Chronic Pain Voices is here to give a voice to the millions of people who are suffering in pain every day –– many of whom are suffering silently. They’re tired of doctors discounting their pain and telling them they’ll just have to learn to live with it. They’re sick of family and friends telling them to toughen up and deal with it. Often it’s easier to suffer in silence than to face the verbal assault and emotional alienation they receive when they complain.
The time for silence is over. This is supposed to be the “Decade of Pain Control and Research” but we’re seven years into the decade and precious little has been done to provide patients with the level of pain care they need. It’s time not only to talk about chronic pain, but it’s time to do something about it.
Chronic pain is not a respecter of persons. It cuts across every divide: age, race, gender, and nationality. Look at these eye-opening statistics about chronic pain:
- As many as 70 million people in the U.S. (an estimated 15–33 percent of the population) are affected by chronic pain.
- Chronic pain disables more people than cancer or heart disease.
- Pain is said to be the most costly health problem in America –– costing the America people approximately $100 billion a year in medical costs, lost productivity and workers compensation –– more than cancer and heart disease combined.
Our purpose here at Chronic Pain Voices is to keep you informed about the state of pain care, keep you up-to-date on the latest chronic pain research, and to help you learn how to take charge of your healthcare and demand the responsible pain care you need.
