Breaking through the Myths of Pain and Pain Relief

In an effort to create a more public awareness of chronic pain issues a America Osteopathic Association (AOA) poll was released October 6, 2010.  In hopes of encouraging chronic pain suffers to seek out the help they need and use the resources they have, this article shares the results of the poll.  The AOA survey discovered that Americans believe pain-associated myths and ignore or downplay their pain.

Dr. Robert I. Danoff, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and board certified physician of Philadelphia's Aria Health System, is reported saying in the the news release entitled American Osteopathic Association Launches Public Education Campaign with Tips and Tools to Help People Better Manage Their Pain "Chronic pain is a very serious and unaddressed public health issue, and many people are reluctant to speak to their physician for fear of feeling hopeless, or simply not knowing how to initiate the conversation," and "We want to shift from the ‘decade of pain’ to the ‘decade of healing’."

More than 90% of Americans are seriously underestimating chronic pain's prevalence in our nation today.  In fact, according to the AOA's news release chronic pain "affects more Americans than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined."

In order to show that pain is real in the lives of most Americans they gave these results from their poll:

  • Near 70% of respondents reported that they or someone they care for has experienced pain during the last 30 days.
  • There are almost half the American population (48%) don't think that their pain is treatable.
  • Following close in statistics 41% of Americans believe that pain is only part if what it means to get old.
  • Only 1 out of 10 people say they would ignore any pain they believe is associated with aging.
  • The fear of addiction to pain medications stops 36% of Americans from taking prescribed medication or even doctor recommended medication.
  • 34% of Americans fear that the side effects of pain medication would be worse that the actual pain.
  • While money is tight 31% of Americans don't even tell a doctor of their pain because they don't think they can afford the solution.
  • 1 out of every 5 Americans do speak up if experiencing chronic pain.

 More than 76 million Americans live with chronic pain daily.  Don't let pain run your life or ruin it.  Take this "Living in Pain?" quiz, from AOA to find out if you are one of those Americans not realizing you can get relief from your pain.  If needed, seeking the help you deserve.

 

SOURCE: American Osteopathic Association, news release, Oct. 6, 2010