Financial effects and benefits

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 41-60 >> Interview CP46 >> When he went back to work he contacted his Disability Employment Adviser and was assessed for equipment for his work place.

Low back pain since 1993. Pain management: In patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: None

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP23 >> Reflects on how her life differs from what she had expected it to be.

Pain due to damage to spinal cord from Chiari I Malformation and syringomyelia. Pain started 1997. Surgery: Essential cranial cervical decompression and laminectomy, 1999. Treatment: Pain Clinic for medication. Current medication: gabapentin (Neurontin), dothiepin, tramadol.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP32 >> Had to give up his well paid job and now has to be very careful with money.

Back and right leg pain following spinal stroke, 1997. Treatments: Nurse led Pain Clinic. Advice and medication. Current medication: morphine patches and gabapentin. Past medication: amitriptyline, dihydrocodeine.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP02 >> Has not worked so is not entitled to incapacity benefits but claims a top up disability benefit and mobility allowance.

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 41-60 >> Interview CP11 >> Claims mobility allowance and uses this to keep his car on the road which has made a big difference to his life.

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 CP04 >> Says that some people who claim benefits worry about being thought of as a 'malingerer' but she does not see it as charity.

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 41-60 >> Interview CP35 >> Had to leave a well-paid job and was initially reluctant to claim benefits. He finds the benefits system very uncaring.

Back pain since 1994. Treatment: Hydrotherapy. Pain management: Outpatient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: ibuprofen, gabapentin.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP18 >> Had a home assessment for her benefits which she found demoralizing and painful.

Back pain since car accident, 1978. Treatments: Facet joint injections, TENS. Current Medication: dihydrocodeine, co-proxomol, buprenorphine (Temgesic) for flare-up, diazepam for muscle spasms. Past medication: Diclofenac.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP04 >> Had a home assessment for Disability Living Allowance which she said was quite personal but not as bad as she expected.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP08 >> Put off claiming benefits because he believed he would get back to work but now regrets using up his savings.

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 CP05 >> Talks about litigation process after his injury at work and explains he had to pay back his benefits when he got a settlement.

Head, neck and back pain following injury at work in 1998. Treatments: Physiotherapy after injury. Pain Clinic. Pain management: One-to-one psychology counselling. Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course Current medication: co-dydramol, ibuprofen.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP02 >> Recommends using the Citizen's Advice Bureau for information about benefits and has also searched medical literature on the internet via Medline.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP04 >> Had a home assessment for Disability Living Allowance which she said was quite personal but not as bad as she expected.

Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP18 >> Had a home assessment for her benefits which she found demoralizing and painful.

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