Pain Case Study Examples

Introduction

Chronic pain is a long term condition, which means it cannot be cured, but the symptoms may be controlled by therapies and medications (Saxon and Lillyman, 2011). When pain is considered chronic, it lasts longer than the expected healing period and there may not be a clear cause (Kraaimaat and Evers, 2003).

Impact of having a long term condition on sufferer and significant others

A long term condition not only brings the physical symptom of pain, but a number of psychological and social effects too. In 2014 the Department of Health recognised that the impact of having a long term condition can contribute to mental health problems like depression and anxiety (Department of Health, 2014). As well as finding ways to manage their physical symptoms, patients are encouraged to adopt acknowledge and address all of their health and wellbeing needs, in particular self-management at home and incorporating and educating the patient’s family and close friends as a support system (Kraaimaat and Evers, 2003). The suffering that a person with chronic pain endures not only impacts on their life, but also affects their family, time lost from employment and uses up precious healthcare resources.

The case study for this assignment is scenario based on Lucy, a 20 year old with two years history of chronic lower back pain. Lucy has contributing factors including suffering from the female athlete triad which arose during her time as a gymnast. This assignment will look at the impact of Lucy’s health status using a bio psychosocial model, the coping strategies that she has used to manage her long term condition and ways she can develop effective skills and knowledge as well as other sources to manage her chronic pain.

Psycho-social issues...

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...y is already using are considered beneficial, but by looking at her health status using a bio psychosocial model, there are other management techniques that may complement her strategies so that she may further improve.

Lucy’s biological, psychological and social factors must all be individually addressed in order to manage her condition effectively and personally. By getting involved in a pain management programme with support and guidance from her primary physician and other multi-disciplinary team members, Lucy can be signposted towards other strategies that may complement the ones she is already using to manage her chronic pain. This proactive management would enable Lucy to learn to manage her own long term condition but with support, guidance and direction from her team of health care professionals, allowing her to take an active role in her pain management.