On the point of pain

Pain is perhaps one of the most globally experienced conditions. Whether it is acute or chronic, everyone undoubtedly experiences pain at some point. Pain Awareness Month, which runs throughout September, aims to bring awareness to the quantity of people experiencing pain daily, and the need for better – and importantly, accessible – treatment and/or management options.

Pain levels

In a recent study commissioned by Combogesic, 2,003 people were surveyed around their experiences of pain and its impact on their lives clinically, socially and economically.

The results were worrying, showing that 16 per cent of respondents were in pain most of the time, 15 per cent were in pain two or three times a week, 12 per cent were in pain two or three times a month, 11 per cent experienced pain once a day, and 10 per cent were in constant pain.

Some 98 per cent of adults said they had to deal with pain at least once a month. The study also asked respondents to assess how their experiences of pain were impacting other areas of their life. 

“Not surprisingly, the high prevalence of pain is negatively impacting the physical and mental wellbeing of millions of people – even though almost half (47 per cent) describe their pain threshold as ‘very’ or ‘quite’ high,” says the report. “Almost half (46 per cent) report sleepless nights due to pain.

Other common challenges caused by pain include: stress and anxiety (43 per cent), tiredness and exhaustion (38 per cent), irritation or agitation (34 per cent) and mood changes (33 per cent).” 

These far-reaching impacts of pain are interfering with people’s daily lives, and in the event that pain is experienced for several days a month, each month, pain is fundamentally shaping their relationships, potential at work, long-term mental health and, of course, physical health.

Many people naturally look to pain medication for help, with various options to choose from, but a heavy reliance on using opioids for pain relief has now been brought to light. 

A nation-wide problem

There are both prescription and non-prescription opioids available in the UK, with those over-the-counter being weaker and usually added to other pain killers like paracetamol. While they are effective pain-relievers, they are not meant to be used for extended periods. 

They have several negative side-effects, namely constipation, pruitus, nausea, psychological and physical dependence and dizziness.

This Pain Awareness Month, pharmacy teams can play a crucial role in making customers aware of these side-effects and encouraging other treatment and management options for pain, especially considering the UK’s heavy reliance on the medication.

Other data presented with the Combogesic report on pain found that between 1998 and 2026, opioid prescriptions increased by 34 per cent in England. “In 2019, the UK had the world’s highest rate of opioid consumption,” it said.

Mark Burdon, pharmacist and one of the authors of the report, stressed the long-term significance of a nation reliant on opioids. “The consequences of this opioid epidemic are extremely serious,” he says.

“Opioid-related hospitalisations rose by 49 per cent from 2008-2018, with an estimated healthcare cost of £317 million. Opioid-related drug poisoning deaths have also increased significantly, rising by 388 per cent in England and Wales over the past decades. In 2020, the death rate stood at 4.00 per 100,000.” 

What are the options?

It is clearly imperative that Brits need better solutions for managing their pain, or indeed, be aware of how to prevent pain from occurring in some instances. The NHS suggests several self care techniques to try:

• Get some gentle exercise daily like walking, swimming, gardening and dancing. These activities “can ease some of the pain directly by blocking pain signals to the brain” and can lessen pain by “stretching stiff and tense muscles, ligaments and joints”
• Instead of shallow, rapid breaths when pain strikes, try breathing slowly and deeply. “This will help you feel more in control, keep you relaxed and prevent any muscle tension or anxiety from making your pain worse”
• Talking therapies
• Focus on good sleep, which includes implementing a consistent sleep routine
  
• Relaxation techniques like meditation. 

Lastly, pharmacy teams can suggest pain killers like paracetamol, ibuprofen or ones that contain a combination of these. You can also discuss with customers the various negative side-effects of opioids, as many people are unaware of just what they are putting into their bodies and the effect it can have.