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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Chronic Pain

Publication date: March 2005          Last updated: November 2010.

Review date: November 2012

 

Chronic pain can have a wide range of causes and symptoms. We interviewed 47 people about their experiences of chronic pain. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• Clip
• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP48 >> Explained that the people on the pain management programme all had chronic pain for different reasons but they still gelled.

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 61-80 >> Interview CP48 >> While he was at the pain management programme he set, worked towards and achieved his goal of climbing a small mountain.

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 CP07 >> Learnt to manage her pain through a support group and several self-management books that she found extremely helpful.

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 CP46 >> Described how you get referred to a pain management programme and the difference between pain management programmes and pain clinics.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP09 >> Was able to return to work after attending a pain management course.

Back/neck pain since 1994. Spinal compression and arthritis. Surgery: Disc surgery in neck and surgery on lower back. Treatment: Epidural steroid injections. Pain management: Out-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: rofecoxib (Vioxx), amitriptyline, tramadol for flare-up. Past medication: morphine (oral and patches).

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP10 >> Was scared to exercise but on the pain management programme learnt how to gradually increase the exercise she does.

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 CP10 >> Had been frightened that she might re injure her arm so protected it but now knows that exercise is safe and beneficial

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 CP11 >> Was assessed before going on a pain management programme to make sure he was going to benefit.

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 CP15 >> Found it hard when she first went to the pain management programme because it felt like there was nothing more could be done.

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 CP46 >> Explains that part of achieving a goal is problem solving which can involve asking others how they manage.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 61-80 >> Interview CP17 >> Learnt simple techniques at the pain management programme that weren't earth shattering but changed her whole approach to life.

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 CP17 >> Explained that the pain management programme helped her accept her back pain and that she would not return to her old job.

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 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> When she went to a pain management clinic she was a relieved to be told that they believed her pain.

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 61-80 >> Interview CP30 >> On the pain management programme he was initially reluctant to join in and exercise but when he saw an improvement was more enthusiastic.

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 61-80 >> Interview CP43 >> Was video taped walking at the start and the end of the pain management programme and was amazed at the improvement.

Back pain since accident at home in 1993. Treatments: Facet joint injections. Pain management: In-patient NHS pain management programme. Current medication: co-dydramol Past medication: co-proxamol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP46 >> Says he is one of the lucky ones because he went on a pain management programme instead of having surgery.

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 CP36 >> Was suspicious of pain management because it involved psychology and she was concerned that the doctors thought the pain was in her head.

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 CP36 >> Learnt, on a pain management programme, how negative thoughts and stress affect her pain and was surprised when relaxation helped.

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 >> NHS Pain Management Programmes >> NHS Pain Management Programmes

NHS Pain Management Programmes