Social life and special occasions

Abdominal pain since 1988, no diagnosis. Treatments: Nerve block to pancreas. Pain Clinic for medication. Current Medication: tramadol. Past medication: Tried stronger opioids could not tolerate side effects.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP42 >> Realises that medication is not always the best for her body, but using it allows her to get on with life.

Spinal pain. Pain started 1997. Pain management: Advice about pain management from complementary therapist. Current medication: co-dydramol. Past medication: co-codamol.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP04 >> Describes how she prepares for a special occasion.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Treatment: Physiotherapy Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current medication: amitriptyline, quinine sulphate, diclofenac sodium (Arthrotec), co-codamol (Kapake), omeprazole (Losec).

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> The combination of medicines she uses doesn't take the pain away but takes the edge off it.

Back pain came on after injury at work, 1993. Surgery: Discectomy. Treatments: Pain clinic. Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management course. Current medication: dihydrocodeine, tramadol (slow release), amitriptyline, gabapentin.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP42 >> Feels that going to a special occasion takes military style planning.

Spinal pain. Pain started 1997. Pain management: Advice about pain management from complementary therapist. Current medication: co-dydramol. Past medication: co-codamol.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP13 >> Explains that her friends are very accommodating when she visits and are always offering to help.

Osteoarthritis. Pain in shoulders since 1980s and lower back pain since 2002. Treatment: Hydrotherapy, Cortisone injections in shoulders. Surgery: Planned shoulder replacement in the future. Current medication: Cox 2 inhibitor. Past Medication: Ibrufen.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP03 >> Became withdrawn but now realise that life moves on and you just have to make the best of it.

Brachial plexus injury following motorbike accident in 1983. Two failed nerve operations. Treatment: Pain Clinic for TENS and nerve block. Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current medication: co-codomal.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP11 >> Had several spasms of pain in public and was embarrassed because people thought he was drunk. This contributed to him becoming reclusive.

Back pain since motorbike accident in 1994. Pain management: Out patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: Occasionally uses anti-inflammatory drugs.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP45 >> Uses a wheelchair occasionally particularly when going to the rugby to avoid problems with people knocking into him.

Back and ankle pain following accident, 1990. Surgery: Surgery for back and ankle injuries. Treatment: Intensive rehabilitation, TENS. Pain management: One-to-one counselling psychology. Current medication: Morphine (MST Continus), anti inflammatory drugs.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP02 >> Her powered wheelchair allows her to achieve daily activities such as shopping so she can save her energy for her social life.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, 1996. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: tramadol, amitriptyline, sertraline. Past medication: ibuprofen, paracetamol, diazepam

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP16 >> Doesn't mind that some friends ask about her pain and others don't because it is nice not to talk about it all the time.

Abdominal/pelvic pain following appendectomy, 2001. Treatment: Steroid/anaesthetic nerve block. Physiotherapy. Current medication: None. Past medication: gabapentin, amitriptyline, morphine (Oromorph).

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> Feels that friends should ask her whether she wants to talk about the pain rather than avoiding the subject.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP36 >> Found socialising difficult because she had often been lying on the floor all day and had nothing to talk about.

Back pain since 1989 (in remission at time of interview). Treatment: Physiotherapy, ultrasound, mobilisation. Pain management: Outpatient NHS Pain management programme. Current medication: None. Past medication: ibuprofen, co-proxamol, diazepam.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP17 >> Jokes that she should write a book "My search for a comfortable chair" and gives tips for coping socially.

Back pain since 1958. Neck pain since 1993. Surgery: Laminectomy 1976, Fusion 1986, Posterior/Anterior Fusion 1992. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: In-patient NHS Pain Management Programme, Expert Patient Programme. Current Medication: co-proxamol (Distalgesic), diazepam.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP48 >> Has got used to asking for cushions for chairs in restaurants but sometimes has to get up and walk around.

Pain following myelogram (test) for disc damage in 1978. Diagnosed Arachnoiditis 1992. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: None.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP08 >> Says you have to be ruthless on good days and do the things that you want to do.

Back pain following injury working with horses 1999. Surgery: Discectomy, 1999. Treatment: Pain Clinic for epidural steroid injection. Current medication: co-codamol (Tylex), codeine phosphate, tramadol.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP28 >> Feels that sometimes it is worth letting her hair down and having a good night although has to live with the consequences.

Neck injury during surgery (hysterectomy), 1993. Surgery: Cervical discectomy followed by microsurgery to release trapped nerves. Pain managment: Out-patient pain management clinic. Medication: morphine, co-codamol (Tylex), diclofenac.

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