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A decade ago, Walkden, aged 58, was prescribed powerful painkillers to manage a persistent stomach injury. Although these medications offered temporary relief, she reported feeling worse overall while relying on them. Her approach shifted significantly after completing a three-week intensive program at Knockbracken Health Care Park in Belfast, where she learned psychological techniques to manage pain without heavy dependence on drugs.
Reflecting on her experience, Walkden explained, “The tools have allowed me to become the boss of the pain instead of it controlling me.” She emphasized her newfound confidence in physical activity, especially walking, and shared how she even communicates with her pain instead of allowing it to dominate her life. According to her, gaining insight into both the mental and physical effects of her pain has been transformative.
The program data collected at Knockbracken contributed to research conducted by Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and the Belfast Health Trust. This study included over 100 participants who took part within the Belfast Trust, and extended to the analysis of 491 chronic pain patients across Northern Ireland. Findings showed that 42% of those suffering lived in the most deprived areas, where they reported significantly higher levels of pain, disability, and psychological distress.
Chronic pain, defined as pain persisting beyond three months, causes the nervous system to remain in a constant state of emergency. Understanding this mechanism is critical to receiving appropriate care and regaining control over one’s life. Belfast City Councillor Frank McCoubrey, who has experienced severe spinal pain for more than 15 years, described how the intensity of his pain once forced him into bed in a fetal position. He expressed fear about his pain and its controlling impact, noting that medication left him drowsy and disrupted his sleep. McCoubrey also remarked that it was unsurprising people in deprived communities suffer more from pain’s consequences, limiting their ability to work, exercise, and maintain well-being
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