A recent report from the May Day Fund calls for chronic pain to be addressed in healthcare reform and better training of doctors on treating it because it is estimated that one out of every four Americans suffers from chronic pain. This ranges from headaches to back pain to joint pain.
The Mayday Fund, a family foundation dedicated to reducing human suffering caused by pain, convened a special committee to explore issues related to pain and the practice of medicine. The panel of adult and pediatric pain experts, which included anesthesiologists, neurologists, primary care doctors, emergency physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and patient advocates, deliberated at a one-day meeting held in Washington, D.C in June, 2009. The report is an outcome of that meeting.
The panel of experts report that inefficiencies in treatment and inequities in care are creating what they call an "epidemic of under-treatment."
Some of the background as noted in the report:
Chronic pain�"commonly defined as pain persisting longer than six months�"affects an estimated 70 million Americans and is a tragically overlooked public health problem. The burden of chronic pain is greater than that of diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Ongoing pain can also undermine overall physical, psychological, and social well-being, and is a major cause of disability and costly health care utilization.
Most people in pain, including those with chronic symptoms, go to primary care providers to get relief. But current systems of care do not adequately train or support internists, family physicians and pediatricians, the other health care providers who provide primary care in meeting the challenge of treating pain as a chronic illness.
Instead of receiving effective relief, patients with persistent pain often find themselves in an endless cycle, seeing multiple health care providers, including many specialists in areas other than pain, who are not prepared to respond effectively.
Acute pain that is not adequately managed can become chronic pain, leading to long-term disability, complications and costs. For example, about one-third of people in pain report that their pain is disabling and has a high impact on their ability to function in daily life. Research suggests that the high cost of under-treated pain includes lost productivity. Pain is the second-leading cause of medically-related work absenteeism, resulting in more than 50 million lost workdays each year.
Some of the Pain Committee’s findings from the report:
Chronic pain treatment needs major reforms to enhance assessment, increase access to the right care, improve quality and equitable care, and cut costs. Initiatives to address the huge public health problem of unrelieved chronic pain should be part of any discussion on reforming the health care system to enhance access and reduce costs.
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, has said that the current health care system both under-treats and fails to prevent chronic conditions, a flaw that has contributed to spiraling medical costs. She said that better prevention and treatment of such conditions would save the nation money by preventing costly complications.
Chronic pain must be addressed similarly to other chronic conditions. When the symptoms and their impact are not severe, the best practice should involve a primary care provider with the skills to evaluate the cause and the nature of the pain, and to implement a plan of care. But in severe cases, the best practice may involve a group of interdisciplinary professionals, whose care is coordinated in a way that addresses all facets of the illness and prevents complications. To manage chronic pain successfully, patients need a comprehensive assessment and, when appropriate, access to a pain specialist. Chronic pain patients might also need a team approach, one that includes physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, and other health care providers.
Flexcin can help:
Flexcin is helping thousands of people around the nation and even the world find relief from chronic joint pain in a safe and all-natural solution. The primary component of Flexcin�" is CM8�" (cetyl myristoleate). Of all the ingredients in Flexcin, CM8�" is the most powerful. CM8�" functions in three different ways. First, it acts as a highly effective lubricant in the joints, muscles and other tissues, allowing them to move smoothly. Decrease or loss of morning stiffness is commonly noted shortly after commencing treatment. Next, CM8�" functions as an anti-inflammatory. Relief from swollen joints is often seen after the 4th or 5th week of treatment. Third, it is also an immune system modulator, which can be effectual against autoimmune diseases, such as arthritic conditions. CM8�" relieves joint pain at its source, reducing inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It also has been helpful for many sufferers of muscle tension and fibromyalgia. All of these characteristics make CM8�" the most important ingredient in Flexcin.
