We have all experienced the feeling of pain in one form or another, physical, emotional or psychological.
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage."
There are two kinds of pain: acute pain which is short-term pain and chronic pain which is pain felt for over three to six months.
Research has shown that pain is present in one in 10 persons aged 18 to 24, rising to one in four persons aged 45 and over.
One in every five adults in Malta endures chronic pain, a study by the Malta Health Network (MHN) and the No Pain Foundation has found.
A local study carried out in 2018 is the first to give an insight into the number of patients that suffer from chronic pain in which a sample of 1,100 people was used for the research.
The study found that 86% of sufferers are absent from work for at least one week every year as a result of chronic pain.
Individuals with chronic pain report that their conditions are limiting their daily activities by varying degrees from lifting a bag with groceries to going up a flight of stairs. Younger individuals report a higher level of impairment to their social activities due to their physical or emotional state.
‘Musculoskeletal diseases including arthritis, joint pain and fibromyalgia make up 75% of the causes of chronic pain while 20% results from chronic headaches and migraines.’ Other sources of pain include cancer, vascular disease, poor circulation or various injuries.
‘The pain can limit persons in basic activities such as washing and bathing, walking short distances, catching a bus or driving. This impacts the quality of life of people, causing emotional distress and a sense of failure.’
Some people live with chronic pain as a result of trauma e.g. after a road traffic accident, where technically they are medically fit, but they end up with chronic pain or they survive cancer but have to live with chronic pain due to the treatment they experienced. Nowadays patients and professionals are demanding that Pain is recognised as a disease in its own right.
Pain is also related to obesity so one needs to look at healthy living including weight management and physical activity. Occupational hazards also need to be addressed; for example positioning one's computer at the right height and angle.
Emotional and mental issues also affect chronic pain patients’ families immensely, such as missing work and family events because of pain all contribute to stress.
(Retrieved from: Duenas et al, 2016)
A holistic policy must be considered which provides chronic pain prevention where possible. Quite a large proportion of chronic pain, especially that related to back pain can be prevented with adequate education.
The Chronic Pain Management Service, popularly known as the ‘Pain Clinic’ is a specialized clinic at Mater Dei Hospital, run by Trained Pain Specialist Consultants with the co-operation of a multidisciplinary team.
The team consists of three Consultant Anaesthetists specialising in pain management and one visiting Consultant, a Practice Nurse Pain, Deputy Charge Nurse, Staff Nurse, Clerk, Nurse Aide, Two Physiotherapists, Psychotherapy Nurse, and with the cooperation of Radiographers, Theatre Anaesthetic Nurses and Day-care nurses for procedures.
A ticket of referral needs to be completed by the patient’s Family doctor, Primary Health doctor or another Consultant for an appointment to be made at the Pain Clinic.
People may experience pain on a daily basis, and it is essential to distinguish pain as a symptom and chronic pain.
Improving the definition of pain, in order to conclude a pain diagnosis and adequate classification of its clinical forms is the way forward in modern health care.
Don't be afraid to consult with a health care professional or a doctor of your choosing to tackle pain firsthand!
References:
Freburger JK, Holmes GM, Agans RP, et al. The rising prevalence of chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(3):251–258. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2008.543
Dueñas M, Ojeda B, Salazar A, Mico JA, Failde I. A review of chronic pain impact on patients, their social environment and the health care system. J Pain Res. 2016;9:457–467. Published 2016 Jun 28. doi:10.2147/JPR.S105892