Chronic Pain Statistics and Management You Need to Know

Do you experience chronic pain? Well, don’t worry, you are not alone. And if you don’t, chances are, you know someone experiencing chronic pain. It is universally prevalent among the elderly, with nearly 5 million people above 65 living in constant pain. It is mainly accompanied by other diseases and lasts for over three months. To help you understand chronic pain in the US, here are 20 statistics.

The Prevalence of Chronic Pain in the US

• Estimates from limited studies show that chronic pain numbers are between 11% and 40% 
• The national pain strategy inquired for a more accurate estimate to understand the extent of the problem. That’s when an estimate showed that 1 in 5 adults in the US has chronic pain
• In a sample of more than 17,000 respondents, 8% experience high-impact chronic pain. Among the high-impact chronic patients, 84% cannot work beyond their homes
• Today in the US, chronic pain affects more people than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined

Most Common Types of Chronic Pain

• Back pain is the most common chronic pain in the US, with 80% of adults having experienced it in their lifetime
• The second most prevalent chronic pain is migraines. 1 in 6 Americans experiences self-reported cases of migraine
• An estimated 3% to 17% of Americans experience chronic neuropathic pain, which is the abnormal sensitivity to stimuli
• 1 in 4 adults in the US, which is an estimated about 15 million people, suffer from chronic pain that’s related to arthritis 

Demographics

• An estimated 65% of older adults in the US aged 65 and above have chronic pain
• Most women are reported to experience chronic pain than men
• Adults who possess public health insurance were shown to report more cases of chronic pain than those with private insurance
• Adults with less education than high school level experience more chronic pain cases. They are ranging in between 24% to 28%
• People with psychiatric symptoms like anxiety and depression are 3 times more likely to have chronic pain
• People earning a family income of less than $25000 and those lacking access to essential care are more prone to chronic pain. This is the result of a sample of 3132 patients

The Cost of Management in the US

• The cost of chronic pain in the US is estimated to be between; $560-$635 billion yearly. This includes disability initiatives, lost productivity, and medical expenses
• The opioid outpatient prescription costs more than $800 out of pocket every year
• Americans with mild pain pay more for health care services than those without pain. They pay an estimate of $4516 yearly

Cancer-related Chronic Pain

• About 75% of cancer patients in the US live with chronic pain
• Lung cancer patients, at an estimation of 20%, have active chronic pain at their time of diagnosis
• Women with cancer have more pain severity compared to men cancer patients

Find Professional Pain Management Services

With the statistics above, there is no doubt that chronic pain is a prevalent problem. If you are a patient with chronic pain, you can find professional chronic pain services that will help ease your pain. At Southeast Pain & Spine Care, we have a double-board-certified physician that will help manage your pain. Contact us and fill out the form below to contact our team.