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First, a word or two….
- In fact 87 different words
were used to describe pain
in the McGill Pain questionnaire,
compiled in 1975. This questionnaire
is often used as a means
of measuring patients' subjective
pain experience.
- "The greatest evil is
physical pain". St Augustine
(354-430) Bishop of Hippo
in North Africa Soliloquies,1
- "Man endures pain as an
undeserved punishment: woman
accepts it as a natural
heritage". Anon
- "An hour of pain is as
long as a day of pleasure".
Proverb
There's back pain, head
pain, period pain……
- "Pain ailments" account
for nearly a quarter of
all minor ailments (1).
- The most common type of
pain is the headache, followed
by backache, colds and muscular
pain.(2)
Headaches
- Headaches are the most
common of all complaints
affecting 96% of the population
(3).
- Twice as many women as
men suffer from migraines.(4)
- Before puberty boys are
more likely to suffer migraines
than girls.(4)
- 25% of the population
suffers from migraines.(3)
Back pain
- 40% of adults experience
back pain (5), with over
1 million people having
work-related back pain.
(6)
- 57% of supermarket cashiers
experience lower back pain.(6)
- 2 out of 3 cases of acute
back pain clear up spontaneously
within a month.(6)
Muscular pains
- Men are more likely to
suffer muscular injuries
than women (31% vs. 28%),
probably due to the type
and frequency of sport undertaken.(1)
- Frequency of muscular
pains decrease with age,
with 37% of the 15-19 years
old group reporting most
injuries. The exception
is the 50-64 years olds
(35%).(1)
Colds & Flu
- 75% of people suffer from
aches and pains as a result
of cold or flu.(2)
- 10% of people take time
off work as a result of
aches and pains from colds.(2)
Period Pains
- 50% of the female population
suffers from period pains.(7)
- Queen Victoria suffered
from period pains - and
used cannabis to ease them!
Painful feelings (8)
- 86% of people said that
pain made them feel some
form of emotion.
- Nearly half of the population
(46%) said they felt tired
when suffering pain.
- Only 60% of the population
treat pain with medicines,
leaving 40% suffering pain.
- Nearly 1 in10 of the population
do nothing to relieve pain,
probably believing that
it is a sign of weakness
to do so.
Age Differences
- The younger age group
(16-24 years old) is more
likely to feel angry and
annoyed as a result of pain
than older people.
- Those most likely not
to treat their pain are
the 16-24 year olds.
- The older age groups are
more likely to seek medical
advice, whether from GP
or pharmacist.
Men v Women
- Twice as many women get
upset & emotional with pain
as men. These women were
predominantly in the 25-34
year old age group and from
the North of England.
- The feelings of anger
and annoyance are just as
common in men as in women
when experiencing pain.
Again the feelings are more
common in the younger age
group, living in the North.
Regional Divide
- Scotland/North This region
is most likely to feel angry
and annoyed as a result
of pain. One in three feel
emotional and upset. People
in the North are almost
twice as likely to visit
their GP than those in the
rest of the country.
- Midland/Wales This region
is least likely to associate
pain with an emotional feeling,
but is most likely to suffer
from lack of concentration
due to pain.
- South Southerners felt
the least angry, but are
the most antisocial when
in pain.
References:
(1) PAGB Everyday Healthcare
Study 1997
(2) The Oral Analgesics Market
Report 1996-1997
(3) Doctor 02-12-1998
(4) www.Painforum.com
01-02-2000
(5) Hospital Doctor 30-06-99
(6) www.backpain.org/b-facts/
16-02-2000
(7) Hospital Doctor 16-11-99
(8) CHIC Pain Campaign Survey
2000
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