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• Chronic health issues >> Chronic Pain >> Age 41-60 >> Interview CP24 >> Decided surgery was not an option because she had read that the benefits were only short term.

Back pain following injury at work, 1994. Treatments: Epidural steroid injections. TENS. Pain management: Graded exercise programme. Outpatient NHS Pain management programme. Current medication: Occasional use of 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 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.