Positive Health Online

Abstract

SEERS, Royal College of Nursing Institute, Radclife Infirmary, Oxford UK reports the results of a study which investigated the experiences of 75 people with chronic non-malignant pain. The author writes that people with chronic non-malignant pain may find that traditional medical techniques do not alleviate their pain and may have to learn to live with the pain which can affect their lives in many ways. The study collected qualitative data illustrating what it meant to people to experience this chronic pain. It was shown that pain adversely affected many dimensions of sufferers lives, which effects extended to family and friends. Having others believe that the pain was real was crucial to many patients. Health care professionals can offer these patients a great deal to help them come to terms with the way in which pain has affected both themselves and others in their lives.

Background

Methodology

Results

Conclusion

References

Seers K. The patients experiences of their chronic non-malignant pain. J Adv Nurs 24(6): 1160-8. Dec 1996.

Comment

I wholeheartedly recommend to any pain sufferer the excellent book Full Catastrophe Living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Piatkus Books, 1996 £14.99). This book details the successful strategy employed by the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center using mindfulness meditation. This book also has about the finest description of meditation and how to use it for pain relief that I have yet to read.