What a Pain Make pain matter, make it understood, make it visible and make it better
Jan 8, 2024
Professor Chris Eccleston, an esteemed academic from Bath University and a contributor to the Lancet Commission, dives into the complexities of pain management. He discusses the urgent need for a paradigm shift in chronic pain perception and advocates for the visibility and understanding of personal pain experiences. The conversation highlights innovative approaches to pediatric pain management, emphasizing the integration of mental health and the role of technology in shaping future treatment. Collaboration across disciplines and community support are vital for advancing pain research and improving patient care.
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Chris Eccleston's Pain Journey
- Chris Eccleston's interest in pain began during his undergraduate psychology studies when he reached out to Liverpool pain clinicians.
- His collaboration with pain experts led him to specialize in psychosocial aspects of pain during his PhD training.
Pain's Invisibility and Silence
- Pain typically remains invisible due to sociocultural norms that expect it to be short-lived and diagnostically useful.
- Chronic pain sufferers often retreat into silence, requiring us to create positive conversations that give pain a voice.
Cultural Barriers to Pain Dialogue
- People often avoid engaging with pain distress because empathizing deeply is emotionally taxing.
- Cultural views of pain as weakness lead to judgments and add to the complexity of addressing chronic pain.
