Patterns of chronic pain in the population

Chronic pain is a common condition. Around three quarters of people with chronic pain have pain in multiple sites. The more extensive the distribution of pain, the more intense, disabling and distressing it is. Treating chronic pain patients at a musculoskeletal site-specific level is unlikely to be effective. Psychological factors are implicated in nearly all types of chronic pain; integrated treatment plus integrated delivery of a biopsychosocial approach to treating the whole body and person may optimise care for those with chronic multi-site pain.

► Around three quarters of those with chronic musculoskeletal pain will have pain in multiple sites.
► Site-specific treatment is likely to be inadequate.
► To provide truly integrated multi-disciplinary care for those with chronic pain it may be worth exploring the concept of multi-skilling practitioners.