Pathway through Pain supports
NHS Registered Nurse

Case Background

A registered nurse working in a hospital in Kent developed fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic due to intense stress from trauma in the line of performing her duties, a challenging family situation and a close family bereavement.

Multiple symptoms developed including sharp muscular pains; stiffness around the body; persistent severe migraines; chronic fatigue, pins and needles and sleep issues; strained eyes and tinnitus. On top of daily pain, managing pain during regular flareups was particularly challenging as the intensity increased dramatically.

Already working in a stressful role, the pain tipped her over the edge, affecting her ability to function at work and care for patients, and exhausting her motivation. She planned to move into community nursing due to the pain and pressure of her hospital role and considered quitting if unable to cope following this.

After consulting her GP and over time being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she was prescribed various medications for different symptoms, some of which caused strong adverse side effects and others that are still used. She undertook hypnotherapy, which helped to reduce the occurrence of migraines, and was referred to a pain management clinic in 2022 where Pathway through Pain was recommended.

Program & Results

After starting and completing Pathway through Pain, a marked improvement was noticed in her ability to manage her pain. The educational aspect of the program, teaching about different types of pain and ways of managing pain, altered her expectations and understanding of living with an incurable condition and chronic pain, helping her learn to manage it and continue working.

The flexible, online format allowed her to complete the program at her own pace and dip into it when required. She had past experience of practicing mindfulness and meditation but the program caused her to rediscover them and practice them more consistently. Medication use has now been reduced to a minimum, primarily during flareups and at nighttime to help with sleep troubles due to severe pins and needles.

The move to a community nursing role with more regular working hours and using the pain management skills taught on Pathway through Pain has allowed her to remain in the workforce and rediscover her passion for her work.