Pain is a universal experience, yet it manifests differently in each individual. Globally, pain affects billions of people across various demographics, making it a significant public health issue.
It’s estimated that chronic pain affects more than 30 percent of people worldwide, a staggering figure that highlights the urgent need to understand pain and develop effective management strategies. Our programme ‘Pathways to Pain Management’ explores this global issue, with expert interviews from our partners British Pain Society (BSP), The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the member organisation Pain UK.
View the programme page here to watch all interviews.
Pain is an essential biological signal, a way for the body to alert the brain that something is wrong. It can be acute, like the sharp sensation from a cut or injury, or chronic, where pain persists for extended periods (beyond three months), often without a clear cause. Chronic pain can arise from conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or nerve damage and can profoundly impact a person’s quality of life.
The global burden of pain
Chronic pain is often invisible, but its effects are tangible. Those who live with chronic pain face a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and disability. The economic cost is also staggering. In the United States alone, the combined direct medical costs and loss of productivity due to chronic pain are estimated to range between $560 and $635 billion annually. This makes pain not only a medical challenge but also a socio-economic issue that requires global attention.
Dr Alan Fayaz, Chair of the Communications Committee at the British Pain Society (BPS) explains how chronic pain can have a huge impact on the individual, and at a societal level too.
“On an individual level, we know that people with chronic pain are more likely to be depressed, more likely to be out of work, more likely to harm themselves — of course the medication they’re on can have side effects as well. On a societal level, chronic pain is immensely expensive, costing more than cancer or cardiovascular disease, and is highly disabling…”
WATCH ‘PATHWAYS TO PAIN MANAGEMENT‘ to explore insights and understand the impacts of pain and how it’s managed.
“The data we have shows that the longer you have pain — particularly pain that is not explained by a biological or a physical cause — people can get quite distressed by it, which is quite understandable,” says pain specialist physiotherapist Jackie Walumbe.
“We find that people really withdraw from social life, become isolated and really struggle to take part in day-to-day activities, such as taking care of their families, going to work and doing the kind of stuff that makes life interesting. The impact really is quite significant.”
Ash James, Director of Practice and Development at the CSP, and specialist physiotherapist Jackie Walumbe, discuss physiotherapy’s crucial role in pain management.
Approaches to pain management
Pharmacological treatments
Pain relief often begins with medication, ranging from over-the-counter solutions like ibuprofen to prescription opioids for more severe pain. However, the opioid crisis has highlighted the risks of over-reliance on pharmaceutical solutions, with addiction and side effects posing significant challenges.
Physical therapy
For many, especially those with musculoskeletal pain, physical therapy is a highly effective, non-invasive option. Techniques like exercise, manual therapy, and even acupuncture have been shown to alleviate pain and improve mobility over time.
Ash James, Director of Practice and Development at the CSP, explains that the real value in physiotherapy and pain management is the fact that physiotherapists, wherever they are; in whatever sector, treat the whole person.
“In pain management there can be an over-medicalisation — a concentration on things like medication — whereas the physiotherapist will treat the whole person and make sure that all aspects of their life regarding pain are managed,” he says.
Psychological approaches
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction are increasingly recognised as powerful tools in pain management. These techniques help patients reframe their perception of pain, teaching coping strategies that reduce the psychological burden of chronic pain.
Lifestyle and holistic approaches
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, and adequate sleep plays a crucial role in managing pain. Integrative treatments, such as yoga, tai chi, and massage therapy, are gaining traction for their ability to reduce chronic pain, particularly in conditions like arthritis and lower back pain.
Managing pain is complex and multi-faceted. A key to future success lies in personalised approaches that take into account the specific needs of individuals. This can include combining medical treatments with psychological support and lifestyle changes, all while continuing to research new methods for pain relief.
Roland Watson from Pain UK.Pain UK, an umbrella organisation to around 45 member charities, signposts people who are dealing with pain to the best charities that will be able to help them.
“We’ve got something called the Clinical Advisory Board, made up of medical experts who we can pass people’s questions on to. They then take those questions, research it, and present facts; unbiased, unopinionated information,” says Roland Watson of Pain UK.
Pain UK’s current ‘UK’s Lived Experience of Pain’ survey has just completed its first phase, and aims to develop key findings and raise awareness of pain management. Discover more in our interview with Roland here.
