Chronic Pain Clinic in Finchley
We're here to help you get your life back
You’re not alone. Chronic pain affects approximately 15.5 million people in the UK. This is around 34% of our population and this figure is slowly rising year by year.
Suffering from chronic pain, at its very core, isn’t just about physical pain. It’s all encompassing. It can be tiring, upsetting, depressing and scary. We can begin to become fearful of doing activities because of the potential pain that we might associate with it. This may mean that we slowly stop seeing our friends and family, because the fear of pain becomes too great.
At our pain clinic in Finchley, our aim is to help you gain control again.
It's not all in your head
One of the saddest parts about chronic pain is that it’s often not taken seriously. I hear patients share phrases with me such as, “it’s all in your head,” “just get on with it,” and “you seem fine today it can’t be that bad.” Sometimes these same phrases are said by their nearest and dearest, and in some cases even by other healthcare practitioners.
I don’t know if you need to hear this, but I’ll say it anyway. If you are experiencing pain, it is real, 100% of the time.
What's your story?
At our chronic pain clinic in Finchley, it’s more than just simply finding out about where your pain is.
That’s not to say that this isn’t useful information, but it’s just the surface.
We understand how important it is to learn more about you and the story that’s brought you to us.
It’s only by understanding who you are and why you’re here to see us that we can begin to develop meaningful strategies, so that we can get you back to doing the things you love. This is why our osteopaths and physiotherapists are trained in psychologically informed practiced such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
How is our treatment different?
Despite being an osteopathic clinic, manual therapy is not at the heart of our persistent pain treatments.
When we’ve been in pain for a long time, our body gets so used to predicting pain or expecting it, that we can accidentally and inadvertently, practice pain. Just like a piano player can learn a piece of music so well that it simply becomes muscle memory, we can unintentionally do the same with pain.
Our job at our chronic pain clinic in Finchley is to teach you to recognise when this is happening, so that you can begin to practice healthier strategies in managing and moving beyond your pain. This falls under the banner of psychologically informed practice, where we use a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy
Do You Have Chronic Pain?
This is a wonderful podcast featuring the ridiculously clever Rachel Zoffness.
We often give this as homework to those who are interested in understanding more about pain. She also touches on the strategies that we implement at the clinic so please feel free to have a listen if you’re keen to find out more.
How to sit comfortably
This is a great short podcast for those that can feel uncomfortable when sitting for too long. Try it out! you’ll be surprised what can happen when you change the sitting experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chronic pain:
Q: What is a chronic pain clinic and how is it different from a normal osteopathy appointment?
A: Our chronic pain clinic in North Finchley is specifically designed for people who have been in pain for more than three months. Unlike a standard appointment that focuses mainly on hands-on treatment, our chronic pain sessions take a wider approach. We explore the physical, psychological and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to your ongoing pain, using a combination of osteopathic treatment, cognitive behavioural strategies, acceptance and commitment therapy principles, and personalised exercise programmes. The goal is to help you regain control over your pain and get back to doing the things you love. |
Q: Does chronic pain mean something is seriously wrong with my body?
A: Not necessarily. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months, and in many cases it persists even after tissues have healed. This happens because the nervous system can become sensitised and continue to produce pain signals even when there is no ongoing damage. This does not mean the pain is not real — it absolutely is — but it does mean that effective treatment needs to address the nervous system and your overall wellbeing, not just the original site of injury. Our chronic pain clinic is designed to do exactly this. |
Q: What should I expect at my first chronic pain clinic appointment?
A: Your first appointment will be longer than a standard session. We will take a detailed history — not just about where your pain is, but about your life, your sleep, your stress levels, your goals, and what you have tried before. We believe that understanding your full story is essential to helping you move forward. From there, we will work with you to create a personalised plan that may include hands-on treatment, education about how pain works, breathing and relaxation techniques, graded exercise, and practical strategies for daily life. |
Q: Can you help if I have been told "it’s all in your head" by other healthcare providers?
A: We hear this from patients far too often, and we want to be clear: if you are experiencing pain, it is real, 100% of the time. Pain is produced by the brain, but that does not mean it is imaginary. At our chronic pain clinic, we take your experience seriously, listen to your story, and use evidence-based approaches to help you understand and manage your pain. You will never be dismissed here. |
We're ready to help you navigate your pain when you are
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