According to Mr. Martin, incidence of pain in individuals over the age of 60 is twice that in those under the age of 60. Headache and lower back pain are the most common types of pain suffered by the senior population. Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20 million Americans. Temporal pain is defined as acute or chronic, nonmalignant pain. Temporal pain is sudden, beginning and subsiding with tissue improvement.
Etiologic pain can be either malignant or nonmalignant.
Physiologic pain is nociceptive and neuropathic. Pain becomes chronic if it has not abated by six months after the initial injury has healed and there has not been a response to the pain or relief of the pain. By definition, chronic pain is resistant to treatment. Chronic pain can cause functional loss and social withdrawal. Chronic, nonmalignant pain is closely linked to depression.