The meaning of chronic pain: a phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Chronic pain sufferers are frequently misunderstood and stigmatised. The aim of this investigation was to provide a description of the life-world of people with chronic low back pain, using the phenomenological method. Themes which emerged werethat the persistent nature of chronic pain makes it particularlydifficult to endure, arousing a profound fear of the future. Chronic pain causes a disruption in the relationship between the person and the body. The person is forced to function within the constraints of pain and to find ways of coping. Sufferers are unable to fulfil social roles as expected and are forced to revise their goals and activities to accommodate the pain. The distress of their  experience is mediated by the ability to make sense of their condition, finding meaning in the pain itself. This study highlights the value of the phenomenological method in health psychology. Recommendations are made which may be of benefit to people with chronic pain and their families. The multidimensional nature of chronic pain is highlighted and implications for various professionals who work with chronic pain patients are discussed.