This is the story of nine new friends…

One of our recent graduates of the programme has recently written a poem about her experiences of attending SNRPMP, she agreed to let us share this poem with you…

This is the story of nine new friends

This is the story of nine new friends

Who came together all at loose ends

For so long we thought we’d go insane

Struggling along with our chronic pain

Years of hoping for a magic potion

a drug that cures or a vanishing lotion

Till in July on a Monday morn

Came the day of a bright new dawn

When we all put aside our inner cynic

To attend the Scottish pain management clinic!

Greeted by Kim with a song to share

This beautiful lady was a breath of fresh air

Then off to class we were full of hope

Keen to learn new ways to cope

Firstly we all formed a queue

To see Dr Lars for a pain review

Then Rachel began with a new skill to hone

Mindfulness practice to get in a zone

Jonathan proceeded with a smile

Spelling long words in his own unique style

With clever psychology unleashed their plan

To calm that pain monster with a quick body scan

Getting back to our values of what makes us complete

At first can seem an impossible feat

But start by making a SMARTIES goal

Will help you fill that emotional hole

With a balancing box to manage the task

Being assertive in the questions you ask

Soon our goals we’d be achieving

For in our values we’re believing!

Next we met Anne so wise and so caring

Making easy our fears to be sharing

Addressing our meds with new confidence found

Ditching the ones you don’t need around

Then came Fraser, Emma and Ben

To get us out of our state of Zen!

By showing us all new ways to move

Loosen those joints and get in the groove

(a game of hoopla to get out of my slumber

Nearly even got me a lumbar!!)

Balancing, cycling, stretching and walking

Time seems to fly when there’s music and talking

Now not to exercise seems so dumb

Pain doesn’t mean damage so get off your bum!

Replace Fear with Dare – be a little bit bold

Hell bounce on a trampoline …. No one’s too old!

Gill and Jenn then got so interactive

Soon new adventures were looking attractive!

Planning a trip out for the day

Without those hooks to get in the way

Challenging thoughts in your hot cross bun

Will banish pain clouds to sneak in some sun

Three weeks away may seem like a chore

For a chance of reduction in your chronic pain score

But who knew missing family and friends

Could lead us all to such positive ends x

Whilst before, pain thoughts were a haunting

Now the future doesn’t seem so daunting!

There really isn’t enough we can say

Of thanks for supporting us day after day

And now we depart with a new sense of pride

On what we’ve achieved on this pain journey ride!

Life won’t be the same I’ve got a hunch

You really are an incredible bunch!!