Nurses in persistent pain can thrive if they have a supportive manager, but lack of understanding in the workplace can make them feel a burden

One estimate of the number of people in the UK living with chronic pain suggests up to half the population may be affected. Another study, from the Public Health England (PHE), found more than one third of respondents had some level of chronic pain. More women (38%) than men (30%) said they had chronic pain, and the risk increased with age. PHE found that almost 40% of people aged 45-54 years are affected, compared with 18% of those aged 16 to 34 years.