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Pain. Discomfort. Agony. Everybody has experienced this atleast once in life; be it emotional heartache such as that caused by the death of a loved one or temporary physical distress caused by breaking your bones. Do you remember your suffering? Now, imagine living with it on a daily basis.

According to a recent study published by the Centre for Adaptive Disorders and Headache in Italy, four to five per cent of the global population suffer from chronic daily headaches (as reported in Khaleej Times on 7 June 2008); and that is just one statistic. Just this one type of chronic pain, this invisible disease, affects 200,000 people daily in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), and is said to cost millions of dollars in lost productivity.

Invisibility is accorded to this experience because people shy away from talking about it, and even if they do garner the courage to share their condition, their loved ones cannot comprehend the severity of the pain lacking obvious physical evidence. Further, it is perceived to be a sign of weakness to admit to "just a headache" or constantly complain about back pain. Here in lies the cause for the "daily headache" being the most common form of untreated pain worldwide.

This problem is compounded in a culture such as that found in the U.A.E., where men are expected to be infallible, and women extremely tolerant. People such as Ms. Thomas still shy away from treatment. She has been complaining of severe neck pain for months, and is aware of treatment options available in the U.A.E.; however, she chooses to explain it as "nothing that a little rest won't cure". This has led to her being unemployed, yet there is a hesitation to accept her condition as a chronic disease.

However, perceptions are changing. Mrs. Smith lives with constant pain in her knees. Movement or touch only serve to agitate the situation. She cannot seek relief with a simple massage. After years of assuming that the pain was due to the natural aging process and as such untreatable, she decided to seek help. She currently visits a practitioner of a healing technique known as Reiki. The opening up of pain clinics under the auspices healthcare facilities such as Al Qassimi Hospital and Cedars Jebel Ali Hospital is reflective of the demand being spurred as more and more people understand that they don't have to live with chronic pain in silence. There are many alternative healing centers in addition to physiotherapy clinics in the U.A.E.

There is also increased understanding

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