My Pain Feels Like
“Pain can be difficult to describe. Don’t suffer in silence.”
Communicating the details of your pain is vital when talking to your doctor or healthcare practitioner. In 2016, Chronic Pain Ireland was part of a national campaign called “My Pain Feels Like” to help patients understand and articulate their pain. The aim was to raise awareness of pain and support patients when communicating with healthcare professionals.
It was a collaboration between Grünenthal Pharma Ltd and Chronic Pain Ireland, supported by Multiple Sclerosis Ireland and Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.
In 2017, it won Patient Education Project of the Year at the Irish Healthcare Awards.
Joanne O’Brien, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Pain Management at Beaumont Hospital, details how a person experiencing chronic pain can talk to their doctor about their pain.
Dr Paul Murphy, Pain Consultant at St Vincent’s University Hospital, describes the important difference between normal pain and chronic pain and why chronic pain is now considered a disease entity in its own right.
Susan Murphy, a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist PhD at University Hospital Waterford, demonstrates some basic back exercises for people with chronic pain. Consult your GP or physiotherapist for specific advice.
To mark World Day Against Pain, the ‘My Pain Feels Like’ campaign featured a list of 10 things NOT to say to someone with chronic pain compiled by members of Chronic Pain Ireland.
What does your pain feel like?
Niamh Nestor explains what her pain feels like, her experiences and what others can do to get the right diagnosis.
Broadcaster Ivan Yates has had chronic lower back pain for many years. In this video, he tells his story and describes how he manages his pain with a busy schedule.
Related Content
