Persistent or chronic pain is defined as pain that you have had for more than 12 weeks (longer than you would usually expect something to get better).
Persistent pain is common, and can affect up to half of the population.
There are people who work in your GP practice who can help you manage your pain better, including:
- Pharmacists who can help manage your medications
- Physiotherapists who can help with better movement
- Wellbeing Coaches who can help to lose weight and exercise
- Social prescribers who can help you get in touch with local support services
Sign up for pain management emails
Struggling with long-term pain or unsure about your medication? The Mid and South Essex Pain Management email series delivers updates every two weeks with expert advice and practical tips to help you manage your pain.
There is also information about ways to reduce pain and how to get help for your pain on the NHS website.
Painkillers don’t exist!
The term ‘pain killer is wrong! Medicines cannot ‘kill pain’. They can only reduce pain for some time helping your movement and function for a better quality of life.
NHS campaign ‘Painkillers Don’t Exist’ was launched in 2019 to help patients and clinicians to understand how to manage chronic pain better.
Painkillers Don’t Exist website