Walk a mile in my shoes: An auto-ethnographic study

Abstract

The aim of the study reported in this paper was to uncover and understand the reality of living with chronic, intractable non malignant back pain, as it is understood by sufferers themselves. A narrative auto-ethnographic research design was chosen, enabling interaction with five participants during the interview process, as well as providing the opportunity to further explore one of the researcher’s experiences as a long time sufferer of chronic, intractable non malignant back pain. Thematic analysis of participant interviews, and a deep, introspective scrutiny of the researcher’s journey, resulted in five stories being written reflecting the experiences of the researcher and the five participants. This paper presents one story,‘Walk a mile in my shoes’. It is written in the form of a letter to health professionals such as doctors and nurses in order that they may better understand the lives of chronic non malignant pain sufferers with a view to improving the care they provide when these patients are admitted to hospital. Issues identified include struggling with unremitting pain, loss of relationships and a fulfilling social life, as well as dealing with suspicion, labelling and stigmatising by nurses and the community at large.