It’s important for us to share and celebrate how the ESCAPE-pain programme for knees and hips is helping people take control of their joint pain, self-manage their condition, and return to more physically active lives. See below how participants of the programme are changing their lives.
Personal stories
Case studies
Here are some examples of people who have completed the ESCAPE-pain programme and how it has impacted on their lives. Please click on each case study to see a larger format.
Eileen's story
Eileen was suffering from joint pain, which was having a big impact on her mobility, as well as her self-confidence to carry out every-day tasks. She had experienced numerous falls and found it difficult to go out to the shops or anywhere that involved getting up or down the curb. She has gained lots of confidence since completing the programme and is ‘over-the-moon’ about the changes to her life.
”It [ESCAPE-pain] has opened up my eyes, it's opened up - like, another life really, for me.
Ray's story
Ray, 66, was suffering with knee pain so much that it was affecting his everyday life. Despite not wanting to, Ray found himself taking medication regularly to cope with the pain. When Ray was referred into the ESCAPE-pain programme, he was skeptical. He didn’t believe it would work for him, but decided to give it a try anyway.
”I’m doing things now that I wouldn’t normally do, we now walk further each day…
It has changed my life entirely.
Anne's story
Anne, 68, was living with osteoarthritis and found that it was taking an enormous toll on her daily life. She was unable to complete every day tasks without asking for help from family and friends.
Anne was taking medication to ease the pain enough to enable her to spend time with friends and family, and to be able to play with her grandson. Anne was referred to the ESCAPE-pain programme and found that she gained the knowledge and confidence to exercise safely.
”My life has significantly changed since I completed the course and continue to do the exercises, as I no longer have any pain and live a very active life.
John's story
John, 67, was struggling to cope with his arthritis symptoms. The pain made it difficult for him to do a lot of the day-to-day things he would normally do.
John’s pain increased so much that even walking and getting up were becoming extremely difficult. Going from living an active life, John was finding it really hard to cope, not only with the pain, but also the shock of feeling unable to be as active as he was before.
”My life has been impacted, I would say in a positive way because through the course, I’m now able to control things much better…
News stories
- 4 March 2021: ‘March client of the month’ – read this news story about Jacqui Simpson from the Livewell service run by Derby City Council. A big birthday prompted Jacqui to re-evaluate her lifestyle and take charge of her painful osteoarthritis.
- 4 March 2020 – ‘ESCAPE-pain gives Crewe resident her smile back’ – read about Gail Brereton’s experience of the ESCAPE-pain programme and how it helped her improve her quality of life.
Videos
Hear how Michael, an ESCAPE-pain participant from Active Together, managed his pain and avoided a knee replacement.
Hear how ESCAPE-pain helped Enid and Ronald, participants from South Tyneside, manage their pain.
Hear participants from South Tyneside share their experience of how ESCAPE-pain has helped their pain management.
Hear from participants from Newcastle and Gateshead who attended the ESCAPE-pain programme offered through Tyneside Integrated Musculoskeletal Service’s (TIMS) and how the programme has helped their pain.
A Wessex leisure centre (River Park, Winchester) offers local people a chance to manage chronic pain and be more active.
Chris was diagnosed with arthritis in his hip. Hear him talk about his journey through the ESCAPE-pain programme run by Wiltshire Health and Care.
Regina attended the ESCAPE-pain programme run by Mytime Active. Hear how the programme helped her gain her independence back and also enabled her to become physically active again – going from relying on a wheelchair to joining a Zumba class.
Gillian attended the ESCAPE-pain programme run by Mytime Active. Hear how the programme helped her realise she could help herself and how she took control of her condition using the self-management tips and tools she learnt whilst on the six-week programme.
Thousands of people have completed the ESCAPE-pain programme. Hear from past participants about how the programme has helped their pain.
NHS Trust first in the country to translate ‘ESCAPE-pain’ chronic joint pain programme into Gujarati. Physiotherapist’s at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust have successfully translated a rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic knee and hip pain into Gujarati for the first time.
ESCAPE-pain participants discuss the benefits of the programme.
Testimonies
#LiveBetterDoMore
Remember to use the #LiveBetterDoMore and #ESCAPEpain hashtags when tweeting or sharing any participant feedback. We’d love to hear more from you so if you have any stories to share and would like to tell us about your experience of the ESCAPE-pain programme or app please email us at: hello@escape-pain.org.
