This probably accounts for more Australian health complaints than any other source of chronic pain. It affects literally millions who may wake up one morning and clutch at some tender area either in the neck or shoulders or in the lower back and continue to feel that spot for the rest of their lives.

Back pain [...]

Understandably, chronic pain and marriage don’t mix well. The divorce rate for chronic pain patients is remarkably high and is possibly related to the avoidance of sexual activity by many chronic pain sufferers.This, understandably, places relationships under great stress — particularly if there are existing problems. Pain is a great magnifier. Tolerance levels are already [...]

Stress can lead to physical as well as psychological disturbances. These are most commonly treated by medication such as tranquillisers, muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, stimulants, antidepressants and mood-enhancers. Stress may be congenital, muscular, immunological, environmental — including accident and trauma situations — or infectious, neoplastic (associated with cancer),chemical, degenerative, emotional or psychological. Typical stress reactions [...]

Statistics are vague about the common chronic pain ailment — repetitive strain injury (RSI), which was so prevalent in Australia in the 1980’s that it was known as ‘kangaroo paw’. RSI is now the commonly used phrase used to describe a variety of soft tissue injuries or ailments. It is commonly seen in keyboard operators [...]

Too much light can cause just as many problems as too little light: too much light causes us to screw up our eyes tightly, causing muscle tension and headaches.

What else could it be?

Quite a number of conditions causing headache can also give eye symptoms. These have all been covered in other areas of this book.

Pain [...]