A MAN who currently has to travel to Evesham to relieve his chronic back pain is backing the Malvern Gazette’s Ease The Pain campaign.

Sean Arrowsmith, aged 47, of Meadow Road, said it would be “great” to be treated in Malvern and not have to travel.

The campaign was launched in support of an appeal by the Friends of Malvern Community Hospital to raise £60,000 for an image intensifier, a vital piece of equipment for a new pain clinic at the site.

Mr Arrowsmith has been plagued with chronic pain for most of his adult life and thinks his trouble may stem from a foolish moment as a teenager, when he broke his leg jumping from the old stadium in Victoria Park.

“I started to get general backaches and, by the time I was 17. I found it difficult to work on my car – bending over the engine bay.”

As the years went on, Mr Arrowsmith’s condition worsened and he underwent numerous consultations, examinations, scans and other procedures.

The problem was caused by damage to his spine, which in turn was damaging nerves to his legs, but the pain continued to increase and he relied on strong painkillers to carry on.

However, he has recently been treated at a pain management clinic in Evesham, where a similar scanner was used so that injections could be given into the exact nerves where they are needed.

He said: “You can see it on a screen in front of you.It’s amazing.

“It’s really made a difference to me. I still get pain, but it’s a real improvement over what it was.

“The injections last for months, so I won’t have to go back for a while, but it would be great to be able to get treated in Malvern and not have to travel. I’m sure there are a lot of other people in the same position.”

Mr Arrowsmith’s words are backed up by Dr Julian Berlet, clinical director of anaesthesia and pain management services with the NHS trust.

He said: “We have been looking for a facility in the Malvern area and when we visited Malvern Community Hospital, it was clear it was ideal.

“I am hugely grateful to the Malvern community, the friends and the Gazette for their support.In doing so, they help us to alleviate suffering for the local population.”

As of this week, the appeal total stood at £24,000, up £3,000 from last week.