Chronic pain pathways bring evidence-based guidance and support

Chronic pain, that is pain persisting for more than 12 weeks, is common. Most figures indicate that nearly 20% of people will be affected by chronic pain at some point in their lifetime.1,2 Chronic pain is rarely an isolated problem and is often associated with mood disorders and impact on work, relationships, and overall quality of life, with around 5% of sufferers having very severe pain and disability.2,3 There are significant healthcare and social care costs associated with chronic pain, for example back pain alone is estimated to cost the UK around £12 billion a year and account for 4.6 million GP appointments.4,5 A cure for chronic pain is unlikely for most patients, so effective long-term management is important.