Chronic Pain significantly affects those around the sufferer as well

[Guest guest]

In both medical and psychological literature, the focus on

treatment interventions for chronic pain is largely directed

at the patient who suffers with the pain. Research time and

dollars are devoted to finding the best treatments,

medications, and surgical interventions to decrease the pain

experience for these special patients. Although suffering

daily with pain is certainly a devastating and consuming

problem for people with pain, there are other individuals

who also suffer with the curse of chronic pain. These people

the significant others and loved ones of the patient with

chronic pain.

Patients with chronic pain often suffer loss of function,

employment, and financial security, to name a few. For many,

these losses are not experienced alone. The spouses,

children, and parents of these patients are also

dramatically affected. Loss of function for the person with

pain can result in an increased burden for their significant

others. Often significant others must increase their

responsibilities to maintain the life-style that the family,

prior to the onset of chronic pain, was accustomed to. This

adds to the multiple roles that many of us already

experience. When the person with chronic pain is no longer

able to work the same number of hours, or perhaps, even work

at all, this adds to a reduction in income that dramatically

affects all members of the family. It is not unusual for the

significant others of these patients to take on extra

employment to subsidize the loss of income. The loss of

financial security speaks for itself in terms of its

negative impact on all involved. Besides dealing with

chronic pain, many of these patients experience guilt,

anger, and despair as they notice how their symptoms are a

" burden " to their family.

While the person suffering with chronic pain often

experiences depression, anxiety, and resentment, the

significant others of these patients also experience similar

symptoms - but for different reasons. Children, in

particular, are negatively affected. Their parent with

chronic pain is not able to be as readily available. Pain

often negatively affects the mood of the patient and that

impacts their children. This can lead to developmental and

behavioral problems for many children in these families.

Often, relationships undergo considerable strain when one of

the partners has chronic pain. This can lead to separation

and even divorce. The problems for patients with chronic

pain far exceed their pain alone!

Three areas that need to be addressed when coping with

chronic pain and its impact on significant others include

first, including the family members in treatment planning.

As a patient alerting your physician to concerns you may

have about the impact of your pain on your family can be a

starting point. Health care providers are accustomed to

dealing with the complexities of disease and how it affects

all concerned. They should be able to assist with the

appropriate intervention/education which can proactively

address problems in the future.

Secondly, opening lines of communication between yourself

and your loved ones can be most helpful. The more they know

about what you are experiencing (not just how much pain you

are in) the better they will be able to understand your

experience.

Finally, as the patient, it may be helpful for you to seek

out assistance to help you cope more effectively with your

frustration, depression, or anxiety. Accepting the hard

reality that your life-style (and your family's life-style)

may need to undergo considerable adjustments due to the

nature of your chronic pain will allow for a more flexible

response to the changes that pain brings.

Dr. Rita Cowan, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and Registered Nurse

who specializes in Health Psychology at The Falls Pain

Management Center, Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital. (216)

375-7721.