Pain's a Pain

I follow "Versus Arthritis" because I've had osteoarthritic pain for decades. Probably since I was in my late 20's early 30's. Around 15.5 million people in England (34% of the population) have chronic pain. Approximately 5.5 million people (12% of the population) have high-impact chronic pain and struggle to take part in daily activities. 10 million people (22% of the population) have low-impact chronic pain.

I have also had Fibromyalgia for decades. It's quite common, possibly 1 person in every 25 may be affected. Many people do not seek medical help, or are misdiagnosed so there are more. There may be 1.5 to 2 million people in the UK with Fibromyalgia. It's more common than rheumatoid arthritis. The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic, widespread pain throughout the body at multiple sites, tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing. People with the disorder have a heightened sensitivity to pain, so they feel pain when others do not. It tends to run in families & is more commen in women - I am my mother reincarnated.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-pain/background-information/prevalence/

I would say that Osteoarthritic pain is skeletal & Fibromyalgia pain is muscular. So it's a double whammy.

Chronic pain sufferers have to live with the effects of pain 24/7. In many cases there is no cure. A doctor can't wave a magic wand. Surprisingly, given the above statistics, Medics get very little training in any aspect of pain. https://www.pathways.health/blog/how-much-pain-education-do-medical-professionals-receive/  In my experience the main treatment for pain is a "suck it & see" system of various pain medications from Paracetamol to Opioids.

I am an expert in pain management. I have years of experience of what works & what doesn't. I use a variety of techniques to manage daily life. When I have an acute "flare up" nothing works, including painkillers, apart from, given time, a good osteopath. I just have to "live with it". When it comes down to it pain is very isolating. In my circle of family, friends & aquaintances there are few who have any idea what living with chronic pain is like.

The point of writing this is that the NHS, for all it's sucesses, fails chronic pain sufferers. We each have to become well informed, pro active, managers of our own conditions, because the majority of people we come into contact with, including medics, have no idea what our lives are like & what to do about our disability. 

If sufferers are financially secure & can pay for alternative therapies, physiotherapy, gym & pool memberships, exercise classes....they can maintain a reasonable level of fitness. If not the pain & disability must be overwhelming. It is truly a "use it or lose it" situation. Inactivity is the worst thing for chronic pain.