Understanding Chronic Pain

Pain. A sensation or feeling from an injury, or physical problem, such as disease or joint dysfunction. Pain is a complex subjective phenomenon - key word being subjective. Most people can understand the concept of pain, after all, we've all experienced some type of pain some time in our lives, whether its headaches, injury pain or the pain you experience just from whacking your shin against the coffee table or slicing your finger on a steak knife. But, pain is different for everyone.


Acute pain is a sign of a problem or injury. It is usually short-lived and treatment involves the removal of the underlying causes and the use of analgesics. People who suffer from acute pain should seek advise from a qualified medical professional.


Chronic pain, on the other hand, is much more complicated. It is defined as pain persisting more than 6 months. It is usually accompanied by sleep disturbances, decreased appetite or loss of taste for food, weight fluctuations, diminished libido and depression, just to name a few of the side effects.


Over 50 million Americans, including men women and children, suffer from chronic pain, which interferes with their daily lives. 51% report pain adversely affects their employment, through decreased productivity and their ability to put in a full day's work - even their opportunity for advancement. Over half report pain adversely affects their personal lives or activities of daily living, while ¾ report pain affects their ability to exercise as well as quality of sleep. And lastly, over 2/3 say pain causes irritable behavior, stress and a decrease in desires and motivation.
92% of people experiencing pain seek medical advice, though 44% delay secondary to the healthcare professional's casual attitude towards pain.


Until recently, pain was considered a symptom of disease or condition - even a natural part of aging, therefore, most pain goes under-treated, improperly treated or possibly untreated. That's because most healthcare professionals have been trained in the treatment of a disease or condition, not in its management.