Millions of people across the country are impacted by a condition which has been labelled a 'silent epidemic'. Chronic pain is said to impact 28 million people across Great Britain. The NHS offers guidance on how to manage condition, which is said to impact around 28 million adults who are living with serious pain that has lasted for three months or longer.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), The British Pain Society (BPS) have dubbed the illness a silent epidemic, while Versus Arthritis describes it as an invisible condition. The charity says this is because it is often undiagnosed, unrecognised and underestimated, reports the MEN.
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes is mong those trying to raise awareness of the condition. The 63-year-old GB News presenter, along with wife Ruth Langsford, has documented his suffering with chronic pain. Eamonn's condition has been caused by a dislocated pelvis and a trapped sciatic nerve, among many other health concerns. He has described the experience over the past two years as 'soul-destroying' and has shared a number of updates with fans in order to raise awareness.
Chronic pain can be caused by a number of things, according to NICE, including an ongoing degenerative illness, surgery or medical interventions, a primary condition or an acute injury.
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According to Great Ormond Street Hospital, the term ‘chronic pain’ includes a variety of pain syndromes that describe pain that has persisted beyond the expected period of recovery, for example, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), musculoskeletal pain, and persistent post-operative pain.
“Ordinary pain is what you feel when normally functioning nerves send messages from injured or inflamed tissues, for example pain from an operation,” explains the hospital. “It usually gets better quite quickly.
“Sometimes pain can last longer if tissues continue to be injured or inflamed. For instance, arthritis produces long-lasting ordinary pain, as there is repeated inflammation in the joints. Ordinary pain usually responds well to medicines.
“Chronic pain lasts longer and generally, does not respond well to medicines. It is caused by abnormal messages being sent by the nerves, even when the tissue injury has healed. The brain continues to interpret these messages as painful.
“Sometimes the pain may have begun following a specific event such as an injury or viral illness, and sometimes no obvious cause for the pain can be identified.”
The NHS adds: “Chronic or persistent pain is pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment.
Most people get back to normal after pain following an injury or operation. But sometimes the pain carries on for longer or comes on without any history of an injury or operation.
Chronic pain can also affect people living with:
diabetes
arthritis
fibromyalgia
irritable bowel
back pain”
Ways to manage chronic pain, according to the NHS:
The NHS states that exercise and continuing to work if you can are key to managing persistent pain, also known as chronic pain, to help lead a fuller life. It says lying in bed for long periods can make back pain last longer. Lack of activity can make you stiffen up and makes your muscles weaker. It also states it can make your pain worse and lead to other issues, uch as makign you sleep less and make you feel lonely.
Scientific research shows that pain that lasts longer than three months is likely to be due to changes in the nervous system rather than as a result of ongoing damage or injury, says one NHS musculoskeletal service. Therefore, tests such as x-rays and MRI scans that look at the state of tissue are often negative or inconclusive and therefore are not often needed. This means that pain is a result of a sensitised nervous system, which x-rays and scans are unable to detect.
Evidence shows that if people with persistent pain engage with simple pain management strategies it can improve their function, mental health and quality of life. This active approach is the most effective way of management persistent pain. Things you can do to help your-self include;
Learning about the causes of persistent pain
Remain active by planning, prioritising and pacing your activities
Talk to friends and family about how they can support you to stay active
Learning ways to improve your mental health
Using meditation and or relaxation techniques
Improving your sleep
Speak to your employer about ways of adapting your role / work environment
The aim of pain medication is to offer relief and then to enable people to return to previous activity levels. Although medication can be useful, it is often not a cure for persistent pain and can cause a number of unwanted side effects.
Therefore, any medication should be carefully considered to see if it is effective, says the NHS.
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