Coping with MS pain in the long term: how to look after your mental health

Text saying: "Coping with MS pain in the long term" and picture of guests Heather and Phil

15 December 2025

Living with persistent MS-related pain isn’t just a physical challenge it can take a big toll on your emotional wellbeing and mental health too. In this episode, we explore the psychological impact of chronic pain.

We are joined by Dr Phillip Simpson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of NHS experience, and Heather Daly, who shares her personal journey of living with MS and chronic pain, as we explore topics such as

What chronic pain really means and how it affects the mind
The emotional challenges of living with persistent MS pain
How psychological therapies such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness can help
Practical coping strategies, acceptance, and behaviour change techniques

If you are living with long term MS and what to explore different approaches to cope with it psychologically, this is the episode for you

Episode notes

Pain and MS - info from the MS Trust
Treating nerve pain in MS - info from the MS Trust
Pain resources - info from the MS Trust
Find NHS talking therapies - info from the NHS
Mindfulness and MS - MS Trust information sheet for people who are new to MS
Wellbeing and MS - information hub to help you support your emotional wellbeing

Resources mentioned by Dr Phil Simpson

livewellwithpain.co.uk - website with resources and information
paintoolkit.org - focused on self management and has been created by an expert by experience
flippinpain.co.uk- focused on challenging misconceptions about pain problems.

You can listen to this podcast on

Coping with MS pain in the long term: how to look after your mental health

Other podcast episodes

24 November 2025

Managing nerve pain in MS

Neuropathic pain in MS can be unpredictable and difficult to live with. In this episode, lead pain specialist nurse Katherine Dyer and mindfulness teacher Justin Standfield share practical strategies and calming techniques to help ease symptoms and give people with MS back a sense of control.

8 January 2024

Can mindfulness really help with my MS?

Can practising mindfulness actually help you manage life with MS? Mindfulness teacher, Justin Standfield, lives with MS and he joins us to dispel a couple of mindful myths. Plus, he shares some practical ways that he manages his own MS symptoms using mindfulness.

22 June 2021

Will asks the expert about pain

Guest presenter and MS Trust volunteer, Will, continues raiding our MS archives. This time he's talking about pain and multiple sclerosis. Featuring input from consultant nurse in pain management, Sue Barnes.