Surgery is less effective. Non-narcotics are more appropriate. Sedatives are contraindicated. Active patient participation in treatment is essential. Disability and job change are likely.
Subjective complaints disproportionate to objective findings.
Defies traditional diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Physical and psychological deconditioning are present. 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.