Above all, chronic pain can have a devastating effect on a person's everyday life:
- Chronic pain can affect a patient's ability to function normally and perform everyday activities.
- Chronic pain can be linked to depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances. This can affect the patient's ability to perform daily activities even more.
- Chronic pain may impede mobility or flexibility, which can result in:
- Loss of social contacts and/or family relationships
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty holding or carrying things
- An inability to perform other activities, such as: running, fishing...
- Poor personal hygiene
- Constipation or incontinence
Patients who suffer from chronic pain must be assessed carefully before a treatment decision is recommended. A person with chronic pain may also suffer from physical, psychological, social and/or behavioural contributors, which require specific attention in a comprehensive treatment plan.
