Facts on Chronic Pain

  • Approximately 80 million people in the United States suffer Chronic pain.
  • Chronic low back pain affects nearly 31 million Americans and represents the most common cause of disability in persons less than 45 years of age.
  • The American Pain Foundation describes pain as the fifth vital sign after blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature.
  • Research indicates that men and women respond differently to pain. Women are believed to seek help more quickly, are more likely to use a variety of support resources to deal with pain and recover more quickly.
  • Pain is the number one complaint of older Americans, and one in five older Americans regularly use painkillers, according to the American Pain Foundation.
  • The first step in treating chronic pain is seeking medical care to diagnose the cause.
  • Many doctors have had little training in pain care and may be unaware or not fully informed of treatments that can help to relieve pain, other than pain medicine.
  • The cause of chronic pain is not always evident.
  • In a survey by the National Institutes of Health, lower back pain was Americans' leading pain complaint.
  • Repetitive stress injuries, such as tennis elbow, are musculoskeletal conditions that result from repeated motions performed during work or other activities.
  • Exercise is often prescribed as a way to treat and prevent pain.
  • Nearly half of patients who complain of pain to their doctors are depressed.
  • On average, 65% of depressed people also complain of pain.
  • People whose pain limits their independence are especially likely to get depressed.

WOL + MED in Denton:

2436 S. Interstate 35 E #336
Denton, Texas 76205 ( view map )
940-484-7000
800-300-HEAL (Toll Free)
940-484-7888 (Fax)

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WOL + MED in Dallas:

7125 Hwy 67 - Suite 107
Dallas, TX 75237 ( view map )
972-572-5000
1-87-STOP-PAIN (Toll Free)
972-572-9448 (Fax)

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