Naples, FL

September Is Pain Awareness Month
By:  Bregory F. Paine, MD

Governor Charlie Crist signed in June a proclamation designating September as Pain Awareness Month.  This action was in response to the toll pain takes on all of us as patients, family members, employers, and physicians.  Pain is the number one cause for medical disability and results in over $150 billion annually in lost wages, medical expenses and other costs.  It affects more than 50 million Americans.

Due to the magnitude of this problem, Congress designated 2000-2010 as the decade of Pain Control and Research which was signed by President Clinton.  So how are we doing as this decade comes to a close?  Clearly we as a society are more acutely aware of pain.  When you go to the doctor or the hospital, pain has become the 5th vital sign and is measured along with the other vital signs of temperature, heart rate, respirations and blood pressure.  This became required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations during this time span.  Technological advances have continued to provide new and better devices for the treatment of pain.  The downside to these technological developments has been the refusal by insurance carriers to provide coverage for some of these techniques and equipment.  The problem has become more complex in this regard with the passage of this year’s healthcare bill.

In the area of pharmaceuticals, many new medications have been brought to market for conditions such as treating persistent pain associated with shingles, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.  Narcotics have become a huge problem, especially here in Florida where pill mills seem to provide significant portions of the country with potent medications.  Drug addiction to prescription drugs is at an all time high and prescription drugs have now surpassed marijuana as the gateway drug for children.  Nonetheless, pharmaceutical companies continue to develop pain medications that are noneuphoric in order to prevent drug liking and misuse, however they remain more expensive than conventional pain medications

One of the best developments over the past decade has been the advances in neurostimulation.  This technology is for the treatment of chronic pain from failed spine surgery, peripheral vascular disease, phantom limb and complex regional pain syndrome.
The advances over the past decade include smaller and rechargeable generators and more complex leads to provide greater pain relief.

If you would like more information about Pain Awareness Month please call 239-436-6711.