Health: How chronic pain affects your ability to work, exercise and socialise

A total of 74 % of people from Leinster say their pain has a negative impact on their ability to exercise.

Some 42 % say that it affects their social life and 50% say that if affects their work with almost one in four missing up to a week of work in the last year.

Meanwhile, almost eight out of ten ‘pain sufferers’ delay discussing it with their doctor.

A new ‘mypainfeelslike…” campaign, launched by Ivan Yates, aims to support patients when talking with their doctor.

Research found that over half of Leinster people living with chronic pain feel frustrated when trying to describe it and this contributes to 30 percent delaying discussing their pain with their doctor.

To help people explain their pain and receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment, the ‘mypainfeelslike...’ campaign has also developed a series of images that visually interpret pain symptoms such as, burning, stabbing and crawling under the skin.

“Persistent pain is now considered to be a disease entity in its own right and is associated with a range of changes in nerve function, mood, cognition and social function. Early assessment is essential in devising a strategy to help chronic pain sufferers” said Dr Paul Murphy, Pain Consultant at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin.

Ivan Yates has spoken out about his pain by saying his lower back pain started in 2003 while driving around the country.

“The pain started off as localised, a kind of stabbing feeling in my lower back. Soon it spread down my leg, which led to me using crutches as I was unable to walk”, said Yates at the launch of the campaign.
In 2011 Yates underwent spinal fusion surgery which unfortunately didn’t work and he is still in pain every day.

“Sitting is a big aggravator so I have no shame in standing, kneeling or lying on the floor while on the radio, at events or wherever – it has to be done! I encourage anyone out there suffering from pain to log on to mypainfeelslike.ie to get more information and take the pain questionnaire to help them describe their pain”.

It is estimated that approximately 1.65 million people in Ireland have chronic pain, with 20 percent living with pain for 10 years or more.

Chronic pain is pain or discomfort that troubles a person all of the time or on and off for more than three months. It can be caused by a condition (e.g. arthritis, fibromyalgia), an isolated event (e.g. injury, infection), or a non-traceable occurrence.

Neuropathic or nerve pain is caused by damage to or dysfunction of the nerves, spinal cord, or brain. Typical effects are felt as a burning or tingling type of pain.

The campaign is a collaboration between Grünenthal Pharma Ltd and Chronic Pain Ireland and supported by Multiple Sclerosis Ireland and The Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.

Take the “my pain feels like...” questionnaire available at mypainfeelslike.ie.