LEARNING TO LIVE WITH PAIN GAVE ME BACK MY LIFE

Antony Chuter, 45, chair of the charity Pain uK, lives in haywards heath, West Sussex UNTIL I was 21 I’d been fit and active. Then I developed kidney problems, which caused a constant, often excruciating, ache across my lower back — it changed my personality and energy levels completely.

My GP initially diagnosed kidney stones and prescribed opiatebased painkillers, which helped but left me completely spaced out, unable to function. Within a year I’d lost my job as an IT engineer, my home and my relationship. I became depressed and agoraphobic — only leaving the house once a week. After seeing endless doctors over the years, it finally emerged that I had calcification — tiny stones of calcium were forming a type of sludge in my kidneys, partially blocking

the passage of urine and triggering intense pain.

There is no treatment. As if that wasn’t enough, in my early 30s I developed hypermobility joint pain, starting in my feet and later in my knees, hips, elbows and shoulders. I also had problems with facial pain related to migraines.

I’m in some form of pain most of the time. Then about ten years ago I came across an NHS selfmanagement programme: a six- week course with two-hour classes each week.

Instead of looking fruitlessly for a medical cure that didn’t exist, it taught me how to live with my pain. This was a huge turning point.

One of the biggest things it taught me was there were ways I could ease my pain myself, such as by learning to relax more.

When you’re in pain your body tells you to stop, but with chronic pain that would mean lying in bed every day. Pain selfmanagement programmes teach you how to get up when your body’s telling you to do the opposite. But it’s also vital not to do too much — the key is pacing yourself.

I still have good and bad days, but I manage the whole issue so much better now.

To find a pain selfmanagement course near you visit: selfmanagementuk.org