Learning to live with chronic pain
It started with a fractured pelvis, which Deb Thompson assumed would ‘‘come right’’ with rest and time – but six years on her chronic pain remains.
Attempts to bring the unseen and lingering condition under control proved fruitless with all her doctors’ suggestions and two hip operations making little difference to Thompson’s quality of life.
‘‘The mentality is that you can fix everything but some things can’t be fixed . . . it’s really hard to get your head around.’’
It was only after being referred to the Auckland District Health Board’s regional pain service in 2015 that her situation changed dramatically.
Thompson was seen by a team of psychologists, physiotherapists and pain specialist doctors and nurses who helped develop a plan of attack to manage her pain both medically and hollistically.
‘‘Mindfulness, meditation and exercise . . . I was taught all of that at the clinic.’’
It took Thompson 18 months to get a place in the clinic, making her one of the lucky ones.
It’s estimated that one in five New Zealand adults suffers from chronic pain – about 770,000 people – with the number expected to rise to about 1.26 million people by 2048 as the population ages.
That equates to a financial burden of about $24 billion – more than the costs associated with diabetes and dementia – according to new research commissioned by the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ (ANZCA) Faculty of Pain Medicine.
Faculty chairman and specialist pain medicine physician Professor Ted Shipton said it was a real issue that would only continue to worsen without government intervention. Pain clinics, like the one Thompson had access to, were the best way forward but required investment, he added.
‘‘Chronic pain is complex and needs a complex response. That might mean assessment of pain conditions, prescribing medication, co-ordinating rehabilitation, performing medical procedures . . . [and] co-operating with other healthcare professionals.
‘‘More hospital-based multi-disciplinary pain clinics around the country would stem the rising cost and impact of chronic pain on New Zealand.
‘‘We’ve got the research that points to a model that works and a way to make that a reality throughout the country,’’ he said.
Shipton met with Health Minister David Clark yesterday to discuss the national pain strategy.
He had also fielded interest from ACC, Pharmac and Treasury.
‘‘It has to come from the top . . . to make the investment into this. It is a national health priority.’’
Shipton said the ANZCA report, The Problem of Chronic Pain and Scope for Improvements in Patient Outcomes, also highlighted the lack of pain specialists working in New Zealand.
Currently there are only 11 fulltime specialists, with the internationally recommended number for the country’s population size more than four times that number.
While there was no quick fix in growing that workforce, Shipton said introducing pain clinics around the country was a good place to start.
‘‘Improving access to specialised chronic pain services benefits patients and their families and the surrounding communities by reducing demand on our health care resources. It also assists patients back to an active and productive life.’’