Pain, Be Not Proud

The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care launched a three-year pain relief project for the seniors last January. Interviewing close to 400 elderlies who participated in the project, the team found that nearly 90% of them suffered chronic pain in at least two sites, mostly commonly knee (38%), back (21%) and shoulder (15%). Chronic pain refers to intermittent or persisting pain that lasts at least three months. The physical discomfort will beget emotional and psychological issues that bedevil the elderly subject’s everyday and social life, which further undermines her mobility. The project provides care for the afflicted elderly through public health education, workshops and counselling. Its cross-disciplinary team of therapists is in charge of pain relief coaching.