"A distressing and concerning experience"

I saw a nurse at the pain management clinic, it was a distressing and concerning experience. I have fibromyalgia, spinal problems and hip and knee problems. I’m in a lot of pain all the time.

The nurse was condescending and quite intimidating, I felt like I was a nuisance and shouldn’t have been there. The nurse talked to me like you might talk to someone with learning difficulties, saying to me that I spend lots of time indoors because it’s my safe space, as if to say I have mental health problems, not seeming to accept I spend time indoors due to not being able to walk very well. 

The nurse kept insinuating that it’s in my head and if I let myself I can do anything, no offer of any pain relief, acupuncture or anything helpful, just wanted to palm me off on a group, for making people believe their pain is in their head, very concerning!

Apparently, you have to accept the pain, shut up and get on with it, even when several consultants have told you your problems are very real.

In my view, the pain clinic’s attitude really boils down to: the NHS can’t cope with these sorts of things and so they just tell you it’s your problem, get on with it.