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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP31 >> Reached a point where she decided that she wasn't going to let pain wreck her life.

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 CP07 >> Says that bad flare ups still fill her with dread and can make her depressed even though she knows how to get through them.

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 31-40 >> Interview CP21 >> Started wondering whether she was imagining the pain so stopped talking her medication and found it was very much there.

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 CP15 >> Found it hard to admit that she was depressed and was annoyed that her GP suggested antidepressants but another GP put her at ease.

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 CP38 >> Has felt suicidal in the past and recommends picking up the phone and talking to a support group or the Samaritans.

Pain since 1979, Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 1996, Treatment: Hydrotherapy. Pain Clinic advice and medication. Pain management: Expert patient programme. Current medication: tramadol, morphine patches. Past medication: co-proxomal, co-dydramol.

• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP18 >> Explains that her dog comforts her, gets her out of the house and helped her to dismiss suicidal thoughts.

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 CP07 >> Explains that people need to recognise that pain is physical and emotional.

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.