who also has Fibromyalgia, for BBC Morning Live: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00246wx
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Notes to editors
Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.
For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611