APS Press Room
News Highlights from The Journal of Pain • August 2007
The Peer Review Journal of the American Pain Society
| For immediate release | Contact: Chuck Weber (847) 705-1802 |
Study Reports 31 Percent of Americans Have Moderate to Severe Pain
Three in Four Seek Medical Attention; About Half Get Relief
GLENVIEW, Aug. 15, 2007—Nearly one in three Americans report they recently experienced moderate to severe pain and while most sought medical attention, only half of the pain sufferers said they got significant relief, according to new research published in The Journal of Pain.
Of 1,204 survey respondents polled by ABC News, 31% said they had experienced moderate to severe pain recently. Three in four reported seeking medical attention, and 92% also tried alternatives such as over-the-counter pain medications, home remedies, bed rest, prayer, and going to a chiropractor. For those who sought medical attention, only 56% said they experienced good pain relief. Difficulties communicating with physicians about pain and lack of health insurance were identified as the major obstacles to obtaining significant pain relief.
Among alternative methods cited by respondents with recent pain, prayer was used by almost half, and nearly half of that group said they achieved pain relief by praying. Previous studies have concluded that prayer and spirituality may improve the ability to cope with pain and relieve stress.
Source: People in Pain: How Do They Seek Relief? Qiuling Shi, Gary Langer, Jon Cohen and Charles S. Cleeland University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and ABC News Polling Unit.
Study Links Angina with Chronic Pain Following Bypass Surgery
A team of Dutch pain researchers has reported that angina pectoris is linked with chronic pain experienced by coronary artery bypass surgery patients. They studied 369 individuals who had bypass surgery and found that 39% had chronic pain 3 months after the procedure and 32% still had pain at 6 months.
The key finding of the study, however, was a higher incidence of angina pectoris identified in patients with chronic pain following bypass surgery. The authors noted angina may sensitize the central nervous system and promote development of chronic pain. They also wrote that bypass patients without angina could be better able to inhibit the onset of chronic pain. The study clearly shows that angina pectoris should be considered a risk factor for developing chronic pain following coronary bypass surgery.
Source: The Role of Angina Pectoris in Chronic Pain After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Monique A.H. Steegers, Addy van de Luijtgaarden, Luc Noyez, Gert-jan Scheffer and Oliver H.G. Wilder-Smith, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nimegen, The Netherlands
Pain Inhibits Social and Psychological Function in MS Patients
Even though pain is regarded as a common problem in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), its impact on physical and psychosocial functioning is not well understood, according to researchers from Australia's Royal Melbourne Hospital. They studied 94 patients with MS to understand the prevalence of chronic pain in this group and determine its impact on physical and psychosocial function.
Sixty-four percent of the MS patients reported chronic pain and their mean pain intensity score was 5 or moderate. Compared to MS patients who reported no pain, those in pain showed a significant difference in their psychological well being scores as measured by the Assessment of Quality of Life Scale. Further, the ability to live independently was higher in patients reporting no pain or low pain intensity. The authors concluded pain is a significant problem associated with multiple sclerosis and clinicians should identify patients with MS who are at risk for chronic pain to facilitate timely intervention and prevent pain-related disability.
Source: Chronic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Impact on Quality of Life in an Australian Cohort, Fary Khan and Julie Pallant, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.