• Clip
• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP42 >> She realised that moving from University into a job was going to be difficult so applied for work experience through a University mentoring scheme.

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 20-30 >> Interview CP06 >> Talks about things that make her working life easier including pacing, equipment and making sure she walks to get her lunch everyday.

Back injury/pain following car accident, 1993. Fusion stabilisation surgery 1993, Repair to broken pin, 1994, Removal of stabilisation rods and pins 2001. Pain management: Learnt through physiotherapy and Back Care charity. Current medication: Herbal anti-inflammatory.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP46 >> Found that voluntary work gave him new skills and was a steppingstone back into paid employment.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP10 >> Says her employers and colleagues have been very supportive and she can adapt her routine to suit her.

Neck, back and elbow pain gradual onset since 1981. Surgery: Elbow surgery. Treatments: corticosteroid injections in elbows. Pain management: Out patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: co-proxamol occasional use, tramadol for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP12 >> Changed to a lower grade but less stressful job but feels it is important to keep working because it gives her a routine.

Multiple tests all negative. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, 2002. Pain management: Pain Association Scotland Living with Pain course. Current Medication: Occasionally uses co-codamol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP23 >> Her family encouraged her to get a job as a teaching assistant which she finds hard work but definitely worth it.

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 CP31 >> Explains that the Disability Discrimination Act now means that employers have to make reasonable adjustment for people with disabilities.

Low back pain following injury at work, 1991. Current medication: celocoxib (Celebrex) Past medication: other anti-inflammatory.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP36 >> Found out about the '52 week rule' that meant if her job didn't work out she could go back on her original 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.

• Topic
• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Unemployment and return to work >> Unemployment and return to work

Unemployment and return to work

• 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 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 61-80 >> Interview CP30 >> Felt a tremendous sense of loss because he gave up a career and has only accepted the loss since he has retired.

Back pain since 1970s. Surgery: Removal of benign tumor 1983. Treatments: Spinal injections. Pain management: Out-patient NHS patient pain management programme. Current medication: None.

• 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 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 CP05 >> Was annoyed because his employers seemed to make no effort to help him back to work and he felt he lost his independence.

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.