September is a month that we all feel pain in one way or another.  Summer is drawing to an end, the kids just “broke the bank” with their back-to-school needs and wants, and you just had to endure Uncle Jimmy tell the same jokes as last year’s Labor Day gathering. Yes, these things are painful, but we are talking about something far more serious and in need of much more awareness.

September is Pain Awareness Month thanks to the American Chronic Pain Association.  Dr. Michael Steuer and the team of providers at MidSouth Pain Treatment Center are dedicated to educating the community about the effects of chronic pain and the treatments available to relieve and manage pain.

This month creates an opportunity for organizations, pain management providers and chronic pain sufferers to have a loud voice and call attention to the prevalence and effects of chronic pain.  It provides a forum to educate and explain chronic pain symptoms and treatment without any stigmas.

According to the American Chronic Pain Association, the first Pain Awareness Month was in 2001, when the ACPA led a coalition of groups to establish September as Pain Awareness Month.  ACPA established Partners for Understanding Pain and 80 organizations, both health care professionals and consumer groups, including the NAACP supported the effort.

What is chronic pain? Chronic pain is often defined as any pain lasting more than three months. The pain can become progressively worse and reoccur intermittently, outlasting the usual healing process.  Chronic pain can cause significant psychological and emotional trauma and often limits an individual’s ability to fully function.

Some facts about chronic pain from the American Academy of Pain Medicine:

  • 2 million adults suffer from chronic pain which is more than diabetes (20.8 million), heart disease (18.7 million), and cancer (1.4 million) combined.
  • More than one-quarter of Americans (26%) age 20 years and over – or, an estimated 76.5 million Americans – report that they have had a problem with pain of any sort that persisted for more than 24 hours in duration.
  • The annual cost of chronic pain in the United States, including healthcare expenses, lost income, and lost productivity, is estimated to be $100 billion.
  • An estimated 20% of American adults (42 million people) report that pain or physical discomfort disrupts their sleep a few nights a week or more
  • Back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old. More than 26 million Americans between the ages of 20-64 experience frequent back pain. — Women reported low back pain at 29 percent compared to men reporting it at 25 percent.
  • Adults with low back pain are often in worse physical and mental health than people who do not have low back pain: 28% of adults with low back pain report limited activity due to a chronic condition, as compared to 10% of adults who do not have low back pain.
  • Adults reporting low back pain were three times as likely to be in fair or poor health and more than four times as likely to experience serious psychological distress as people without low back pain.

Chronic pain also affects the individual’s quality of life.  People suffering from chronic pain often report feelings of depression, trouble concentrating, less energy and the inability to sleep well.

We tell people they don’t have to live with their pain. We offer proven treatment options”, explains CEO and Medical Director, Dr. Michael E. Steuer. “It all starts with the right diagnosis. There is no room for guesswork when it comes to effective pain management.”

MidSouth Pain Treatment Center is highly recognized as a professional leader for interventional treatments in pain management. The highly trained and compassionate staff utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and innovative techniques in the treatment of all types of chronic pain as well as acute shingles pain and migraine headache pain. We have locations in Tennessee and Mississippi, including two surgery centers, conveniently located to serve the Mid-South area and beyond.

For more information on MidSouth Pain Treatment Center, CLICK HERE

To schedule an appointment, CLICK HERE

Author: Felicia Klootwyk

Felicia Klootwyk is the Director of Marketing for MidSouth Pain Treatment Center.  Felicia joined MidSouth Pain Treatment Center in 2014 and has fallen in love with the practice’s philosophy and culture.  “MidSouth Pain Treatment Center is committed to helping people and saving lives through pain management excellence,” says Felicia. “Who wouldn’t want to shout that message from the rooftops?”