Women suffer from more ‘widespread pain’ than men and are more likely to report experiencing stigma and long delays in getting a diagnosis for their pain.
This new data, found in Chronic Pain Australia’s 2024 National Pain Report, reveals the complex differences in how pain is experienced for each gender.
Nearly half of women report stigma from health professionals, and almost 40 per report feeling stigmatised by their GPs.
Alongside women, non-binary respondents also reported widespread pain as their second-most common source of pain. This suggests each of these groups may have more complex presentations that could impact their treatment journeys given the ubiquitous nature of widespread pain.
Men most commonly report back pain as the strongest source of their pain, according to the report.
Women and non-binary respondents face long delays to be diagnosed with chronic pain. Nearly half of women and almost 60 per cent of non-binary respondents report waiting more than three years.
In Australia, 3.6 million Australians live with chronic pain, and this National Pain Week (22 to 28 July), Chronic Pain’s data from the National Pain Survey is raising awareness for their experiences. Despite increased awareness, stigma, isolation, and mental health issues persist for those living with chronic pain.
The impacts of chronic pain on Australians’ productivity and relationships are also significant.
Nearly half of those with chronic pain are in their prime earning years, pointing to pain impacting national productivity. Nearly half of survey respondents have had to stop working because of their pain and almost 30% have had to limit their hours.
Two-thirds of respondents feel that their condition strains family relationships. Over 60 per cent report reduced intimacy or a struggle to have sex as a result of their pain. Four in ten struggled to pick up, carry or play with their children.
These impacts seem to be falling heavily on young Australians in particular as well, with 9 in 10 respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 report being ignored or dismissed by health professionals. And significantly more in this age group have had thoughts of self-harm, taking their own life or have gone so far as to make an attempt at suicide.
Speaking to the impact of the report’s findings, Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia, Nicolette Ellis said: “If you are living with chronic pain, I hope seeing your experience validated in this report is a painchanger for you. And if you have a loved one living with pain, perhaps you will find inspiration on how to be a painchanger for them.”