The main obstacle to the management of chronic pain is that the human body is often viewed by patients and doctors like a piece of engineering: sort out the faulty bit and, hey presto, everything should run smoothly again. However, humans are nothing like a piece of engineering and the conventional medical approach of "diagnosis, treatment then cure" can leave chronic pain sufferers feeling bewildered and rejected. Human perceptions, which include symptoms such as pain, are affected not only by physical changes within the body, but also emotional state, mood, and social and cultural factors. The challenge for chronic pain management is that it needs to take all of these into consideration when trying to help a sufferer.

One of the greatest barriers to effective management of chronic pain is the cycle of disability. A person experiences pain and therefore withdraws from activities for fear of causing themselves harm. This leads to physical deconditioning and low mood which can enhance the perception of pain and can lead to a further downward spiral of disability. The greatest challenge for a sufferer of chronic pain is therefore to try to be able to live with the symptom and to develop strategies to control it rather than let it control them. This can be sometimes aided by conventional medical interventions, such as pain-killers, but often requires a multidisciplinary approach that can include input from nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, complementary therapists etc. The aim should be to try to empower the sufferer to be able to take charge of their life once again and to promote a virtuous cycle of recovery from disability and suffering.