If chronic pain has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and neuropathic pain can be both debilitating and persistent. You can lead to a compensation claim if your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence.
Compensation may be awarded to cover your medical expenses, and the broader, long-lasting impact on your quality of life and earnings.
You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
What to consider when claiming for chronic pain
- You can claim for chronic pain caused by your work, following an accident, or the negligence of a medical professional.
- You can also claim if existing pain symptoms worsened, or your symptoms developed gradually over time.
- Your solicitor will gather medical and other evidence to prove that your pain was caused by another party's negligence.
- Compensation can range from £23,370 for moderate chronic pain to £93,200 for severe chronic pain symptoms.
- You're entitled to make a claim within 3 years from the date you discovered the cause of your pain symptoms.
- You can make a no win, no fee claim.
- Your compensation will depend on the seriousness of your injury, and your financial losses and expenses. You can find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.
Over 30% of people have chronic pain - you are not alone
Chronic pain is defined as 'as pain that has persisted beyond normal tissue healing time. It can be continuous or interrupted by pain-free intervals' (bma.org.uk).
In a report published by Public Health England, 34% of men and 38% of women reported some level of chronic pain (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).
The prevalence of chronic pain increases with age, with 53% of men and 59% of women aged 75 and over being affected.
If you decide to make a chronic pain claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
For information on chronic pain support and treatment, see: chronic pain management (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for chronic pain?
Compensation for chronic pain is dependent on:
- how significant your illness is,
- how your illness disrupts your life and work,
- any economic losses or costs you?ve incurred due to your illness.
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages is compensation for quantifiable financial losses you've incurred as a result of your chronic pain Compensation can include lost wages, bonuses, benefits and other perks, and any additional expenses directly related to your injury.
These damages will also cover any medical or treatment bills, such as pain medication, physiotherapy, psychological therapy and pain management.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average chronic pain compensation payouts
The following chronic pain payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Severity | Example | Amount |
---|---|---|
Moderate | Moderate CRPS with significant, long-term symptoms where recovery is expected in the future | £31,090 to £58,250 |
Severe | Severe CRPS with a psychological impact and poor prospects for recovery | £58,250 to £93,200 |
Non-CRPS pain disorders
Severity | Example | Amount |
---|---|---|
Moderate | Significant ongoing symptoms, including fibromyalgia, affecting your life and ability to work | £23,370 to £42,700 |
Severe | More serious symptoms affecting your daily life and ability to work, with a poor prognosis | £46,740 to £69,880 |
Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?
Psychiatric harm is less obvious than physical injury, but the consequences can be just as difficult to deal with.
According to our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey shows that 29.03% of potential claimants sustained a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
Chronic pain often leads to psychological distress, including depression and anxiety about long-term well-being.
Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
Am I entitled to make a chronic pain claim?
Yes, you can make an injury claim for chronic pain, if:
- you were injured within the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was responsible, and;
- they owed you a legal duty of care.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
Is a claim still possible if I was partly responsible for my injury?
Understanding who is legally at fault for an accident often requires navigating through a maze of legal complexities.
Each year, Quittance carries out a survey of potential claimants. In our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents felt they might be at least partly to blame for their injuries.
When fault on both sides caused a claimant's injuries, this is called 'contributory negligence'. In these situations, compensation may still be payable on the basis of a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a chronic pain do I have to start a claim?
An injury claim will usually need to be made within 3 years of the date or your accident or injury.
If you were injured due to someone else's negligence but didn't realise it at the time, the clock starts ticking from the 'date of knowledge' - the day you become aware of your injury.
For injured children, a claim can be started by a parent or guardian at any time before they turn 18. Thereafter, the injured individual has until their 21st birthday to make a claim on their own.
Chronic pain symptoms
Chronic pain is pain that has not been relieved by treating the cause, if known, or by trying to relieve the pain itself.
Chronic pain can be mild, moderate or severe. In some cases, chronic pain may be constant.
Symptoms include shooting, burning or aching sensations in the area affected, or feelings of soreness, stiffness or tightness.
Its impact on a person's life can vary from minor restrictions to complete loss of independence.
How does chronic pain manifest?
Sometimes chronic pain occurs spontaneously but usually develops after a trauma or injury, which could be anything from a broken arm to a minor muscle strain.
Pain signals may remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months or even years after the injury itself has healed.
There is often a gap between the onset of chronic pain and the original cause. As a result, people often fail to make the association and do not pursue a compensation claim.
A key point here is that you are entitled to claim up to three years from the diagnosis of the pain, not three years from the accident that caused the pain.
Conditions associated with chronic pain
The panel of solicitors have represented claimants with the following conditions:
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD)
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), a severe pain disorder caused by a malfunction in the nervous system, which results in severe chronic pain. Also commonly referred to as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), minor personal injuries may trigger it. When broken bones, damaged nerves, soft tissue injuries, bruises and sprains fail to heal properly, symptoms such as severe burning pain, unexplained swelling, excessive sweating, sensitivity to touch or greater than expected pain are possible.
RSD often develops several months after the original trauma and may be very complex to diagnose.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia has many symptoms that may vary from person to person - widespread pain, extreme sensitivity to pain all over the body, and stiffness.
It may develop spontaneously or as the result of an accident (post-traumatic fibromyalgia). It can be triggered by any type of accident with a sudden movement, or from heavy lifting or manual handling. Repetitive tasks, such as typing, may also cause fibromyalgia.
Myofascial pain
Myofascial pain affects the 's soft tissue and may involve a single muscle or a muscle group. It is characterised by muscle pain, tenderness and spasm. It usually occurs through strain or injury to a muscle, ligament or tendon. This may have been caused by an accident, or through surgery.
How the cause of your pain impacts the claims process
How your chronic pain developed impacts the claim process. Click the icons below to explore further.
Can I make a no win, no fee chronic pain claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim chronic pain compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
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Fibromyalgia - NHS (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Ways to manage chronic pain - NHS (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.