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• 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 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 41-60 >> Interview CP15 >> Her company has a good sick pay policy and she has a good salary but chronic pain still affects her financially.

Pins and needle, numbness and neck pain since 1996. Surgery: Neck surgery for cervical mylenopathy. Treatment: Physiotherapy before and after surgery. Pain Clinic given oral steroids. Pain management: NHS outpatient pain management programme. Current medication: gabapentin, amitriptyline.

• 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.

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 >> Says that prescription charges can mount up but found out about pre-payment certificates which work out cheaper.

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 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 CP03 >> Received a settlement after an accident but feels nothing can replace his lost income.

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 CP10 >> Describes treatment by a chiropractor for a frozen shoulder, which she thought costly but money 'well spent' because she got back to work.

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 CP04 >> Has tried numerous different complementary therapies, with limited success. Considers that what works for one person does not work for another.

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 CP29 >> Saw a chiropractor and got temporary relief of painful muscle spasms but didn't think that it was worth the money.

Back pain since, 1990. Surgery: Discectomy 1990, Discectomy 1991, Spinal stabilisation 1997, Bone fusion 2003. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Pain management: Going on Expert Patient Programme. Current medication: morphine, codeine, tramadol. Past Medication: fentanyl.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP36 >> Found manipulations uncomfortable and although she got some relief didn't think it was worth the money.

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 CP12 >> Has tried numerous complementary approaches, with varying success, but is still open to ideas. However, is limited by the cost.

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 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 CP35 >> Has tried numerous approaches and spent lots of money, but now believes there is no 'Holy Grail' for his pain and has become more wary.

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 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.

• 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 >> 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 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.

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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Financial effects and benefits >> Financial effects and benefits

Financial effects and benefits