Moving away from medicines: an overview of chronic pain management.

Chronic pain can be debilitating and affects an increasing number of people in the UK due to an ageing population and the rising prevalence of comorbidities. Chronic pain can be primary, where it is not accounted for by another condition, or secondary, where it results from an underlying condition or injury. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published updated guidance on the assessment and management of chronic pain in adults. This article explores the latest recommendations regarding medicines use in chronic primary pain and outlines appropriate non-pharmacological management strategies. It also discusses some of the barriers to implementing chronic pain management interventions, and provides advice for nurses caring for patients who are experiencing this type of pain.