The 'silent epidemic' leaving almost 28 million Brits in horrific pain - including Eamonn Holmes
03.06.2023 - 06:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Chronic pain affects between one-third and one-half of the UK population, meaning that around 28 million adults are living with serious pain that has lasted for three months or longer.
That’s according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), with women more likely to report or experience chronic pain. But the horrible set of syndromes has been dubbed a ‘silent epidemic’ by the likes of the British Pain Society, and an ‘invisible condition’ by Versus Arthritis, the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting people with arthritis.
“Although often devastating to the millions who have it and being one of the biggest causes of disability in the UK, to others it cannot be seen,” says the charity. So, it often goes unrecognised, undiagnosed - and vastly underestimated.
But, among those trying to raise awareness of chronic pain issues is TV host, Eamonn Holmes. The 63-year-old GB News presenter, along with wife Ruth Langsford, has documented his suffering with chronic pain – caused by a dislocated pelvis and a trapped sciatic nerve, among many other health concerns – and has described the experience over the past two years as 'soul-destroying'.
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Eamonn has taken to his Instagram with pictures of himself using a walking stick to help him get around after he slipped three discs in his back, affecting the movement of his right leg. He also underwent spinal surgery last September, which left him with a weakened left leg.
Eamonn's streak of bad luck continued two weeks after his surgery while he was in recovery, when he fell backwards down 18 stairs at his home, reported the Mirror. The horrific fall left the former This Morning star with