“Chronic primary pain is chronic pain in one or more anatomical regions that is characterised by significant emotional distress (anxiety, anger/frustration or depressed mood) or functional disability (interference in daily life activities and reduced participation in social roles),” says ICD-11.10

“Chronic primary pain is multifactorial: biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the pain syndrome. The diagnosis is appropriate independently of identified biological or psychological contributors unless another diagnosis would better account for the presenting symptoms.”

The ICD-11 definition of chronic primary pain includes:10,11

·       chronic widespread pain (including fibromyalgia)

·       complex regional pain syndrome

·       chronic primary headache or orofacial pain (headache or orofacial pain that occurs on at least 50 per cent of the days during at least three months)

·       chronic primary visceral pain

·       chronic primary musculoskeletal pain.

Between 30-50 per cent of adults in the UK experience chronic pain, while around 5 per cent have what can now be described as chronic primary pain.3