Introduction to the NHSGGC Pain Service
paindata – a local pain management resource containing a host of patient information and resources, made by clinicians working in the NHSGGC Pain Service. Resources include information about medication and non-English translations of some of our resources.
A patient’s experience of the pain service – this short video (3 minutes) was kindly shared by a patient who attended the NHS Ayrshire & Arran pain service recently. It should hopefully give you an idea of the type of help you can expect from the pain clinic.
A bit about persistent, or chronic pain
Persistent (or chronic) pain is very different from ‘normal’ (or acute) pain, and strategies that work well for managing acute pain are often unhelpful – or worse – when it comes to persistent pain. Here is a good overview of how persistent pain differs from normal pain, from the neurosymptoms.org website.
NHS Scotland has produced some pages with information about chronic pain, including fibromyalgia.
Why doesn’t my medication work anymore? Painkillers don’t usually help very much for chronic pain conditions. See this NHS-approved resource, ‘Painkillers Don’t Exist’ for more information.
Focus on Opioids (Morphine and related drugs)
Opioids are painkillers in the Morphine family of drugs. There are many different types, ranging from weak opioids like Codeine, to strong ones like Oxycodone (or Morphine itself), but they all work roughly the same way in the body. Opioids have been in the news recently as we learn more about how unsuitable they are for long-term use. Although they work very well for a few weeks (making them great for pain after surgery or an acute injury), after this time the body gets used to them and they become less effective (tolerance). They also start to cause more and more side effects, as well as problems like physical and psychological dependence.
This short piece of writing is by a patient who attended the pain clinic. He wanted to share his experience of becoming dependent on opioids, and how he eventually overcame this.
This article, written by one of GGC Pain Service doctors, explores the problems and frustrations that patients encounter when using opioids for chronic pain. (Thanks to Pain Concern for permission to link to this article, which was published in their Pain Matters magazine. Print copies of Pain Matters are free of charge to anyone living with chronic pain and those who support them).
More Harm Than Good?
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have produced a series of leaflets explaining how to use the common Morphine drugs safely, including how to reduce and stop them if they no longer work:
CoCodamol
CoDydramol
Tramadol
Dihydrocodeine
Codeine
Other Resources
The problem with strong Morphine drugs (opioids) – a collection of resources for patients, carers and professionals at the Opioids Aware website
Pain Service Information
We have produced a range of booklets locally, introducing some of the concepts and treatment strategies that we use in the pain service. These will open as pdf files in a separate window, unless otherwise indicated (see here for non-English translations of our introductory guide to self-management).
Useful online resources
- Flippin’ Pain – an online resource co-created by people with persistent pain, healthcare professionals, pain scientists and communications experts. It aims to help you make sense of the science behind your pain, and put this knowledge into action.
- Live Well With Pain – a collection of helpful videos and other resources designed to help you learn the skills you need to become an effective self-manager of your pain.
- Pain Concern is a Scottish charity providing advice and support to people with chronic pain.
- Pain Toolkit – a great self-management resource, developed by someone who has lived with chronic pain.
- NHS Inform – Chronic pain – advice and resources about chronic pain from NHS Scotland site
- List (Word doc) of chronic pain self-management resources from NHS Inform (last updated 31/03/2020)
Mindfulness resources
The NHSGGC pain service recommends mindfulness-based treatments to support self-management of chronic pain. On the paindata.org website you will find some information on how mindfulness is introduced in the pain service, as well as audio recordings of short mindfulness practices.
We have also developed a library of mindfulness resources, that can be browsed online, or via the NHS Scotland Right Decisions app. You will find instructions to access both the website and the app here.
Welcome to the website for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Pain Service. These pages contain information about the Pain Service, as well as online resources to support people living with chronic pain.
If you require this information in a different languages you can read the NHSGGC equalities Information in other languages leaflet.
Please use the link below to find out more about how the Pain Service can help you:
What do we do
We run outpatient services from Victoria, Stobhill and Inverclyde hospitals. Our Pain Management Programme is currently based at Lightburn Hospital, but will be moving to the Parkhead Hub early 2025.
About chronic pain
Chronic pain is different from ‘normal’, or ‘acute’ pain! Strategies that work well for acute pain are often less successful – or can even make things worse – in chronic pain conditions.
Please use the link below to find out more about chronic pain, and how the Pain Service can help you.
How to be referred to the service
Your GP or secondary care specialist can refer you to the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Pain Service. Most new referrals are offered an introductory information session and brief telephone chat before the first clinic appointment. This is to give you a chance to see what we do in the pain clinic, and let us know how you hope we can help you.
About the team
We are a multidisciplinary team of Doctors, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists. You may see one or more of us at different stages of your journey through the pain service.
Our Locations
Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital
Location
3rd Floor Admin Suite
133 Balornock Road
Glasgow
G21 3UW
- 0141 355 1491
- 0141 335 1492
- 0141 335 1493
- 0141 335 1494
Victoria Ambulatory Care Hospital
Location
Langside Road
Glasgow
G42 9TY
- 0141 347 8005
- 0141 347 8006
Inverclyde Royal Hospital
Location
Larkfield Road
Greenock
PA16 0XN
Glasgow Pain Management Programme
Location (from January 2025)
Parkhead Hub
1251 Duke St
Parkhead
Glasgow G31 5NZ
Contact Telephone Number: 0141 335 1493
Email: ggc.pain.management@nhs.scot
