The experience of living with persistent pain

Abstract

This article reports themes from a descriptive exploratory study conducted with 17 persons who live with persistent pain. The purpose of the research was to enhance understanding of what it is like to live with persistent pain from the perspectives of those who live the experience. Participant narratives of living with persistent pain included descriptions of physical pain as well as the pain of loss and restriction. The theory of human becoming provided the framework for guiding researcher-participant discussions and interpretation of findings. Three themes arose from the analysis: forbearance surfaces with the drain of persistent anguish; isolating retreats coexist with comforting engagements; and hope for relief clarifies priorities for daily living. The findings expand understanding about quality of life for persons who live with persistent pain. They also challenge nurses to begin focusing on the person who lives with pain as the messenger of how to endure. Recommendations, based on new understanding, are offered for practice and additional research.

Comfort as a basic need in hospitalized patients in Iran: a hermeneutic phenomenology study

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Facilitators and Barriers to Exercising Among People With Osteoarthritis: A Phenomenological Study

“…[17][18][19] Factors that may play an important role in explaining the exercise behavior of people with OA include self-confidence and self-efficacy, 14,17,19 -21 knowledge of the disease and the effects of exercise, 14,18,20 -22 the support and attitude of others, 14,18,20 -24 mental health, 21 and former experience of exercising. 14,18,20,22 Pain and stiffness are common symptoms of arthritis that also can have a significant impact on the attitude and capability of people to exercise, 22,25 as well as the common misunderstanding that OA is something that comes naturally with older age and that nothing can be done about it. 22,26 Moreover, encouragement by a physician to exercise or the lack of such encouragement has been shown to be of importance.…”

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