Chronic Pain Management Set to Get Better

Pain care management needs to be improved, with health care professionals committing to improve care as well as a retooling of the health care system to help people who are suffering, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

According to a recent analysis, chronic pain affects people of all ages, with an estimated 500,000 Canadians aged 12 to 44 years, 38% of seniors in long-term care institutions and 27% of seniors living at home experiencing regular pain.

Below Par Management of Chronic Pain in Homeless People
New research by St. Michael's Hospital finds that chronic pain is not managed well in the general population and it's an even greater challenge for homeless people.

"Experts agree that much can be done now with newer analgesics, nonpharmacologic techniques such as nerve blocks and physical therapies, as well as spiritual and supportive care," write Drs. Noni MacDonald, Ken Flegel, Paul Hébert and Matthew Stanbrook. "Availability of quality care for pain is the major problem. Health professionals have not mounted a response commensurate with the magnitude of the problem."

The authors argue for a broad strategy to help increase pain management expertise, including education, technology, and supported self-care and lay coaching.

High Time We Address Chronic Pain, Says a New Report from IOM
Chronic pain is the plight of close to 116 million Americans. Chronic pain affects more people than cancer, heart disease or diabetes.

Source-Eurekalert

Skin Cells Could Be Behind Chronic Pain
The Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP), associated with chronic pain, could be generated by skin cells themselves.

Chronic Pain Sufferers Might Consider Suicide
A national study on chronic pain shows that 1/3 of the Australian population suffers from chronic pain and 20% of them have considered suicide while 5% have attempted suicide.