The pain self-management paradox: Why do we focus on the individual when life-context plays such a major role?

This article is a much-condensed version of my book about the self-management of persistent pain. I am concerned that we have come to rely on self-management as an approach to pain management whilst at the same time it feels like we are somehow losing focus on the people who live with pain and, more importantly, the context in which they live with their pain. We seem to have forgotten that although self-management is absolutely vital in the process of living well with pain, it is not the only element which is important.