Drug-seeking behavior and doctor shopping are commonly present. Chronic pain affects 75 million Americans and 50 million suffer with impaired function secondary to this pain. Americans spend 120 billion dollars each year on chronic pain treatment and lose 200 billion dollars in productivity. Annual monetary costs include the expenses of medical treatment, lost productivity, and compensation for lost wages. Non-monetary costs include the patients' and their families' pain and suffering.
Chronic pain is considered to be our nation's third largest health problem.
Only cancer and heart disease are more prevalent. The Pain Management Center emphasizes the importance of applying a full range of services that offer a comprehensive approach to patient care.