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• 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 20-30 >> Interview CP06 >> Suggests that people should use whatever complementary therapy works for them but cautions people to use qualified and registered practitioners.

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 61-80 >> Interview CP30 >> Recommends nutritional approaches and massage as part of a broader coping strategy.

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 CP12 >> Feels nutritional supplements are expensive and probably unnecessary if your diet is balanced

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 61-80 >> Interview CP09 >> Medication was making him too drowsy so his GP tried acupuncture, which was effective but short lived

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 >> 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 31-40 >> Interview CP20 >> Sees an osteopath and finds that manipulations help her headaches and thinks complementary therapies are a good alternative to medication.

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 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 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 CP07 >> Says people with chronic pain are vulnerable and need to know which complementary therapists are reliable, but there is little research on complementa

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 20-30 >> Interview CP42 >> Used to live in an area where the GP practice paid for complementary therapies. Advises asking for recommendations from a GP or support group.

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 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 20-30 >> Interview CP02 >> Her GP is willing to discuss new treatments and she thinks it is important to keep him informed about complementary approaches she uses.

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