Chronic Pain: Advice & Guidance

I’m Samuel, the DISCO community ambassador for the school of Psychology in 2025, and I experience chronic pain, which got me interested in chronic-pain specific student resources. 

The International Association for the Study of Pain defined chronic pain as “pain that persists or recurs for longer than 3 months”; typically in chronic pain definitions there is also an assumption that the pain exists ‘past the point of normal healing’. Basically put, ‘chronic pain’ is pain that keeps coming back, without a clear injury or particular cause. For some people, chronic pain is persistent, it never goes away, and for others chronic pain is continually recurring - both experiences count as ‘chronic pain’. 

Personally, my pain comes and goes, but I know a lot of students who experience persistent pain. These experiences led me to research chronic pain management, within the context of a university degree. Most advice that you receive early in your University career, about studying, is tailored for non–disabled people. I know that I’ve had to adjust the ways I study to adapt to my chronic pain condition, so I became curious about the available self-management advice.

I began my search by collating a list of Universities that had been recommended, in various articles, as being particularly well-known for disability accommodations. This list included: 

• The University of Sussex, 

• The University of Winchester, 

• The University of Leeds, 

• Brunel University London, 

• The University of Manchester, 

• The University of Sheffield, 

• Nottingham Trent University, 

• The University of Worcester, 

• The University of Nottingham, 

• University of Cambridge, 

• University of Edinburgh, 

• University of Brighton, 

• York St John University,

• Bath Spa University 

• University College London. 

A search of these universities websites, and their associated student union websites revealed that only two made specific reference to chronic pain experienced by their students, University of Nottingham and University of Leeds. Most of the existing guidance on chronic pain self-management is aimed at those who are long-term unemployed, or those in employment, but not those attempting academic placements, and most of the studying guidance provided by universities is only adapted to address mental health and well-being concerns, not disability or chronic pain related concerns. 

This contributes to a broader picture of ‘invisibility’ in chronic pain, especially for young people - Adolescents and young adults do experience chronic pain, but there is an assumption that pain-related accommodations are primarily for older adults, so they aren’t adapted to the needs of younger people, who are more likely to still be in academia. 

I am hoping to be able to conduct my own research, to fill this gap, by interviewing students at the University of York about their experiences of chronic pain and ways that they have learnt to adapt their academic lives to fit around their conditions. This task was outside the remit of my position of DISCO community ambassador, so, for now, I’ve collated what little guidance does exist.

Hopefully, you find this advice helpful - but watch this space as we hopefully grow and expand this advice and guidance.

The University of Leeds provides a comprehensive ‘Chronic Pain and Fatigue Guidance’ document that is currently being reviewed and updated. It is focused on supporting employees, but does also function as a decent guide for how staff should support students who experience chronic pain. They have information about understanding chronic pain and fatigue, practical ways that managers can support their employees, advice on self-management and links to larger charity groups who do chronic-pain related work. 

The University of Nottingham has produced a specific ‘toolkit’ called the Pain at Work toolkit (PAW). PAW is currently being used for research purposes, so the specific content is currently unavailable. I contacted the researchers; they do not have an idea of when it will be publicly available again. Regardless, parts of the toolkit can be gleaned from their research. 

I have used both of these to create some general advice for students managing chronic pain.

1. Beware the Boom and Bust

   • Chronic pain affects one’s energy levels, so many individuals who experience chronic pain find themselves in a pattern of overexerting themselves, when they are in less pain, to catch up on work/tasks, which ends up perpetuating pain - People ‘over-do it’ when they can, and this results in more pain or exhaustion later on. 

   • Students do have a lot of work to get done, and it’s reasonable to want to achieve more on days where you feel capable of it, but it’s also good to have these cycles in mind. 

   • Some people have found that journaling is a useful tool, as it helps them to work out the patterns of over-extension, and avoid them, whilst still maximising their productivity.  

2. Consider disclosure carefully

   • At University generally, you will typically find that most people are accepting of chronic pain, and willing to accommodate for it, where possible (disability services have a lot of information). 

   • However, if you have a part-time job, you may not have the same experience. 

   • Chronic pain qualifies as a disability under the UK Equality Act (2010), so you are entitled to reasonable adjustments, but workplace stigma is still a very real thing, so you should prepare for this, if you do disclose.

   • The University is partnered with a non-profit organisation called EmployAbilitywhich offers support to those with disabilities in the workplace.  They are able to help support you in navigating the workplace and disclosure - should you wish to do this.  

3. Explore reasonable adjustments

   • At University you will likely be asked what adjustments you would benefit from but many people who experience chronic pain aren’t actually particularly aware of what adjustments might help. 

   • Adjustments can include: 

     1. flexible working hours, 

     2. ergonomic equipment (standing desks, ergonomic chairs, footrests, wrist supports, monitor risers, lighting modification),

     3. scheduled rest periods

     4. access to quiet spaces. 

     5. Exam deferrals and occasional coursework extensions

   • Try different things, and make a note of what works for you in different contexts. 

4. Meaning-Making 

   • If you experience chronic pain, especially as a student, this can be really detrimental to your overall life - it makes it harder to regularly engage with others, do hobbies, keep up with work and commit to long-term plans. 

   • It’s good to bear in mind ‘Meaning Making’; consider what you value in your life and plan for ways that you can still achieve valued action, even during flare ups. 

   • For example, if you enjoy sport, you may not be able to engage in your typical sporting activities during pain flare ups, but you may still be able to feel ‘competitive’ through online games, experience nature with a short walk or by cheering your sports team on. 

5. Be kind to yourself. 

   • Chronic pain can be really isolating, especially when you’re young, and especially at university, where all studying guidance is directed at able bodied students. 

   • Being a student with chronic pain often comes with some degree of acceptance that your life will be different to that of your peers; you may not be able to engage in all of the activities that your friends do, you may not be able to study in a similar way to your academic peers and you might have to consider different post-graduation employment options. 

   • Be kind to yourself - Consider and respect your limitations, and stand up for them. 

6. Disability community. 

   • The previous work of the DISCO project revealed that disabled students at the university of york consider themselves to be benefited by ‘islands of belonging’ - they struggle to feel that they belong in many places in the university, but have found places that they feel like are ‘theirs’. 

   • Engaging with student groups related to disability can be really beneficial as it helps to normalise your experiences and allows for you to receive practical advice from people who are more likely to understand your experiences. 

   • Additionally, disabled student groups can often help with advocacy-based tasks, so you don’t have to ‘fight alone’!