Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
Persistent Pain: Beyond Medications – Exploring Safer Alternatives
St Helier's Town Hall 50 York Street JE4 8PA Saint Helier
Details
Do you take prescription medication for managing persistent pain?
If so, you're not alone. Persistent pain affects
28 million people in the UK
and over
20% of adults worldwide
. But what if the way we've been managing pain isn’t the best approach? Many people rely on medications, but they can often be less effective over time and come with risks.
Here’s what you need to know:
5.6 million adults in England
are prescribed opioids (strong painkillers) for persistent pain, even though they don’t always provide long-term relief.
Gabapentinoids (like pregabalin)
have seen a
350% increase in prescriptions
between 2006 and 2016, despite the risk of dependency and overdose.
The overuse of NSAIDs
(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen) causes around
30,000 hospital visits
in the UK each year due to serious stomach problems.
What to Expect
In this session, hosted by
Pain Support Jersey
,
Darren O’Sullivan MSc, PgC, BSc (Hons), RODP
, Clinical Specialist Practitioner in Pain Management, will discuss why medications might not always be the best solution for managing persistent pain. He’ll also share
safer, more effective alternatives
that can help you
live well with pain and improve your quality of life
.
About Pain Support Jersey
Pain Support Jersey is a
small charity making a big difference
. We provide
practical support, friendship and encouragement
to help people in Jersey
live well with persistent pain
.
Membership gives you access to:
✔️ Supervised accessible exercise
✔️ Recreational activities
✔️ Social events
✔️ Educational talks
But it’s not just about the activities;
it’s about finding a community that understands what you’re going through
. We know how challenging life with persistent pain can be -
it often has no clear cause and can be invisible to others
. More than just a charity, we’re like a big family - a welcoming place where you can
share experiences and lift each other up
.
“Don’t let pain rule you or hold you back. There’s always hope with the right support.”
Event Details
📅
Date:
Wednesday, 26th February 2025
⏰
Time:
18:00 to 19:00 (doors open at 17:40)
📍
Location:
St Helier Town Hall, Old Magistrate’s Court
☕
Refreshments:
Tea, coffee, water and biscuits available
🎟️
Tickets:
By donation - please give what you can.
Since 2009,
Pain Support Jersey
has grown from just
six members to proudly supporting 268 Islanders in 2025
. As our community grows, we need your help to support even more people living with persistent pain. Your donation will help us continue to meet this growing demand. By donating in place of a ticket fee, you’re directly helping us provide the support our community needs.
Parking & Accessibility
🅿️
St Helier Town Hall doesn’t have its own parking, but there are plenty of nearby options:
Sand Street Car Park
– Multi-storey with disabled spaces & lift access.
Patriotic Street Car Park
– Another good option with disabled spaces & lift access.
Minden Place Car Park
– Slightly further but has disabled spaces & lift access.
Snow Hill Car Park
– Open-air with Blue Badge spaces.
♿
If you’re looking for on-street disabled parking, the closest spots are on Seale Street,
Vine Street and
The Parade East.
🚗
Drop-Off Option:
If someone is driving you, they can drop you off
right outside
before parking.
For any questions, please contact us via
our website
.
💛
Support
💚
Encouragement
🧡
Friendship