Hi, My name is Paul Ridley, and I am raising money for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity.

If someone had told me I would be doing this a year ago, I would have thought they were out of their mind.  Now, not only have I thought about it, but am in training to do a 20km Sponsored Treadmill Event.  This will take place on 23rd May 2010, 10:00am - 3:00pm at  Fitness First Romford, Atlanta Blvd, Romford, Essex.

In March 2004 I was in a car accident which damaged my lower back and has left me with continuous Chronic Pain.  I had physiotherapy, two surgeries and different medications to try to make life easier for me, but I became less and less mobile, more and more depressed and thought life was not worth the pain. 

I spent much of my time in bed due to the pain and the locking up of my back, and had an existence, but did not enjoy life any more.  I was told that nothing more could be done, and that I would just have to continue to be housebound much of the time, have to rely on sticks and a zimmer frame, and try to manage as best I could with the adaptations which have been made to my flat.

I was then referred to RNOH and spent three weeks in their Pain Management Clinic in August - September 2009.  The care and treatment I received have been truely life changing.  I had intense physio therapy, pain management classes, courses on how to accomplish various things, counselling, exercise, and learned how to live again.

I have continued with the programme set out for me at RNOH by joining Fitness First (http://www.fitnessfirst.com/ ) and Frankie my PT there have enabled me to continue to a point where I no longer need to use a stick all of the time.  I have lost an immense amount of weight.  February 2009 I weighed 24 Stones and 10 Pounds...last Monday, 15th February 2010, I weighed in at 16 Stones and 9 Pounds.  I was also a runner up at the Fitness First New You Awards in January 2010, a life I thought I had truely seen the end of, but thanks to this wonderful hospital and the continued help of Frankie and Fitness First, it is a life I am able to enjoy again.

My mobility, mood, confidence and life have all changed for the better, and I am looking forward to being able to return to employment soon.

I still have days of flare up when I am not able to do much and still have days of depression, but RNOH has helped me drastically with this.  It is an absolute pleasure and privilage for me to be able to give something back to them...They have given me a life in place of an existence!!"

Here is a little more information about the hospital:

Pain self-management programmes

The aim of pain self-management programmes is to help patients deal with the way that pain affects their lives. During the programme, a patient will have a combination of educational sessions, exercise sessions, psychological support and problem-solving sessions. This programme does not involve medical treatments. Pain management programmes are not designed to reduce the intensity of the pain; however, completing a programme can greatly reduce the negative impact of pain in the patient’s life.

 

Pain self-management programmes at the RNOH are intensive inpatient programmes for a 3 week period.

Pain Management Programmes (PMP)

PMPs move away from seeking a medical cure or reduction in pain intensity (also known as "The medical model"), focusing instead on self-management through education sessions, tailored exercises, psychological support and practical coping and problem-solving strategies. It is this change in emphasis that has led to the development of the PMP as a separate entity. The PMP encompasses a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach; patients are expected to make cognitive and lifestyle changes in order to incorporate the self-management principles inherent in the programme into their daily lives and take these principles forward after discharge. The primary aim of PMPs is therefore not to reduce pain intensity but to enable patients to control the negative effects of pain on their lives. PMPs have consistently been shown to improve quality of life and reduce pain related disability.

 

It is my strong desire to raise as much as I possibly can for this wonderful hospital, who help so many people and change their lives.  I am also planning on taking part in the 2012 London Marathon!  Watch this space for updates and check out my page on Facebook.

I was able to complete the challenge in a little over 3 hours.  It was an incredible day of achievement for me and a huge milestone I never thought I would be able to accomplish.  Thanks to all at RNOH and also to all who Sponsored me.  Also a HUGE thank you to FitnessFirst Romford for all of your help and support!!

I have also been challenged by Richard House Hospice to raise money for them.  I am hoping to put together a team of about 12 - 15 people who will climb Snowdonia with me sometime during the summer of 2011. If you are interested, please let me know through my Facebook Page.

Many thanks for your kind help and support,

Paul

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