Home | Patient Information | Introduction | Treatments | PMC / Staff | Contact | Links | Locations
 

Introduction

Pain is this nation's most under-treated health complaint. It has personal, social, emotional, and economic consequences that can be as damaging to the patient and his or her family as the pain itself. Most patients have more than one kind of pain in the course of the year.

Pain has in the past been regarded merely as a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. We now believe that acute pain is a diagnostic tool, while chronic pain is a disease itself.

Acute Pain

• Usually of short duration.
• Pathology predicts outcome.
• Patients' mood and attitude are not as important to the healing process.
• Single-modality therapy is usually effective.
• Surgery can be effective.
• Narcotics are indicated.
• Muscle relaxants can be helpful.
• Job changes are unlikely.

Chronic Pain

• Usually of long duration (at least three months).
• Psychological factors are most predictive of chance to recover.
  1. Depression is a major obstacle.
  2. Patient's attitude is vital in overall treatment program.
• Multimodal therapy.
  1. Surgery is less effective.
  2. Non-narcotics are more appropriate.
  3. Sedatives are contraindicated.
  4. Active patient participation in treatment is essential.
• Disability and job change are likely.

Some signs of chronic pain are:

• Constant or recurrent pain that persists beyond the healing period.
• Subjective complaints disproportionate to objective findings.
• Defies traditional diagnostic and therapeutic measures.
• Physical and psychological deconditioning are present.
• Drug-seeking behavior and doctor shopping are commonly present.

Chronic pain affects 75 million Americans and 50 million suffer with impaired function secondary to this pain. Americans spend 120 billion dollars each year on chronic pain treatment and lose 200 billion dollars in productivity. Annual monetary costs include the expenses of medical treatment, lost productivity, and compensation for lost wages. Non-monetary costs include the patients' and their families' pain and suffering.

Chronic pain is considered to be our nation's third largest health problem. Only cancer and heart disease are more prevalent. The Pain Management Center emphasizes the importance of applying a full range of services that offer a comprehensive approach to patient care.

7 Pain Management Center Locations

Home | Patient Information | Introduction | Treatments | PMC / Staff | Contact | Links | Locations

© Copyright 2003-07 Pain-si.com: All Rights Reserved
Designed by Bloomington Merchants Advertising Company
bloomingtonmerchants.com