Experiences of moving with persistent pain--a qualitative study from a patient perspective

The aim of the present study was to use a phenomenological approach to explore how patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain experienced moving with their pain.

In-depth interviews were performed by a physical therapy researcher with many years' experience with the rehabilitation of patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain.

The patients took part in individual rehabilitation at two different physical therapy departments. All but one patient opted to be interviewed in a room at the physical therapy department.

The sample was purposive and consisted of 10 Swedish outpatients with heterogeneous nonmalignant persistent musculoskeletal pain.

The interviews were analyzed according to a qualitative method known as the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological (EPP) method. The results were coded, analyzed, and described in typologies.

The experience of moving with pain implied much more than pure physical movement. Pain was a threatening challenge to the informants' existence and identity. Three typologies were identified: failed adaptation, identity restoration, and finding the way out.

In conclusion, to move with persistent pain was described by the informants as having deep existential impact on the individual's life. It was also evident that all of the informants experienced a dramatic change in their identity. These experiences would most likely affect the patients' chances of recovery. To help him/her through the rehabilitation process, we need to extend our knowledge about what it means to the patient in an existential context to be unable to move as before.