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Is chronic widespread pain biographically disruptive?

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  • Richardson, Jane C.
  • Ong, Bie Nio
  • Sim, Julius

Abstract

This article draws on findings from a study of eight people (aged 40-60) with chronic widespread pain and their families, living in the West Midlands area of the UK. Data were generated through a series of in-depth interviews, based on a lifegrid and on participants' diaries. We explore the experience of chronic widespread pain in the context of sufferers' biographies, examining how people attempt to account for and give meaning to their pain onset and development and how they remake identity following disruption to their lives. We use these accounts to consider whether chronic widespread pain is biographically disruptive, or whether any of the alternative notions better describe the experience. We conclude that the consideration of context in biographical disruption should extend to lifestage and perceived life expectancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Richardson, Jane C. & Ong, Bie Nio & Sim, Julius, 2006. "Is chronic widespread pain biographically disruptive?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 1573-1585, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:63:y:2006:i:6:p:1573-1585
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    Cited by:

    1. Bell, Sarah L. & Tyrrell, Jessica & Phoenix, Cassandra, 2016. "Ménière's disease and biographical disruption: Where family transitions collide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 177-185.
    2. Philip Kinghorn & Angela Robinson & Richard Smith, 2015. "Developing a Capability-Based Questionnaire for Assessing Well-Being in Patients with Chronic Pain," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 120(3), pages 897-916, February.
    3. Engman, Athena, 2019. "Embodiment and the foundation of biographical disruption," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 120-127.
    4. Dassieu, Lise & Kaboré, Jean-Luc & Choinière, Manon & Arruda, Nelson & Roy, Élise, 2020. "Painful lives: Chronic pain experience among people who use illicit drugs in Montreal (Canada)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).

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