When we start to experience a new pain be it from an injury or without a clear cause, this is acute pain. Pain lasting for more than 3 months is considered chronic.

In the UK about 34% of adults experience some level of chronic pain. Despite many medical advances this percentage hasn’t changed since 2011 (Health Survey for England, 2017). The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has now categorised chronic, or persistent pain as a condition, yet it does remain difficult to define.

Sometimes there is an underlying disease or injury and often there is not. This is partly why diagnosis and treatment can lead people with pain down lots of pathways and numerous specialists and still not find answers. Pain is complex and influenced by lots of factors, understanding these factors and how they affect an individual is key to making progress.

The NICE guidelines (updated April 2021) emphasise the need for shared decision making, supportive relationships between healthcare providers and patients, and recognising that every patient’s experience is unique. The guidelines also acknowledge the importance of understanding how a person’s life affects their pain and how their pain affects their life.

To make sense of chronic pain, we must put the person at the heart of any treatment. This is client-centred care. Unpacking the triggers and patterns of pain can help us work together to devise action plans to improve your quality of life with a process of shared decision-making.