A Patient Journey: My Learning Experience with Jane
Meeting Jane was a turning point in my journey as a pain therapist. At the time, I was completing my Master's in Pain: Science & Society at King’s College London and teaching for Noigroup. I had spent several years working exclusively with people experiencing persistent pain and was just beginning to explore Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) under the guidance of Lorimer Moseley and David Butler.
I connected with Jane through her and her family’s relentless search for therapies that could offer relief from the challenges of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). When we first met, I had flown up to Orkney to visit Jane at her home. She was housebound and virtually bed bound too. Unable to go upstairs to her bedroom and struggling to leave her home. Her world had clearly shrunk around her.
Despite the circumstances, Jane was open to a more holistic approach, which, at the time, mirrored my own aspirations for a therapeutic process built on creativity, freedom, and most importantly, teamwork. Her willingness to engage with this approach became a cornerstone in my growth—not just as a clinician, but as someone who deeply values the partnership between therapist and patient.
Through our regular online sessions, Jane taught me invaluable lessons about the power of creativity in rehabilitation, the practical application of Graded Motor Imagery, and the importance of open communication. Most of all, she showed me the extraordinary strength of determination and resilience in overcoming pain.
Her journey reinforced my belief in the importance of seeing the person behind the pain—understanding their story, their hopes, and creating a space where hope and possibility can thrive.
Over several years, Jane embarked on a journey of remarkable transformation. She began by stabilising her symptoms, then gradually freed herself from her bed and wheelchair. Step by step, she worked towards her dream of leaving her island home and traveling abroad on holiday—a powerful symbol of her courage and determination.
It was, in every sense, a true transformation.
Together, Jane and I share a hope: that the knowledge and experience we’ve gained through our journey can reach more people living with persistent pain, and equip clinicians with the tools and confidence to support them.
Stories like Jane’s remind me every day why I do this work—and why the journey toward recovery is always a partnership.
