The Ongoing Problems In Chronic Pain Medication Management
Today I want to talk about the ongoing problems in chronic pain management in the United States. In June 2011 a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that stated that the cost of chronic pain management in America today is over $635 Billion per year in direct medical costs and lost productivity.
I found this information to be very validating as I have also seen the pattern of increase over the past five or six years. I also believe a significant percentage of this cost is due to under-treatment or in many cases late-treatment of a chronic pain condition. Another factor for these high costs is the failure to identify and/or treat coexisting psychological or other medical disorders that I believe to be the number one cause of poor chronic pain management outcomes.
In my video that follows I’m making a call for healthcare providers to work together to discuss the problem—not complain about it—and then to discuss ways to move into a better solution. I also talk about how some pain patients are dying from overdose and others are being cut off after receiving medication management for years. Some of these people, who are getting cut off, resort to illegal ways to get their pain medication while others have given up and commit suicide.
As soon as I reach out to several of my colleagues we will be setting a date for a one day “Summit” on collaborating on suggestions for getting out of the problem and into the solution. The date and more information will be posted on our Addiction-Free Pain Management® Website. See my video below to learn more.
You can learn about the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System at our website www.addiction-free.com. If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain and seems to be suffering; please consider my book Freedom from Suffering: A Journey of Hope. This book was written for people living with chronic pain who are ready to learn and then put into practice seven strategic steps that will help them better manage their chronic pain condition, improve their quality of life, end suffering, and achieve their cherished goals. To purchase my Freedom from Suffering book please Click Here.
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