In a Harris Interactive survey, sponsored by the National Pain Foundation through a grant from Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, many respondents reported that pain disrupts their work productivity (48 percent), participation in recreational activities (65 percent), ability to take care of their homes and do chores (59 percent), and ability to take care of themselves and family members (41 percent).
Despite this disruption, respondents were reluctant to treat their pain, especially with prescription pills, as 93 percent agreed with the statement that "people take too many pills these days." Others reported that they did not want to take a general medication for pain in a specific part of the body, or that oral medications upset their stomachs.
More than one-quarter of respondents in acute pain did not see a doctor because they thought they could "tough it out," and the majority of those who did eventually see a doctor delayed going. Such behaviors are detrimental, however, because for most Americans pain is more than uncomfortable - it is disruptive to their daily activities and work lives and may lead to a chronic medical condition.
"The results of this survey indicate that the majority of Americans either do not know how to control their pain or do not take appropriate action to control their pain," said Mark Rasmussen, president and chief executive officer of the National Pain Foundation.
"If pain, particularly acute pain, is left untreated, it can become a chronic condition with a much bigger impact on the individual, their family, and even their employer. People with pain can combat their problem and often resume their normal activities by seeking professional help in a timely manner, as a doctor can recommend or prescribe a wide variety of effective treatment options."
Out of all 1,484 adults surveyed and screened for the study, 42 percent were experiencing some form of pain on the day of the survey. Seventy-two percent experienced pain in the last 12 months, and 27 percent of respondents experienced acute pain.
More than half of respondents suffering from pain did not see a healthcare professional, which is especially true with acute pain sufferers: 70 percent for acute pain vs. 45 percent for recurrent pain and 20 percent for chronic pain.
Among respondents who did not see a doctor to treat their pain, one-third believed that their doctor simply couldn't help them.
Even among those who did see a doctor, 81 percent of respondents, including 71 percent of acute pain sufferers, delayed going, hoping to deal with the pain on their own.
National Pain Foundation said acute pain is a common problem, with one in four Americans suffering an episode of pain lasting longer than 24 hours.
Acute (short-term) pain lasts for less than three months and resolves after successful intervention or healing. The most common causes of acute pain are sprains, strains and contusions, and the most common source of pain is the lower back, which accounts for $26.3 billion dollars annually in the United States in direct costs.
Chronic (long-term) pain generally lasts longer than three months, affects as many as 70 million people and has been said to be the most costly health problem in America.
