Effective Pain Management Requires an Interdisciplinary Approach

Pain is the number onepublic health problem in the U.S., affecting an estimated 76.5 million Americans according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The number of people living with pain is greater than those with diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer combined. (American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society). Most pain is untreated or undertreated, particularly among African Americans, Hispanics, women, and the elderly.

Consider these facts:

-- The annual cost of chronic pain in the U.S., including healthcare, lost income, and lost productivity, is estimated to be $100 billion. (National Institutes of Health)

-- Low back pain is the most common type of pain followed by severe headache or migraine pain, neck pain, and facial ache or pain. (National Institute of Health Statistics)

-- African Americans and Hispanics are affected by racial profiling for diversion and undertreatment by some physicians. (National Center for Health Statistics)

-- Women seek help for pain more frequently than men, but are less likely to receive treatment. (National Center for Health Statistics)

-- A Johns Hopkins study of adults with nonmalignant pain (42% back pain) who were consecutively referred to a tertiary care pain center shows nineteen-percent reported current passive suicidal ideation, 13% had active thoughts of committing suicide, 5% had a current suicide plan, and 5% reported a previous suicide attempts.

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