A pain rehabilitation program in Belfast is empowering individuals to manage their chronic pain through psychological techniques, leading to a significant improvement in their quality of life. The intensive three-week program at Knockbracken Health Care Park teaches patients coping mechanisms to deal with pain rather than relying solely on medication.
Julie-Ann Walkden, 58, who had been prescribed strong pain medication for a stomach injury ten years ago, found that the medication offered only short-term relief and exacerbated her condition. Following her participation in the Knockbracken program, she reported a transformative change.
"The tools have allowed me to become the boss of the pain instead of it controlling me," Walkden stated. "I am not afraid to exercise, especially to walk, I even talk to the pain but I no longer allow it to prevent me from living a life. Understanding the source of my pain and what it is doing to me mentally, never mind physically, has been life changing."
The effectiveness of the Knockbracken program has been further examined through research conducted by Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and the Belfast Health Trust. This research analyzed data from 491 patients living with chronic pain across Northern Ireland, with over 100 patients having directly participated in the hands-on rehabilitation program. The study revealed that 42% of patients in the study resided in the most deprived areas and exhibited substantially higher levels of distress, disability, and pain-related burden. This highlights a significant correlation between socioeconomic factors and the severity of chronic pain experiences.