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How can letting go of anger resolve your pain?

Katie Piper was a victim of a horrific sulphuric acid attack, after which she had to endure dozens of painful operations to help repair the injuries the acid burns had caused, including blindness in one eye and facial disfigurement.  Katie was a woman whose career as a model and television presenter revolved around her looking not just good, but great.

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How could pigs help your chronic pain?

frustrated manIn previous blogs I have explained how we create self-induced stress by the way we speak to ourselves. Whether or not there are external issues causing problems in our lives, we are so often 'in our heads' that we create considerable stress by the inner turmoil resulting from how we talk to ourselves.  Unfortunately as we now know, this can result in real physical pain.

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Are you talking yourself into pain? 2/4

Identifying Patterns

If you watched the first video of this series you will have already begun to develop an awareness of how you speak to yourself and how this is creating self-induced stress.  Unfortunately this can result in inner turmoil which then 'fuels', or can even trigger, pain.

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Are you talking yourself into pain? 4/4

Some Simple Strategies

Welcome back for the last of the 4 videos about how to develop more health-enhancing self talk. So far you have developed an awareness of how you cause yourself stress due to your inner chatter, which is an important start of you want to do something about it.

In the 2nd video you will have identified any patterns of thoughts that do create inner turmoil for you, as when and where these are most likely to happen.  Hopefully you will also have identified some benefits of making some changes because this will help with your motivation to persist if you're tired or things get tough.

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Are you talking yourself into pain? 3/4

Recognising the benefits

Welcome back for the 3rd video in the series about how to develop more health-enhancing self talk.  This is where we look at how the way we speak to ourselves can create self-induced stress, which can result in the perpetuation of chronic pain.

In the first two videos you will have developed an awareness of how you cause yourself stress as a result of the way you speak to yourself and you have probably been able to identify some patterns.

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Are you talking yourself into pain? 1/4

It is now recognised that pain is often stress-induced and if the nerve pathways become learned, chronic pain can result. The emphasis when helping patients recover from chronic pain is to educate them about this concept and to help them identify the psychosocial links and triggers involved in the pain patterns.

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How stress puts your health at risk

If you are reading this blog you will probably already know that unresolved stress and emotional turmoil can result in very real physical symptoms, such as pain.  There are more and more studies supporting this but a recent one is the first one to actually measure the effect stressful thoughts have on the body.

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Preventing the onset of chronic pain

For over 30 years ex-professional boxer, Keith Tate of Cleckheaton, has run a boxing gym to motivate kids and get them off the street, while also fostering young children on remand.  Until 1 week ago Keith had been struggling to deal with all his responsibilities due to severe debilitating pain, despite spending about £700 on treatment in the previous 3 weeks.  However, within days of having an assessment at Georgie Oldfield’s pioneering Pain Clinic Keith was pain free and back in the gym.

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The good, the bad or the ugly - where's your focus?

Where do you find your thoughts are focussed most of the time?  Because we live in such a blame society where we often don’t take responsibility for our own actions, most people’s thoughts tend to focus on the things we don’t like or want, rather than what we do like or want.

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Pain in the Brain

The Brain’s involvement in pain is becoming better understood – but the mind is often still sidelined.  I am writing this on the train coming back from London where I was attending a conference, titled. ‘Pain in the Brain’. I was quite excited about what new research might be mentioned and because it was jointly organized between the Psychiatry team and the Pain/Rheumatology/Rehabilitation sections of the Royal Society of Medicine, I was hoping that there would be a significant emphasis on the mind’s involvement in the pain cycle. 

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The relationship between stress, pain and breathing

When we feel stressed and anxious we tend to breathe faster and more shallowly and we tend to use our upper chest muscles more than using our diaphragm, which is the main muscle of respiration.  We might sigh a lot, or yawn, and maybe find it difficult to take a deep breath.  These are all signs of hyperventilation and if it is isn’t recognized it can lead on to panic attacks at times of heightened anxiety and also an increase in pain.

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New Year, New You

I saw a quote on Facebook this week, which said “What is a New Year resolution?  It’s a list of goals for the first week of January!”  It made me chuckle, but it’s true that most people set goals without realising that it takes more than just vocalising their desire to change and making a start.

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Stressed with Christmas? - Put a pen in your mouth!

man with lightsChristmas can be a time of joy and fun, but it can also be a time when there are a lot of responsibilities and you end up; doing things you don’t really want to do, being with people you don’t want to be with or being places you don’t really want to be!   It ‘s said that stress is just 10% of what happens to us and 90% how we deal with it, so understanding how your posture can affect your mood might even help you cope better this Christmas, and maybe even enjoy yourself, despite what’s happening.

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Just when I thought my pain had gone...........

So often I hear people say that they had recovered from their pain and then a few weeks, months or even years later their pain returned and then they can find it a struggle to resolve it again.

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10 Tips for a healthy Christmas

We all know how stressful Christmas, and the lead up to it, can be as we try to organize the ‘perfect’ day.  The list of things to do usually includes deciding on the ‘perfect’ presents, guests, food and drinks and buying them, parties, planning what to do, when and who with etc

Not only do we try to fit all this in, but in the meantime we usually carry on with our normal activities, often trying to stretch our finances because we haven’t saved enough to cover the additional expense Christmas causes.  All this creates even more stress and emotional turmoil.

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The inextricable link between emotions and pain

Anyone who has suffered with persistent pain will know how much pain can affect your emotions and therefore your mood.  This has been widely demonstrated through clinical studies, but the opposite has also shown to occur, with emotions affecting your perception of pain. 

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The underlying cause of sciatica

If you have ever had full blown sciatica, you will know just how painful it can be.  I remember a particular episode I had soon after leaving the NHS and setting up my own private practice.  I hadn’t done anything particularly physical, yet I woke up in agony and for 2 weeks had to ask my family to put on my shoes and socks because I couldn’t bend over without being in agony.

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Changing beliefs about chronic pain

I’m writing this in New York’s JFK airport while waiting for my flight back home after the PPDA conference.  This is the third conference organized by health professionals who, like me, are passionate about raising awareness of the fact that many people with chronic pain can actually recover.

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From conventional to pioneering Physiotherapist

My journey as a Physiotherapist began in 1983, although I have to say that the past 5 years have been the most rewarding. The main reason for this is that now I see so many life-changing results with people whose lives have been severely affected by chronic pain. So how did a Physiotherapist like me come to specialise in a non-hands on approach that caused a 360⁰ turnaround in my understanding and treatment of chronic pain?

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The Reason for non-traumatic pain

Thankfully these days there is more and more evidence showing that chronic pain is often not actually due to trauma, or damage to cells in the body, but to psychosocial stresses.

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Stopping to 'smell the roses'

Do you find that you are usually so busy 'doing' that life passes you by without you really noticing it?  How often do you actually stop to 'smell the roses'?

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Defragging your Brain

Do you sometimes struggle to sleep because your brain is going nineteen to the dozen? Or are you finding it difficult to meditate, even though you know it could help you, because you just can’t stop thinking? 

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Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is an excellent way to cope with the information overload we experience these days as well as the constant mind chatter we all experience.  So many of my patients tell me they don’t know how to meditate, or say they just ‘can’t do it’, so this blog explains how meditation can be so helpful, while also providing you off with a ‘quick start’ guide to mindfulness meditation.

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Chronic Severe Low Back Pain Attributed to Spinal Degeneration

Since the 1970’s MRI research has shown that spinal degeneration is just as common in people without pain.  This case study demonstrates the truth in this.

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Being courageous, looking for the positive and asking for help

Being courageous, looking for the positive and asking for help when necessary are all very helpful things to remember when recovering from Stress Illness.  Full story here….

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Watch where your focus is!

 “When one door of happiness closes another opens, but we often look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us”  Helen Keller

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David Walliams is reported to have suffered a ‘slipped disc’

David Walliams is reported to have suffered a ‘slipped disc’ while swimming theThamesfor charity recently.  Could someone please tell me how anyone can ‘slip’ a disc while doing something as benign as swimming?

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Information Overload

It is widely recognised that tension headaches are caused feeling overwhelmed by the pressure we find ourselves under, yet we now recognise that stress causes significantly more chronic health problems than just the odd headache.

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Georgie's Blog

What others say ...

Sally - Sciatica

I had been following the SIRPA online programme for nearly 3 weeks before deciding that I would benefit from seeing Georgie in person. I was very glad I attended the appointment and it was well worth the 3 hour journey from London! (Which in itself was a challenge that a month prior I would never have tackled!) Seeing Georgie really helped me feel like I was less alone in my pain, I felt the face-to-face contact with Georgie spurred me forward in understanding and accepting that I have been suffering from stress-illness. Having a physical examination and Georgie talking me through different examples that were similar to my own experiences, really helped me feel motivated and encouraged in continuing my path on the online SIRPA Recovery Programme. 

L.Stoddart - patient

Georgie is absolutely dedicated to trying to improve the lives of chronic pain sufferers by helping us to understand what lies behind our pain and giving us the tools with which we can turn our lives around and end what, for some of us, has been years of pain. She is smart, enthusiastic and very approachable and will bend over backwards to give additional support when required.  From my own experience with Georgie I can wholeheartedly recommend her to all chronic pain sufferers.

Amaya from Spain

I have no words to say how thankful I am for Georgie's support. From the very first contact on the phone, she was keen to help,  inspiring me trust and confidence.  She has been key in my recovery. The fact that she has a background as a Physiotherapist really helps because she perfectly understands what you mean when speaking about physical symptoms. You can tell she is passionate for what she does and her work is enhanced by her human touch and sensitiveness.  Amaya, Spain

James Wiltshire

"I hope that all is well with you and your mission. I sent you a few emails last year and you were so incredibly helpful.  Dr Sarno's work and your help meant that I have gone from chronic RSI on statutory sick pay to going self-employed musician. I have never felt more balance and physically I really feel best ever! I would always recommend people to you Georgie."

Carol - backpain and prolapsed disc

"I've been testing and pushing myself to the limit.  e.g. climbing trees, zooming down 150 feet high zip wires, climbing over un-mentionable obstacles.  Cycling up and down some very severe hills, camping and sleeping on the floor, moving furniture and lifting and manoeuvring a very heavy wardrobe!  All of which I have not done for at least 20 years for fear of hurting and making my back worse.  Thanks once again Georgie."

Wayne Kampers MRCPsych

"Georgina has an infectious and warm disposition. She is passionate about the Mind-Body link and her dedication to establishing what is still not accepted in mainstream healthcare is admirable and refreshing. She believes she can make a difference and because her belief is unshakable she does make a difference! The world could do with a lot more people like her.” Consultant Psychiatrist

Peter Zafirides MD

"You are a leader in the field as well. We are all in this together for the same reason - to reduce pain and suffering. Thank you for SIRPA and all you are doing "on the other side of the pond!!" Peter Zafirides MD, Psychiatrist & Clinical Assistant Professor at Ohio State University’s Dept of Psychiatry 

Colin - Triathlete and Ironman

"I wish that I had met you at the start of my athletic training. Your work with me really has made a dramatic difference to my training and indeed my lifestyle. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone who has an ongoing indescribable pain.  Many thanks once again."

Ingrid S

"Georgie is one of the most caring and supportive people I have come across in my back pain journey and she is also 100% totally professional. If you're prepared to step off the path of physical-only solutions to pain, and to begin an internal journey instead, she will be there to guide you along the way. I have made that step - with so many deep and positive repercussions - and her help and support have been absolutely invaluable."

Olivia Stefanino

“Georgie is dedicated to helping her clients get lasting pain relief - indeed such is her dedication that she continues to spend considerable time and money developing her innate talents and skills.  It is this passion for learning - combined with her capacity for discerning the "proven" from the "mumbo jumbo" (and her open-minded approach to recognising that physical pain may have an emotional cause) - that gives Georgie the edge."

Professional Endorsements

Member of the British Pain Society