Chronic Pain

It is estimated that US business and industry lose almost $90 billion annually to sick time, reduced productivity, and direct medical and costs due to pain problems among employees.  Chronic pain afflicts over 86 million Americans to some degree and affects the quality of life and financial stability of both the injured person with pain as well as his/her family.  In addition, chronic pain treatment modalities often involve both physiological and psychological intervention that may be delivered by a myriad of licensed and non-licensed health care providers in a fragmented manner.  These factors create a complex area of medicine where appropriate assessment and management are required to produce positive long-term results.  If an individual with pain is not managed appropriately the chronic pain cycle becomes an ongoing issue for management. 

Treatment
Despite the frequency and cost of chronic pain in this country, medical treatment often lacks diagnostic clarity, single point of care management and coordination of the treatement plan.  This leads to multiple providers, duplicate treatment and medication and little or no progression in recovery.  Individuals with chronic pain are often left to navigate the medical system with little or no assistance.  This leads to long-term chronic pain behaviors and significant cost to the payer.

Indicators of Chronic Pain
Every individual with emerging chronic pain or someone already in the pain syndrome cycle is different and indications will vary, but some traits tend to stand out leading us to believe that a comprehensive and systematic program is indicated.  They include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Off work due to pain beyond the normal acute healing time (3 to 6 months)
• Prescriptions for pain medication continuing or increasing
• Significant co-morbidities are present
• Prior history of being off work for pain
• Prior drug or alcohol abuse
• Psychological issues are present
• Subjective symptoms greater than objective findings
• Resistance to return to work
• Drug seeking behavior

These traits by themselves indicate the need for a comprehensive management program.  If an individual is consumed with a request for surgery, implantation or referral to pain management, a comprehensive evaluation and plan is essential.

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Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only. The content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider if you have any questions regarding your medical condition. Please note that interactions on this site between you and a physician or nurse do not constitute or result in the formation of a physician/injured worker and/or nurse/injured worker relationship.