Every year on July 24, International Self-Care Day reminds us that self-care is a 24/7 necessity, not a luxury. But while the word “self-care” may conjure images of spa days and scented candles, the reality is far more powerful, and essential for those living with chronic pain.

Although most surgical wounds will heal well, almost half will result in persistent post-surgical pain, with as many as 40% of post-op patients reporting symptoms consistent with neuropathic pain. Physiologically different to usual post-surgical pain which resolves naturally as tissue healing progresses, neuropathic pain is a complex and often misunderstood condition that may persist long after wound healing has occurred, and can significantly reduce quality of life (1,2)