Chronic Pain

Alexander M. Dydyk, Till Conermann, Alexander M. Dydyk, Till Conermann

Excerpt

Over one-quarter of United States citizens suffer from chronic pain. It is among the most common complaints seen in an outpatient clinic. The failure to manage chronic pain and the opioid dependence associated with chronic pain can result in significant morbidity and mortality. One in five patient complaints in an outpatient clinic is related to pain, with over half of all patients seeing their primary care provider for one pain complaint or another. It is paramount primary care providers have a firm grasp on the management of patients with chronic pain. As a country, the United States spends well over 100 billion dollars a year on healthcare costs related to pain management and opioid dependence. Pain-related expenses exceed those for the costs of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined.

How a patient's chronic pain gets managed can have profound and long-lasting effects on a patient's quality of life. The definition of chronic pain is any pain lasting longer than three months. There are multiple sources of chronic pain. Combination therapy for pain includes both pharmacological therapies and nonpharmacological treatment options. There is a more significant reduction in pain with combination therapy compared to a single treatment alone. Escalation of pharmacological therapy is in a stepwise approach. Comorbid depression and anxiety are widespread in patients with chronic pain. Patients with chronic pain are also at an increased risk of suicide. Chronic pain can impact every facet of a patient's life. Thus the diagnosis and appropriate management of patients experiencing chronic pain are critical.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Alexander Dydyk declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Till Conermann declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Copyright © 2024, StatPearls Publishing LLC.

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