The study is based on narrative interviews with 25 adults who self-identified as having lived well with their pain for at least six months. Most participants were women (64%), white (88%), highly educated, and suffered from either lower back pain or generalized pain (56%).
The researchers categorized the study's key findings into three main themes, all of which have practical relevance for healthcare professionals:
Partnership in Care Over Hierarchy
Participants emphasized the importance of being met as equal partners in the treatment relationship. Progress was seen as dependent on healthcare providers actively listening, taking time, and grounding their approach in the person's everyday life to better identify the causes of pain and understand individual needs and expectations. It wasn’t just about pain relief - it was about being understood and acknowledged.
A Supportive and Flexible Environment
Participants highlighted the value of employers willing to adapt work hours to their condition, opportunities for part-time or full-time remote work, and the ability to change work positions (alternating between standing, sitting, and lying down) as potential solutions to ease pain and anxiety related to work conditions. Many also pointed to volunteer work, access to communities, and digital communication as essential resources.
Self-Acceptance and Identity Transformation
“Letting go of the old self” and learning to live with pain emerged as one of the subthemes necessary for moving forward. The process involved adjusting performance standards at work, at home, and in other daily activities, gaining a better understanding of oneself and one’s needs, and recognizing that pain can be managed—and does not necessarily need to be eliminated at all costs. Learning this typically requires time and lived experience with pain.
Finally, discovering new ways to thrive helped ease the transition to living well with pain. Regaining a sense of purpose through participation in personally meaningful activities was a key source of motivation.
Clinical Implications
Healthcare professionals should look beyond symptom management and instead view the patient within a broader social and existential context. A multidisciplinary, person-centered, and relationship-based approach may be crucial in fostering resilience and autonomy in people with chronic pain.
The researchers recommend managing chronic pain using a model that integrates the individual, their relationships, and their environment. This highlights the need to rethink standard care pathways and to include the patient's social network, life circumstances, and personal goals in treatment planning.
Mélanie Bérubé, Lesley Norris Singer, Line Guénette, Laurence Bourque, Suzy Ngomo, Anne Hudon. Living successfully with chronic pain: Identifying the pivotal conditions needed to make it happen. Journal of Pain 2025.
Read the research paper here