Chronic pain: Millions suffer, missing non-drug options
Many people with chronic pain are
terrified that if they move, they will damage themselves further. But
nothing could be further from the truth.
Story Highlights
· Chronic pain affects 100 million U.S. adults.
· And it costs the nation upwards of $635 billion a year.
· Exercise, acupuncture and other non-drug treatments show promise
. NRCT may be your solution
Though
chronic pain is often hidden from the USA's front pages and TV screens,
it is actually Americans' biggest health problem. Chronic pain —
typically defined as pain lasting more than three to six months —
affects 100 million adult Americans, according to a 2011 report from the
Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences. In
2010, that was more than 40% of the adult population. It is the leading
reason people go to doctors and it costs the nation upwards of $635
billion a year — more than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined.
Despite
the prevalence of chronic pain, many people, including many physicians,
are unaware of the growing number of non-narcotic treatments, backed up
by considerable research.
To read more about non-drug solutions to chronic pain, click here
