Louise Trewern has lived with pain since childhood. After years of strange illnesses and infections, inconclusive tests and persistent pain, Louise was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis.

She was prescribed opioid medication for back pain, which increased over a 13 year period to dangerously high levels, along with a cocktail of other drugs such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

With support from her local pain service Louise reduced and eventually came off her opioids and learned to self-manage her pain in other ways. She considers that this process literally ‘saved her life.’

Louise today is a very passionate patient-advocate advising The British Pain Society’s Patient Voice Committee where she is Vice Chair. She is on Executive Committee of The Physiotherapy Pain Association and Chair of the Get Involved – Evolving Through Patient Experience Committee at Torbay Hospital Pain Service, as well as numerous other projects including supporting and advising Live Well with Pain.