The Understanding of Pain by Older Adults Who Consider Themselves to Have Aged Successfully
Musculoskeletal Care
Abstract
Objectives
Despite
an ageing population and an increased prevalence of chronic pain, the
relationship between chronic pain and the concept of successful ageing
is unclear. The aim of the present research was to explore older
people's views on past and present experiences of pain, and its
management, and how these experiences relate to their perceptions of
successful ageing.
Methods
Semi-structured
interviews with six participants, aged 75 years or older, who
considered themselves to have aged successfully, explored what this
concept meant to them and their experiences of pain. Data analysis used
methods drawn from grounded theory. The themes reported in this article
are ‘understanding of pain’ and ‘perceptions of ageing’.
Results
None
of the participants recalled painful experiences that were not
attributable to physical trauma. They believed that pain is part of life
and a natural consequence of the ageing process. While some accepted
this with little resistance, others felt frustration at what they
considered a dismissive attitude towards older people experiencing pain
from healthcare practitioners. The concept of successful ageing was
previously unfamiliar to participants, and their conceptualization of
ageing derived from comparing themselves with their peers.
Conclusions
The
findings of the present study suggest that predictable experiences of
pain as one ages may contribute to an acceptance of pain as a biomedical
certainty, a belief reinforced both by health professionals and
society. However, one may have chronic pain and yet consider oneself to
have aged successfully, and it should therefore be recognized that there
is a distinction between having pain and having a problem with pain.
Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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