Tony’s getting used to the 9-5 thanks to support from The Walton Centre’s Pain Management Programme

Tony Dunn from Liverpool was born with Cerebral Palsy and has since experienced chronic pain his entire life. Tony’s pain has varied in level over the years, in his legs and his back, but recent hip pain was massively impacting his quality of life and exacerbating his pain.

It was also making it difficult to work, something he had to put on hold while he sought help. At The Walton Centre, Tony found the Pain Management Programme (PMP), and after a referral from their GP, was able to attend a course which helped him to live with his chronic pain better.

Tony said: “That first day I was in the waiting room, about to be called in for the assessment. I was nervous, pale and sweating thinking about what was about to happen. Then a group of patients came through the waiting room, smiling, happy and energetic. These were all people with some sort of chronic pain and they looked so full of life!

“Fast forward to taking part in the course, and it was a gamechanger. Therapy staff would get us in the gym and help us to relearn almost automatic actions like walking up the stairs. I was pulling myself up with my upper body on the banister, when they taught me to lean into it, use my legs. At this point I could already see a way forward with how to manage my chronic pain.”

In particular, the PMP team, made up of multidisciplinary staff, were able to work with Tony on getting ready for work, writing letters explaining his condition to future employers and supplying further information.

Tony said: “After using what the course at the PMP taught me about physical and mental health and wellbeing, I knew securing a job was the next challenge. One of the Occupational Therapists’ Louise drafted a letter for me, explaining to employers why I’ve not been in work recently and what chronic pain is. This piece of paper was incredibly useful, to the point where I secured a job running the office of a local garage.

“My manager even commented on the letter, saying that it was so useful to know when considering an application. I think having that context really helped me to secure the interview, and then later the permanent job. I don’t think people without chronic pain realise how liberating having an understanding work environment can be. I’ve been there a couple of months now part time and I’m comfortable, working hard and I’ve become a valued member of the team. I’m working up to full time hours too. It’s put the biggest smile on my face, and the PMP really helped to make it possible.”

If you want to know more about The Walton Centre’s Pain Management Programme, head to our website: https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/departments-and-services/pain-management-programme/404061

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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