Coping with chronic complex regional pain syndrome: Advice from patients for patients

Rodham, Karen; McCabe, Candy; Pilkington, Melissa; Regan, Laurence

Abstract

Objective: To explore what advice people currently living with chronic complex regional pain syndrome would offer to another person coming to terms with a diagnosis of chronic complex regional pain syndrome.Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 21 adults (5 male) living with chronic complex regional pain syndrome who had completed a complex regional pain syndrome rehabilitation programme were conducted.Results: Effectively self-managing complex regional pain syndrome required individuals to play an active role. This could only be achieved if they felt they had sufficient control. Means of attaining control involved attaining a level of acceptance, becoming well-informed and accessing the right kind of support. The advice offered by patients for patients largely reflected that offered by healthcare professionals. One area where there was a conflict concerned sleep hygiene.Conclusions: Our study provides support both for the argument put forward by Redman that without appropriate preparation and support, self-management is ineffective, and that by Skuladottir and Hallsdottir that the main challenge of the chronic pain trajectory is that of retaining a sense of control. The clinical implications of this are discussed. © The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2019
• Journal: Chronic Illness
• Print ISSN: 1742-3953
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-9206
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 29-42
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1742395312450178
• Keywords: complex regional pain syndrome, self-management, thematic analysis, advice, patients, coping
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/955363
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1742395312450178