Persistent Pain
“In the early months of my illness it was very difficult to accept what was happening to me and very frightening too. A year later I'm more accepting of my condition. I find that with a bit of forward planning I can now get out and about as I used to rather than being housebound.”
Client’s blog on How to Cope with Chronic Pain
Persistent/ongoing pain
What is persistent/ongoing pain?
Pain can be a natural response to injury and/or illness from a variety of sources.
Ongoing Pain is often referred to as persistent or chronic pain. This is pain that is regularly occurring and can be significantly affecting all aspects of life including the ability to sustain work. Sometimes the pain is persistent long after an injury or surgery (more than 3 months) or due to a condition. However some pain occurs without a known underlying cause. Whatever the reason, pain can be hugely distressing and problematic and many people need specialist rehabilitation to support them in coping and living well with pain.
What are the symptoms of persistent pain?
Persistent Pain is the thing that is interrupting function, affects motivation and increases worry/anxiety, that affects our sleep. Pain is what gets in the way of being able to take part in social activities or to go to work, and help is needed to be able to still do these things despite the pain.
What causes persistent pain?
Diagnoses include but are not exclusive to
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis and other joint problems
• Back pain
• Headaches/migraines
• Traumatic injury
• Repetitive stress injuries when the same movement over and over puts strain on a body part
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Pelvic pain e.g. Endometriosis
• Abdominal pain e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Hypermobility syndromes e.g. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
How is it diagnosed?
In all likelihood there will have been referrals for medical investigations to ascertain any underlying cause of the pain. Our comprehensive assessment by one of our skilled clinicians will include a full review of this medical history.
We support people who are living with persistent pain to manage their symptoms through our practical and realistic rehabilitation programmes. These follow a comprehensive assessment and are collaboratively discussed according to individual need and aspirations e.g. to be able to drive for a longer distance or to be able to stand for longer, or indeed return to employment.
Persistent Pain may develop into a separate diagnosis in circumstances where clinically pain would not be expected to be present. For example, if pain is still present and interfering with normal activities beyond 3 months after expected time of healing. This can point to other things going on, such as changes in the brain in the ways that information is processed in relation to pain.
How is it treated?
A positive pain cycle can be established through a person learning skills and strategies to help manage their specific pain in line with their individual lifestyle, and this can improve function.
NHS provision can have limited resources available for the rehabilitation aspect which means people do not always receive an individually tailored approach that meets their specific needs and takes into account the full picture.
Clinical research has indicated that timely intervention to alleviate the pain cycle at the earliest point is crucial. The longer it goes on, the more embedded it becomes, with associated pain behaviours, altered lifestyles and prolonged use of medication.
Quality, efficient, specialist intervention with a holistic perspective of the individual is essential, which our rehabilitation programmes provide.
Further information
Core Standards for Pain Management Services in the UK, by the Faculty of Pain Medicine
Chronic pain cycle
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