Chronic Pain Facts

Here are important facts about Chronic Pain. Sharing these facts via social media is one way of becoming an advocate for your disease.

  • There are over 100 million Americans living with chronic pain or roughly 1 out of 3 people in the US. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain is associated with 100 general categories of medical conditions. There are over 100 forms of arthritis alone. (Resource link)
  • Unrelieved chronic pain costs society $560-$635 billion each year. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain is sometimes the disease itself. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain affects more people in the US than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined. (Resource link)
  • Very few medical schools have comprehensive pain management training as part of their curriculum. (Resource link)
  • The cost of chronic pain includes not only healthcare cost, but days missed from work, hours of work lost and lower wages. (Resource link)
  • Research shows that people who understand the science of their #pain disease are more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle. (Resource link)
  • Self-management of chronic pain, such as pain tracking & coping mechanisms, leads to reducing pain and gaining function. (Resource link)
  • 20% of American adults report that pain or physical discomfort disrupts their sleep a few nights a week or more. (Resource link)
  • Research shows that 50-75% of patients die in moderate to severe pain.  (Resource link)
  • The top 4 pain complaints according to NIH are back pain, migraine, neck pain and facial pain. (Resource link)
  • Back pain is the leading cause of #disability in Americans under 45 years old. (Resource link)
  • A study showed workers lost an average of 4.6 hours per week of productive time due to a pain condition. (Resource link)
  • Treatments for chronic pain include medications, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, cognitive behavioral therapy & surgery. (Resource link)
  • The brain doesn’t feel pain- it’s the interpreter of pain. The brain itself does not have pain-sensitive nerves. (Resource link)
  • Dr. Albert Schweitzer, proclaimed in 1931 that, “Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself.”  (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. (Resource link)
  • Pain in infants & children require special attention because they can’t always describe the type, degree, or location of pain. (Resource link)
  • Sports injuries are among the most frequent causes of chronic pain for people in their 20’s. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain interferes with mood, sleep, emotions, quality of life, ability to work & personal relationships. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain is the number one cause of adult disability in the United States. (Resource link)
  • Pain management can improve function, enable people to work, attend school, or participate in daily activities. (Resource link)
  • No test can measure intensity of pain, no imaging device can show pain, & no instrument can locate pain precisely. (Resource link)
  • Gender, race & socioeconomic status all play a role in determining who are more likely to seek out pain treatment. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain affects 20% to 35% of children worldwide. Musculoskeletal, headache & abdominal pain top the list for kids. (Resource link)
  • Chronic pain not only involves the person with pain, but the family as well. Educate loved ones so they can help. (Resource link)
  • Quitting smoking, exercise and a healthy diet are all ways to control chronic pain. (Resource link).
  • Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSANII) is a rare disease where patients feel no pain. (Resource link)
  • A study showed that those who are less economically secure tend to have more pain because they can’t afford preventative care. (Resource link)

IF YOU HAVE ANY CHRONIC PAIN FACTS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON THIS PAGE, PLEASE EMAIL ME THROUGH THE CONTACT PAGE. THANKS!