Chronic Pain Tools

The unpredictability of flares in pain can put a hold of living your life and making plans. In this article we explore how to prevent, manage and learn from flares in pain.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a method of reducing muscle tension.
Muscle tension is commonly associated with stress, anxiety and fear. During this 18min Progressive Muscle Relaxation you’ll be guided through exercises to tense up particular muscles and then relax them.

The Stress Tool Box Remember, not all tools we discuss will not necessarily resonate with you, and that is ok.  Pick and choose what is meaningful and applicable.  Then give it a try for a couple of weeks and see how you feel.  

They have been labelled the two side of the same coin.  When one is bad, it will feed into the other, only making it worse.  Learn more about Stress in this article.

Last year we presented the 12 Pillars of Wellbeing for Managing Chronic Pain on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.  These are 12 evidence based tools for managing chronic pain outside of your health care appointments.  This year we have reimagined these pillars and will...

If you are wanting to learn more about stress reduction, relaxation and chronic pain, this section includes: Stress Management Resources Mindfulness Resources Relaxation Resources Free Worksheets   Stress Management Resources Article:  NPC:  12 Quick Tips for Managing Stress (link) NPC YouTube Channel:...

If you are wanting to learn more about flare management and chronic pain, this section includes: Flare Management Resources Free Worksheets   Flare Management Resources Article:  NPC:  Flare Management (link) Article:  PPM:  How to deal with flares (link) Article:...

If you are wanting to learn more about mood and chronic pain, this section includes: Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry Resources Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Resources Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Resources Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Resources Other Tools and Resources Depression and...

Stress and Chronic Pain often go hand-in-hand, which each making the other worse. Learn more about strategies for managing your stress here.

Pacing is an active self-management strategy used by people living with pain to manage their activity levels and get through their day. Learn more about creating a pacing plan here.

Setting SMART goals assists people living with chronic pain to achieve what is important to them, and improve their function and quality of life. Learn more about creating SMART goals here.

When living with chronic pain, having a plan for your day helps you prevent ‘boom and bust’ behaviours and flares in pain. Learn more about planning your day here.

This year Northern Pain Centre has launched the 12 Pillars of Wellbeing for Managing Pain. Learn more about what they are and why they matter.

Are you wanting to learn strategies for managing your pain at home? Do you want to know what research suggests is the best method for doing this? This article might help you on your journey.

Many people living with pain also struggle with isolation and loneliness. This article provides you with the tools to reconnect and get support.

Pain is a thoroughly unpleasant experience, and persistent pain can lead to feelings of frustration, sadness and isolation, especially when a person with pain feels misunderstood and perhaps even not believed.  Often patients describe their pain as “taking over their life” and “being controlled by...

Current evidence suggests relaxation techniques such as mindful meditation can assist with managing symptoms associated with chronic pain.  Relaxation techniques assist the body to: Relax and calm which can boost our “feel good hormones” Help us to accept the “here and now” as best we can through...

Studies have shown that smokers report significantly worse pain intensities, pain interference, physical functioning, sleep disturbance, and mood disturbances. Learn more about smoking and pain here.