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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP23 >> Discusses the pros and cons of the email forum group.

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 31-40 >> Interview CP39 >> Searched the internet to find out what 'chronic pain' meant after seeing a poster in the surgery waiting room.

Neck and arm pain since 2003 aggravated by working at computer workstation. Treatment: Physiotherapy, NHS and police convalescent home. Current medication: tramadol slow release, tramadol, amitriptyline.

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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Finding information >> Finding information

Finding information

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP19 >> Suggests that it is important to hear negative as well as positive accounts on the internet.

Pelvic pain since menstruation, 1992 and back pain. Treatment: Laser laparoscopy. Medication to suppress periods. Pain management: One-to-one psychology. Current Medication: co-codamol (Tylex), sodium diclofenac (Voltarol), amitriptyline and morphine for flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP12 >> Her consultant gave her an internet address and through that she found the Fibromyalgia Association.

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 CP42 >> She mainly accessed support groups on internet for information and did not want to dwell on the bad things.

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 CP17 >> Was desperate to have back surgery in the hope it would cure her pain. She regrets not looking up any information.

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 41-60 >> Interview CP07 >> Feels that having back surgery was the worst possible decision for her and advises others to educate themselves.

Back pain since 1981. Failed back surgery syndrome. Diagnosed with Arachnoiditis, 2001. Surgery: laminectomy, correction of laminectomy and spinal fusion. Pain management: Learnt through support group and books. Current medication: distalgesic, co-proxamol, maprotoline, oxycodone (Oxycontin) during recent flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP15 >> Had researched what would happen in her operation but not what would happen after and how she would feel.

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 CP12 >> The more she read about her condition the more she realised that it wasn't the worst thing in the world.

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 31-40 >> Interview CP20 >> Feels it is important to explain things to children when they ask.

Abdominal/ Pelvic pain since 1992, Back pain since 1991. Surgery: Laparoscopy followed by Hysterectomy. Treatment: Epidural injection for sciatica. Facet joint injections. Pain management: Exercise classes for back pain. Medication: imipramine for pelvic pain, co-codamol for back pain.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP07 >> Was concerned that she didn't explain enough to her children but on the positive side they are now very understanding of people with disabilities.

Back pain since 1981. Failed back surgery syndrome. Diagnosed with Arachnoiditis, 2001. Surgery: laminectomy, correction of laminectomy and spinal fusion. Pain management: Learnt through support group and books. Current medication: distalgesic, co-proxamol, maprotoline, oxycodone (Oxycontin) during recent flare-up.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP28 >> Enjoys looking after her grandson after school. When she can't manage she drops him off at a friends.

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.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 20-30 >> Interview CP16 >> Cautions others to be wary of commercial interests on the internet, but says that doctors are starting to welcome informed patients.

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 41-60 >> Interview CP05 >> Went on pain management courses, gained confidence and started to read books.

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 61-80 >> Interview CP13 >> Tried to get information about her shoulder operation from the internet but would have liked more information from the hospital.

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 CP15 >> When she was deciding whether to have surgery she used the internet and asked her consultant lots of questions.

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 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.

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