
'Every day it's pain': chronic sufferers plead for help
The Queensland woman has woken up every day for the last 30 years "feeling like she was hit by a semi-trailer", after suffering a wrist injury while working at a nightclub when she was 19.
The now 48-year-old was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which causes significant pain in her right side.
She wakes every day with nausea.
"Every day it's pain, and sometimes it's worse, but most days I feel like I've been run over by a bus," she told AAP.
Ms Wenzel has felt unheard by doctors for most of her life, many of whom have prescribed strong medications, with some having side-effects like burning her oesophagus.
"So many specialists have just said 'it's in your head' but it's not in my head, you live a day in my life," she said.
Her chronic pain has caused strain in her relationships, sparked severe depression and suicidal ideation.
She's also under financial stress.
"I think my family, my friends, would have an easier life, especially my parents, if they didn't have to care for me; their life would be so much easier," she said.
She is one of nearly 5000 people in a nationwide survey by Chronic Pain Australia, which reveals the toll that chronic pain is taking.
"To us, it's unfortunately not surprising ... but we're really concerned that things are getting much worse," Chronic Pain Australia chairperson Nicolette Ellis told AAP.
Nearly three-quarters of sufferers experience mental health issues as a result of their pain, while nearly two-thirds are unable to work and experience financial strain.
Some of those surveyed reported that waiting years for a diagnosis robbed them of their "dreams" and "life".
About 63 per cent of chronic pain sufferers report strain on their family relationships as a result of their conditions.
Some said their family thought they were just "lazy", while others were abandoned by relatives who did not believe they were sick.
More than half have reduced independence, and a quarter are no longer able to drive.
Multidisciplinary pain management and specialised care are important treatments to help improve the quality of life for sufferers, Ms Ellis said.
But only 18 per cent of those surveyed received a referral to a multidisciplinary pain management clinic, and 30 per cent of those never secured an appointment.
Ms Ellis said the report showed the path forward needs to provide better access to specialised care.
"It's the most burdensome condition ... it's more burdensome than mental health, and mental health has a really big spotlight and then (chronic pain is) completely missing from national policy frameworks," Ms Ellis said.
She called on the federal government to make treating chronic pain a national priority, change the coding system to recognise it as a health condition, and provide more localised funding to primary care
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Janina Wenzel is one of the estimated four million Australians suffering from chronic pain who feel unheard and invisible in the healthcare system.
The Queensland woman has woken up every day for the last 30 years "feeling like she was hit by a semi-trailer", after suffering a wrist injury while working at a nightclub when she was 19.
The now 48-year-old was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which causes significant pain in her right side.
She wakes every day with nausea.
"Every day it's pain, and sometimes it's worse, but most days I feel like I've been run over by a bus," she told AAP.
Ms Wenzel has felt unheard by doctors for most of her life, many of whom have prescribed strong medications, with some having side-effects like burning her oesophagus.
"So many specialists have just said 'it's in your head' but it's not in my head, you live a day in my life," she said.
Her chronic pain has caused strain in her relationships, sparked severe depression and suicidal ideation.
She's also under financial stress.
"I think my family, my friends, would have an easier life, especially my parents, if they didn't have to care for me; their life would be so much easier," she said.
She is one of nearly 5000 people in a nationwide survey by Chronic Pain Australia, which reveals the toll that chronic pain is taking.
"To us, it's unfortunately not surprising ... but we're really concerned that things are getting much worse," Chronic Pain Australia chairperson Nicolette Ellis told AAP.
Nearly three-quarters of sufferers experience mental health issues as a result of their pain, while nearly two-thirds are unable to work and experience financial strain.
Some of those surveyed reported that waiting years for a diagnosis robbed them of their "dreams" and "life".
About 63 per cent of chronic pain sufferers report strain on their family relationships as a result of their conditions.
Some said their family thought they were just "lazy", while others were abandoned by relatives who did not believe they were sick.
More than half have reduced independence, and a quarter are no longer able to drive.
Multidisciplinary pain management and specialised care are important treatments to help improve the quality of life for sufferers, Ms Ellis said.
But only 18 per cent of those surveyed received a referral to a multidisciplinary pain management clinic, and 30 per cent of those never secured an appointment.
Ms Ellis said the report showed the path forward needs to provide better access to specialised care.
"It's the most burdensome condition ... it's more burdensome than mental health, and mental health has a really big spotlight and then (chronic pain is) completely missing from national policy frameworks," Ms Ellis said.
She called on the federal government to make treating chronic pain a national priority, change the coding system to recognise it as a health condition, and provide more localised funding to primary care
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Janina Wenzel is one of the estimated four million Australians suffering from chronic pain who feel unheard and invisible in the healthcare system.
The Queensland woman has woken up every day for the last 30 years "feeling like she was hit by a semi-trailer", after suffering a wrist injury while working at a nightclub when she was 19.
The now 48-year-old was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which causes significant pain in her right side.
She wakes every day with nausea.
"Every day it's pain, and sometimes it's worse, but most days I feel like I've been run over by a bus," she told AAP.
Ms Wenzel has felt unheard by doctors for most of her life, many of whom have prescribed strong medications, with some having side-effects like burning her oesophagus.
"So many specialists have just said 'it's in your head' but it's not in my head, you live a day in my life," she said.
Her chronic pain has caused strain in her relationships, sparked severe depression and suicidal ideation.
She's also under financial stress.
"I think my family, my friends, would have an easier life, especially my parents, if they didn't have to care for me; their life would be so much easier," she said.
She is one of nearly 5000 people in a nationwide survey by Chronic Pain Australia, which reveals the toll that chronic pain is taking.
"To us, it's unfortunately not surprising ... but we're really concerned that things are getting much worse," Chronic Pain Australia chairperson Nicolette Ellis told AAP.
Nearly three-quarters of sufferers experience mental health issues as a result of their pain, while nearly two-thirds are unable to work and experience financial strain.
Some of those surveyed reported that waiting years for a diagnosis robbed them of their "dreams" and "life".
About 63 per cent of chronic pain sufferers report strain on their family relationships as a result of their conditions.
Some said their family thought they were just "lazy", while others were abandoned by relatives who did not believe they were sick.
More than half have reduced independence, and a quarter are no longer able to drive.
Multidisciplinary pain management and specialised care are important treatments to help improve the quality of life for sufferers, Ms Ellis said.
But only 18 per cent of those surveyed received a referral to a multidisciplinary pain management clinic, and 30 per cent of those never secured an appointment.
Ms Ellis said the report showed the path forward needs to provide better access to specialised care.
"It's the most burdensome condition ... it's more burdensome than mental health, and mental health has a really big spotlight and then (chronic pain is) completely missing from national policy frameworks," Ms Ellis said.
She called on the federal government to make treating chronic pain a national priority, change the coding system to recognise it as a health condition, and provide more localised funding to primary care
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Janina Wenzel is one of the estimated four million Australians suffering from chronic pain who feel unheard and invisible in the healthcare system.
The Queensland woman has woken up every day for the last 30 years "feeling like she was hit by a semi-trailer", after suffering a wrist injury while working at a nightclub when she was 19.
The now 48-year-old was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which causes significant pain in her right side.
She wakes every day with nausea.
"Every day it's pain, and sometimes it's worse, but most days I feel like I've been run over by a bus," she told AAP.
Ms Wenzel has felt unheard by doctors for most of her life, many of whom have prescribed strong medications, with some having side-effects like burning her oesophagus.
"So many specialists have just said 'it's in your head' but it's not in my head, you live a day in my life," she said.
Her chronic pain has caused strain in her relationships, sparked severe depression and suicidal ideation.
She's also under financial stress.
"I think my family, my friends, would have an easier life, especially my parents, if they didn't have to care for me; their life would be so much easier," she said.
She is one of nearly 5000 people in a nationwide survey by Chronic Pain Australia, which reveals the toll that chronic pain is taking.
"To us, it's unfortunately not surprising ... but we're really concerned that things are getting much worse," Chronic Pain Australia chairperson Nicolette Ellis told AAP.
Nearly three-quarters of sufferers experience mental health issues as a result of their pain, while nearly two-thirds are unable to work and experience financial strain.
Some of those surveyed reported that waiting years for a diagnosis robbed them of their "dreams" and "life".
About 63 per cent of chronic pain sufferers report strain on their family relationships as a result of their conditions.
Some said their family thought they were just "lazy", while others were abandoned by relatives who did not believe they were sick.
More than half have reduced independence, and a quarter are no longer able to drive.
Multidisciplinary pain management and specialised care are important treatments to help improve the quality of life for sufferers, Ms Ellis said.
But only 18 per cent of those surveyed received a referral to a multidisciplinary pain management clinic, and 30 per cent of those never secured an appointment.
Ms Ellis said the report showed the path forward needs to provide better access to specialised care.
"It's the most burdensome condition ... it's more burdensome than mental health, and mental health has a really big spotlight and then (chronic pain is) completely missing from national policy frameworks," Ms Ellis said.
She called on the federal government to make treating chronic pain a national priority, change the coding system to recognise it as a health condition, and provide more localised funding to primary care
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636

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The Advertiser
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I have a bit of a cold. Am I sick enough to take a day off work?
Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. 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Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. 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Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace. Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace. Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID, you'll want to stay away from others, and to rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. The COVID pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others - and in particular, some men - feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get ten days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro-rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Similarly, most self-employed people such as tradies and gig workers do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. "Presenteeism" is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 per cent to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work - this is called voluntary presenteeism. READ MORE: But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of "involuntary presenteeism", with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to "at work" caring responsibilities. Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace.

Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Having kids shouldn't be a luxury. It's time we cut the cost of IVF
For most major milestones in life, the financial path towards achieving them is relatively straightforward. Whether it's buying your first car, taking a life-changing holiday, getting married or buying a home, the way to achieve it always the same: you set a budget and work towards it, slowly but surely seeing your savings grow until you have enough to pull the trigger. But a story published in this masthead this week really drove home that for a growing number of Australians, there's one area of our lives where the path isn't always linear, especially financially, and that's the journey to parenthood. News that a 32-year-old Melbourne man fathered 27 children by 15 different women via informal sperm donation was shocking, but illuminating. It revealed the growing number of people forgoing formal fertility routes such as IVF and choosing riskier options, in large part due to financial constraints. According to the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database, about 20,000 babies are born via IVF each year, while egg freezing has increased by as much as 1567 per cent in Australia over the past decade. In other words, this is a booming industry with no signs of slowing down. That in itself isn't inherently a bad thing. But we need to be realistic about the fact that it's a profit-driven industry worth over $6 billion, the process of IVF is prohibitively expensive, and people find themselves there when they are at their most vulnerable. Loading Depending on where you live and the specialist you see, the average IVF cycle costs between $9000 and $15,000. You might get some of this back via Medicare rebates, but the out-of-pocket costs are substantial. While some states like Victoria have begun rolling out IVF services via public healthcare, the wait times to see specialists are as long as two years. And as anyone who has had children, is thinking about one day having them, or is currently trying, knows: time is the cruel enemy of fertility. Hence, why most people will invariably end up in the private system. For context, a healthy woman with no pre-existing conditions in her 20s has a 25 to 30 per cent chance of falling pregnant naturally, but this starts to decline throughout her late 20s and early 30s. Once she reaches 35, this decline becomes swift, and by the time she's 40, the chance of falling pregnant naturally is roughly 5 per cent.

The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Having kids shouldn't be a luxury. It's time we cut the cost of IVF
For most major milestones in life, the financial path towards achieving them is relatively straightforward. Whether it's buying your first car, taking a life-changing holiday, getting married or buying a home, the way to achieve it always the same: you set a budget and work towards it, slowly but surely seeing your savings grow until you have enough to pull the trigger. But a story published in this masthead this week really drove home that for a growing number of Australians, there's one area of our lives where the path isn't always linear, especially financially, and that's the journey to parenthood. News that a 32-year-old Melbourne man fathered 27 children by 15 different women via informal sperm donation was shocking, but illuminating. It revealed the growing number of people forgoing formal fertility routes such as IVF and choosing riskier options, in large part due to financial constraints. According to the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database, about 20,000 babies are born via IVF each year, while egg freezing has increased by as much as 1567 per cent in Australia over the past decade. In other words, this is a booming industry with no signs of slowing down. That in itself isn't inherently a bad thing. But we need to be realistic about the fact that it's a profit-driven industry worth over $6 billion, the process of IVF is prohibitively expensive, and people find themselves there when they are at their most vulnerable. Loading Depending on where you live and the specialist you see, the average IVF cycle costs between $9000 and $15,000. You might get some of this back via Medicare rebates, but the out-of-pocket costs are substantial. While some states like Victoria have begun rolling out IVF services via public healthcare, the wait times to see specialists are as long as two years. And as anyone who has had children, is thinking about one day having them, or is currently trying, knows: time is the cruel enemy of fertility. Hence, why most people will invariably end up in the private system. For context, a healthy woman with no pre-existing conditions in her 20s has a 25 to 30 per cent chance of falling pregnant naturally, but this starts to decline throughout her late 20s and early 30s. Once she reaches 35, this decline becomes swift, and by the time she's 40, the chance of falling pregnant naturally is roughly 5 per cent.