A third of pain sufferers in North West worried about dependency on painkillers

A third of pain sufferers in North West worried about dependency on painkillers

A third of ‘pain sufferers’ in the North West are concerned about their dependency on drugs in order to manage their daily lives, according to a survey by Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity. More than one in three (36 per cent) say the require pain killers just to be able to work.

The figures are a snap shot of pain killer use across the UK, and show long term, daily use of potentially addictive drugs to be commonplace. Clinicians at Nuffield Health say pain killers are often seen as an easy or cost effective treatment option instead treating the underlying medical problem.

Of more than 3100 people surveyed, more than half (1659 people) had managed pain or injury with painkillers in the last 12 months. In the North West, figures show:

Nearly one in seven (13%) admit taking more than the safe recommended dose.
A third (33%) are worried about dependency on pills to manage their daily lives.
Nearly a third (30 per cent) have been taking painkillers for more than five years.
One in five (20%) said they take between five and ten pills a day.

Close to four in ten people (37%) are managing their pain or injury with strong and potentially habit forming drugs including Codeine and Tramadol. A smaller group (6%) are using even stronger opiates, including morphine and pethidine. And, with nearly half (46%) reporting problems sleeping due to pain, 11% said they use sleeping pills.

Experts say patients need to aware of the repercussions of long and short term use of pain killing drugs, which can cause sickness, stomach problems, including bleeding or ulcers, constipation, drowsiness or serious medical conditions like liver disease. Some drugs can also lead to anxiety and depression and lead to dependency.

Consultant Spinal Surgeon at Nuffield Heath, Mr Manoj Krishna, said: “A lack of knowledge, or fear about treatment can lead some patients into long term use of painkillers, often without a clear diagnosis by a specialist. This can be a very bleak existence with patients becoming depressed, losing their jobs, and often becoming dependent on the drugs. I regularly see patients who struggle to deal with drug addiction after their medical condition has been successfully treated. With advances in medicine there are many new treatment options available and it is important that patients explore these options fully. Surgery, injections, physiotherapy or even an exercise programme may be more appropriate. In the 21st Century in a country with a world class health service, our patients in pain deserve a better deal.”

The figures show that one in six (16 per cent) of people who sought treatment from a GP expressed unhappiness with the outcome of the appointment. Of those who have managed to find a solution, 19% used physiotherapy while 7% had surgery. One in six (16%) said their pain or injury recovered over time, suggesting long term use of pain killers is not a suitable treatment option.

Cabella Lowe, Head of Physiotherapy Services at Nuffield Health said: “Less than a fifth of people in the North West are being successfully treated by physiotherapy. We believe more people could alleviate their pain by seeing a physiotherapist. The most important action is to seek expert advice quickly, as research shows that early intervention is key to getting rid of pain. Worries about dependency are staggeringly high and match an increasing trend for people to use painkillers as a solution. Any concerns people have about their reliance on painkillers should be addressed urgently with a GP.”

For many, the repercussions of failing to find a curative treatment can be revealed: Of those still reporting pain or injury, one in four (41%) are unable to exercise; and nearly a fifth (19%) report suffering from depression.