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The UK NHS has published guidelines for people with chronic pain on its website, recommending that people with chronic pain should exercise more physically and not give up their job responsibilities. The material caused a big stir on Twitter and divided its users.
- After the NHS published advice for people living with chronic pain, the web went wild. Those affected pointed out the flaws of the ideas contained in the recommendation
- The record on the role of work and physical activity caused the greatest excitement
- The NHS says work is designed to distract the person suffering from chronic pain, and exercise will make it less severe
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Controversial advice for people with chronic pain
The NHS (UK health service) guidelines for people dealing with chronic pain received a huge wave of criticism on Twitter after a user registered as Sarah M posted a photo of a advice page, as reported in the «Daily Mail ». The indignation was especially caused by the indications about “breaking” the pain that would lead the people suffering from it to physical activity and encouraging them to work in such a difficult condition.
It is worth recalling that chronic pain is defined as continuous, long-lasting pain that lasts more than 12 weeks or persists for an unusual amount of time following an injury or surgery. According to the British Pain Society, close to 10 million British people suffer from chronic pain every day. People with chronic pain mostly use painkillers as a method of dealing with it, but new research shows that the most commonly used painkillers not only fail to eliminate it in common conditions, but can even cause it.
The NHS Chronic Pain Guidelines for People have split Twitter users
The original Sarah M post gained over 23 on Twitter. likes and received many comments. The first was provided by Sarah M herself, who wrote: “Jesus Christ … 95 percent. This page does not provide any advice on how to deal with pain. NHS, just admit you don’t know anything (about it) ».
One Twitter user even wrote that he was at a health disadvantage thanks to an NHS-promoted approach and “gritting his teeth”. Other people wrote: “I am 100 percent. convinced that something like this could only be written by a person who has never experienced chronic pain “,” I’m surprised that they did not add: “We think that you are making it up and all this is only in your head”, as the psychotherapist told me and recommended intense exercise that I can’t do and then he told me to go out “,” I was told literally that exercise destroys my joints and makes my pain worse, so what? “,” Let me just fight the pain, that makes me cry for an hour and do yoga »,« Chronic pain is such a widespread condition that they should (NHS) just not give any advice ».
In opposition to this type of opinion, there were opinions of people who introduced physical activity into their lives and felt better. However, many of these commentators did not explain whether they experienced chronic pain or simply felt better after switching from not practicing sports to being active. These twitter members wrote: “When I started to move and be active in the gym, it helped me with my pains”, “If the pain is not due to anything other than age, then you have to move, otherwise the pain will get worse. It’s a cycle of »,« I would rather be encouraged to be active and productive than prescribed painkillers ».
However, the guidelines on the NHS website that upset Twitter users the most were not only about sports and physical activity, but also about staying in work. According to the NHS website, research shows that people who are not working become less active and more depressed, and that “being at work can distract you from pain and not make it worse”.
NHS experts advised people with chronic pain to speak to their manager, outline their situation and declare that they want to work (if that’s what they want). If the chronic pain patient has been unable to work for 4 to 6 weeks, the NHS recommends that you plan your return with your doctor, therapist or employer, so that, for example, starting with one day at work, you can gradually return to full hours. .
To deal with chronic pain, the NHS also recommends meditation, online sites dedicated to people facing the problem, reaching for painkillers and using physical therapy.