Accidents, especially work related and moving vehicle accidents can spiral anyone who is injured into a new world of chronic pain where the body and the mind are equally effected. The pain can last a life-time. Chronic pain — years down the line the injury has healed of course, but the pain from that injury continues.
Statistics have shown that chronic pain afflicts nearly 100 million people in the United States, more than a third of the population, according to the Society for Neuroscience, the world’s largest organization of brain researchers.
Chronic pain remains misunderstood, misdiagnosed and mistreated. Research suggests that as many as half the country’s pain patients are not getting the proper treatment.
Located in New York State are board certified physicians who may not be able to fully erase the pain, but can reduce the pain an individual feels to a bearable level. MSR doctors can help.
Statistically in the United States alone, lower back pain strikes two-thirds of adults. Chronic pain lingers in about 15 percent of cases, leaving 7 million people partially or completely disabled.
MSR provides referrals to pain specialists in New York in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island, that provide the highest quality of care for chronic pain sufferers. These doctors take the time to talk and listen to the patient, with patience and sensitivity, implementing the right treatments necessary to start the healing process and relieve chronic pain.
Workers injured in the workplace are often not taken seriously when complaining of the pain they feel. The are put under a spotlight and targeted when they are unable to perform their jobs to full capacity due to the pain they feel. Pain that goes untreated, can rage out of control causing both mental and physical disability.
Patients suffering chronic pain can no longer just grin and bear it, chronic pain is real, chronic pain is a disease. If a patient doesn’t not receive proper treatment, and the symptoms continue for too long, a patient can spiral out of control. Patients can lose their jobs, their relationships, their lives.
PAIN BY THE NUMBERS
Moderate to very severe pain that has lasted at least six months afflicts
9 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 25 million
people, a new survey estimated. Its key findings:
.
-- In percent of chronic pain sufferers:
Severity
Moderate 43%
Severe 23%
Very severe 34%
.
Time had pain
6 months to a year 10%
1-5 years 34%
More than 5 years 56%
.
Type of pain
Flares up frequently 61%
Constant 39%
.
Cause:
Arthritis 37%
Back pain 27
Headaches 6
Other 25
Don't know 5
.
Medical care for pain:
Ever gone to a doctor 94
Now seeing a doctor 61
Hospitalized last 12 mos. 11
Changed doctors to find relief 22
(three times or more)
Referred to a pain specialist 22
.
Medications now taking:
Over-the-counter pain relievers 63
Prescription NSAIDs 29
Narcotic pain-relievers 16
Antidepressants 9
Trying non-medical therapy 68
.
Effect of treatment:
Pain under control 55
Pain still out of control 41
.
Impact on lifestyle/emotional state:
Problems sleeping 68
Difficulty walking 53
Can't concentrate 42
Trouble at work 34
Damaged relationships 26
Depressed 18
Feel useless 12
Turned to alcohol 10
.
.
Note: Excluding cancer-related pain.
Source: "Chronic Pain in America: Roadblocks to Relief," January 1999
report, based on a survey conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide
Inc. for the American Pain Society,
American Academy of Pain Medicine and Janssen Pharmaceutica.