 Allergies [36]
Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy.
Antidepressants [36]
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia.
Arthritis [5]
Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.
Cancer [23]
Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth
Cardio & Blood [1]
Risk factors for heart disease: infections
Cholesterol [1]
A fat-like substance called a lipid. It is used to build cell membranes, hormones and bile acids
Diabetes [27]
The inability of the body to produce, or the inability to metabolize, the human hormone insulin; Diabetes insipidus, usually a disorder of the ...
Epilepsy [2]
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures
Gastrointestinal [1]
The digestive tract is the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food...
General Health [108]
The infant, child or young person?s current health condition
Herbal [36]
Herbal tea, herbal medicine
Hormonal [25]
Hormones - Proteins produced by organs of the body that trigger activity in other locations.
Men's Health [1]
For men on fitness, health, sex, caree
Pain relief [36]
Pain management is the medical discipline concerned with the relief of pain.
Skin care [36]
The skin is the outer covering of the body
Weight Loss [36]
Loss of body weight by dieting or due to various easting disorders or medical conditions.
Women's Health [34]
Find information on women's health issues, and lifestyle at the Women's Health
Fresh material  How is endometriosis diagnosed: ca-125
→ More
Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: gnrh agonists
→ More
How is endometriosis diagnosed: what is a repeat laparoscopy
→ More
Solutions to infertility: giving up smoking
→ More
Who should not have a laparoscopy?
→ More
The most popular materials [2799 view]
Hormonal drugs to treat endometriosis: primolut n → More
[2440 view]
How is endometriosis diagnosed: what do i need to discuss before i have my laparoscopy → More
[2260 view]
How is endometriosis diagnosed: ca-125 → More
[1932 view]
lynsey bartilson nude → More
[1790 view]
Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: gnrh agonists → More
Awaiting moderation 11765 Article |
Costs of chronic pain COSTS OF CHRONIC PAIN
Chronic pain is that which is persistent or recurrent and lasts longer than the usual expected time after illness or injury. Low back pain is by far the most common form of chronic pain, comprising about
80 per cent of cases. Millions more suffer other chronic pain conditions such as the excruciating facial pain of trigeminal neuralgia,TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction syndrome) affecting the jaw joint, post-herpetic neuralgia and phantom limb pain. Many cope with headaches, arthritis and other musculo-skeletal problems without excessive invalidism, medication, or health care. Unfortunately, a significant number of chronic pain sufferers have a complex variety of feelings, thinking and behaviourial symptoms.The financial costs of chronic pain may well be the highest of any health problem.
It includes the costs of social security payments, treatment, workers compensation and the loss of productivity. In New South Wales, 1984-85 figures showed that 'sprains and strains' accounted for 49.5% of claims for workers compensation, a total of 48,751 cases. The NSW compensation payout had risen from $286 million in 1980 to $666 in 1984-85. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures quoted in a leading article on pain in The Bulletin magazine showed that over 20% of compensation claims in Australia were for the condition of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) consisting of work related synovitis, bursitis and myofascial pain disorders. A further 20% had other problems of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissues. Apart from industrial deafness at 42% of claims, no other condition exceeded more than 4% of the total.
The ABS survey showed that headache due to unspecified or trivial causes was the most common Australian complaint. Some 10% said they had suffered one in the two week survey period. According to the Arthritis Foundation of Australia, one person in 12 in this country suffers from arthritis. This means that 1.3 million Australians have pain as a major disability. Arthritis accounts for more lost work days (over 7.5 million man hours) than any other medical condition and exceeds those lost due to industrial strikes.
The social costs of chronic pain are even more tragic, with so many young sufferers incapacitated for life, and the subsequent disruption to the family, the individual and society as a whole. Rather than brand sufferers as 'neurotic and hysterical', a more enlightened approach is called for, with early treatment, research and ultimately prevention.
Chronic pain in Australia is also a major issue in law suits and disability-benefit decisions. Whether or not a pain sufferer is typical of a hospital'pain clinic, or of a private practice population, the behaviour of pain patients gradually becomes less consistent with organic pathology.
*3\37\8*
Pain
«Online Pharmacy no Prescription»
 Print
Viewed: 304
| Keywords for this page: Costs of chronic pain |
|
|
