MUSCULOSKELETAL MATTERS – BULLETIN 12
What was different about those people with chronic pain who were ‘ beating the odds ’ and avoiding pain interference in their lives ?
People who were ‘ beating the odds ’ on pain interference were more likely to be :
• involved in social activity
• involved in physical activity
• active participants in life
“ And I think for our own sake we have to be involved because being involved is one of the key things to … making us a whole person really . You can ’ t opt out of the world . You ’ ve got to be part and parcel of it … And so I think involvement is absolutely vital . But involvement within your capabilities ”
The key to living well with chronic pain was being physically and socially active ( within their capabilities ) in an everyday context , and being involved in life .
People who were ‘ beating the odds ’ also had :
• a flexible attitude
• an ability to adapt their activities
This ability to adapt is illustrated by the quotation below about gardening , a key and lifelong interest for many people that is an example of physical activity and involvement , and is often a social activity too .
“ I have to do a little bit less gardening because before now I ’ ve always set my own seeds , raked out and done , but now I buy my seedlings from the garden centres and carry on from there .”
Clinical implications :
Social activity , physical activity and involvement in life are key to reducing the interference from pain
The extent of interference of pain in everyday life can be different , even for individuals with the same level of pain
Older people can live and feel well with chronic pain . Acknowledging this idea is important in supporting them to do so
Implications for commissioners and local authorities :
• y There is a need for public health interventions to encourage social and physical activity and involvement in life
• y Policy makers need to consider ways to resource this engagement
• y Patients and professional leaders in health and social care need to highlight and promote the value that activity and social involvement adds to medical management of chronic pain
References
Jordan KP , Sim J , Moore A , Bernard M , Richardson J . Distinctiveness of long-term pain that does not interfere with life : an observational cohort study . E J Pain , 2012 ; 16:1185-1194 .
Moore A , Sim J , Bernard M , Jordan KP , Richardson J . Older people ’ s perceptions of remaining physically active and living with chronic pain . Qual Health Res , 2014 ; 24:761-772 .
Richardson JC , Moore AJ , Bernard M , Jordan KP , Sim J . Living Well With Chronic Pain in Later Life : The Role and Meaning of Activity and Involvement . Activities , Adaptation & Aging , 2015 ; 39 ( 3 ): 200-213 .
This bulletin presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research ( NIHR ) under its Research for Patient Benefit ( RfPB ) programme ( Grant Reference Number PB-PG-1207-15240 ). The views expressed are those of the author ( s ) and not necessarily those of the NHS , the NIHR or the Department of Health . For more information on these bulletins please visit : www . keele . ac . uk / pchs / disseminatingourresearch / newslettersandresources / bulletins