As part of its ongoing mission to improve quality of life for those living with pain, the National Pain Foundation recently sponsored a Harris Interactive survey of U.S. adults to measure the incidence and types of pain they experienced during the last 12 months. The survey results reveal that while the majority of Americans reported experiencing pain in the last 12 months, many are reluctant to seek professional help or take prescription pain medications. People experiencing acute pain are especially reluctant to seek help or take prescription medications.
The results of this survey highlight the ongoing need for reliable information and support for people living with pain and their loved ones so that they can make informed decisions about their care. Key Survey Findings
Most Americans Experience Acute or Persistent Pain
- 42% of adults surveyed were experiencing some form of pain on the day of the survey.
- 72% of adults surveyed experienced pain in the last 12 months, and 27% of respondents experienced acute pain.
There is a Reluctance to Seek Treatment for Pain
- More than half of respondents suffering from pain (57%) did not see a health care professional. This is especially true for people experiencing acute pain — 70% of acute pain sufferers did not see a health care professional, compared to 45% of people with recurrent pain and 20% of people with chronic pain.
- Among respondents who did not see a doctor to treat their pain, one-third believed that their doctor simply couldn't help them.
- Even among those who did see a doctor, 81% of respondents delayed going to a health care provider, hoping to deal with the pain on their own.
The Relationship Between Acute and Chronic Pain Is Not Understood
- 26% of respondents do not understand that acute pain left untreated can lead to chronic pain.
I worked in a clinic with a doctor who specialized in chronic, non-terminal pain. Most of these patients lived with constant pain that made their lives miserable. In many cases they had already had multiple surgeries. I saw several patients who had undergone seven spinal surgeries and were still in pain. These people often needed quite strong drugs to make life managable. Prevention is always a better way. The message of this study is listen to your body. Pain is not normal. If you pay attention and get help early, you can often avoid becoming a chronic pain patient. Secondly, conventional medicine tends to be quite narrow in focus and can miss issues, like stress, chronic inflammatory processes, poor diet, which can eventually evolve into complex pain and dysfunction. If you are in pain don't give up.
I went through a very difficult episode with my mother. At the time she was almost 90. She developed shingles of the face and head followed by neuralgia. This is truly awful pain but there is nothing wrong externally. The first round of pain medication made her so dysfunctional that she could not be trusted on her own. We went to many doctors trying to find one who would manage her pain. Ice packs proved to be as effective as any pain medications.
Sometimes simple is best. But it takes finding practitioners who are willing to think outside the box and do whatever is necessary to give your relief.
Dr. Manlove
© 2009 George Manlove, DC All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Manlove, unless otherwise noted. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Manlove. Dr. Manlove encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
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