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Updated: Feb 8, 2026
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Demonstration of Cutaneous Allodynia in Association with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Published on: June 23, 2009
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Seeking Chronic Pain Relief: A Hermeneutic Exploration
Crystal Lederhos Smith1, Billie Severtsen2, Roxanne Vandermause3
1College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington; Program of Excellence in Addictions Research, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington; Translational Addiction Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington.
Summary
Millions of adults with chronic pain on opioid medications feel lost in the healthcare system. This study explores their experiences seeking relief, highlighting a paradox in treatment and perception.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management Research
- Qualitative Health Research
- Mixed-Methods Studies
Background:
- Over 39.4 million adults in the U.S. experience chronic pain.
- Many chronic pain patients are prescribed opioid pain medications.
- Inadequate pain control is a significant issue for opioid users.
Purpose of the Study:
- To interpret the experience of seeking pain relief.
- Focuses on individuals with chronic pain inadequately managed by opioid medications.
- Aims to understand the phenomenon of pain relief seeking.
Main Methods:
- Concurrent embedded mixed-methods design.
- Heideggerian hermeneutic qualitative approach.
- Analysis of 13 interviews and 15 surveys from patients with chronic pain, current opioid use, and uncontrolled pain.
Main Results:
- Identified a central paradox: 'lost/finding myself in the health care system'.
- Overarching themes included suffering while seeking relief, being misclassified as addicts, living with pain as remembering, and treatment modalities as uncertain.
- Revealed complex patient experiences beyond simple drug-seeking behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Shifts focus from drug-seeking to pain relief-seeking behaviors in chronic pain patients.
- Suggests a need to re-evaluate how healthcare providers interact with chronic pain sufferers.
- Advocates for a change in approach to finding appropriate treatment modalities for chronic pain.
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