Chronic Pain

You may have chronic pain if your pain has lasted more than six months and is not relieved by medical and/or surgical care. Chronic pain may result from a previous injury long since healed. Or it may be from an ongoing condition, such as back and/or leg pain, cancer pain, complex regional pain syndrome, or painful neuropathy.

Chronic Pain Statistics
It is estimated that 15 percent to 33 percent of the U.S. population, or as many as 70 million people, are affected by chronic pain. It disables more people than cancer or heart disease and costs the American people more than both combined. Pain costs an estimated $100 billion a year in medical costs, lost working days, and workers compensation.

Causes and Treatment of Chronic Pain
Pain is a process. Receptors in your skin and other tissues send impulses through the nerves to the spinal cord. The impulses then travel to the brain. It is in the brain, not at the point of injury, where the sensation of pain is registered. This insight led doctors to understand that pain could be controlled by preventing the pain impulses from reaching the brain. If the pain impulses never reach the brain, the pain is not "felt." Pain can sometimes be difficult to control and get in the way of daily activities for you and your family. Medications or other types of treatments help most people control their pain. But for many people whose pain treatment is no longer effective or causes uncomfortable side effects, clinical studies have shown improved pain relief as well as improved ability to pursue daily activities with neurostimulation and intrathecal drug delivery. Not all treatment options are applicable to your type of pain.

Why Do People Suffer With Pain?
Many people suffer with chronic pain because they are unaware of treatment options that can help them live more normal lives. Others have fears that prevent them from talking about their pain, which in turn creates barriers to seeking adequate relief. (Not all treatment options are applicable to your type of pain.)

Read the following to see if you fall into one of these categories. If you can relate to these fears, remember that help and relief are possible, but only if you discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

• Fear of being labeled a "bad patient." You won't find relief if you don't talk with your doctor about your pain.
• Fear that increased pain may mean that your disease has worsened. Regardless of the state of your disease, the right treatment for pain may improve daily life for you and your family.
• Fear of addiction to drugs. Research shows that the chance of people with chronic pain becoming addicted to pain-relieving drugs is extremely small. When taken properly for pain, drugs can relieve pain without addiction. Needing to take medication to control your pain is not addiction.
• Lack of awareness about pain therapy options. Be honest about how your pain feels and how it affects your life. Ask your doctor about the pain therapy options available to you. Often, if one therapy isn't effectively controlling your pain, another therapy can.
• Fear of being perceived as "weak." Some people believe that living stoically with pain is a sign of strength, while seeking help often is considered negative or weak. This perception prevents them seeking the best treatment with available therapies.

Because there are many new ways to treat pain, it is important that you speak openly with your doctor or with a doctor who specializes in treating chronic pain. Refer them to this web site so that they too can learn more about treatment options for your pain.

Chronic Back and Leg Pain
Chronic back and leg pain is described as pain that is felt in the back and/or leg that may result from spinal diseases including: arachnoiditis, degenerative disc disease, epidural fibrosis, failed back syndrome, lumbar disc herniation, osteoporosis, and spinal stenosis. Back pain is often located in the lower back, but it may extend to other areas, such as the thighs, calves, and feet. Affected areas may feel tender or sore to the touch, and the pain may increase with movement. This type of pain can be felt as sharp or knife-like pain, a burning sensation, or as a dull muscular ache. Symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to completely disabling.

If you have been diagnosed with this type of pain, talk to your doctor to determine what kinds of therapies would work for you. Your doctor will put you through a selection process to determine which treatments may benefit you. Results vary; not every result is the same.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
CRPS usually develops in the foot or hand after an injury (such as a broken bone) or surgery that may involve nerve damage. CRPS is the abbreviation used to describe the painful syndrome also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Causalgia.

Symptoms and Treatment
The overriding symptom is extreme pain - frequently described as burning. Other symptoms can include sensitivity to touch, skin changes, swelling, weakness, and decreased function of the hand/foot.

If you have been diagnosed with this type of pain, talk to your doctor to determine what kind of therapies would work for you. Your doctor (or a doctor to whom you are referred) will put you through a screening process to determine which treatments may benefit you. Results vary; not every result is the same.

Painful Neuropathies
Painful neuropathies are a common collection of neurological disorders resulting from damage to nerves that generate severe chronic pain. Nerves connect the spinal cord to the body and help the brain communicate with skin, muscles, and internal organs.Painful neuropathies may be caused by nutritional imbalances, alcoholism, toxins, infections, or autoimmunity, or may be the result of illnesses such as kidney failure or cancer. In approximately one-third of cases, the cause of neuropathy is unknown.

Symptoms and Treatment
Although there are many different causes of painful neuropathies, they have common symptoms such as pain, burning, weakness, and numbness. These symptoms most often appear in the hands or feet. Treatment is focused on the underlying disease or condition if it is known. Pain is generally managed with oral pain medications. Medical devices may be considered when conservative pain management treatments fail. If you think you have this type of pain, talk to your doctor to determine what therapies would work for you. Your doctor will put you through a selection process to determine which treatments may benefit you. Results vary; not every result is the same.