By: Mark A. Testa, DC
Denver Pain Care

Prevalence

According to recent studies, 44% of all Americans experience some form of acute pain, while 34% characterize their pain as a recurrent problem. Furthermore, 19% of Americans experience chronic pain. Thus, 50 million Americans live with chronic pain on a daily basis. Within this population, 72% have lived with chronic pain for more than 3 years, while 34% have lived with it for more than a decade. In terms of severity, 62% of pain-inflicted individuals rated their pain as either severe or moderate. Low back pain (25%) is the most recurrent and common location of pain and for every year a person has back pain, their brain atrophies 10-20 years of normal aging.

Interventions

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are the most common remedy for addressing pain (84%), while home remedies are the next most common pain relief technique (81%). Only about half of these people with chronic pain are taking any form of prescription medication.

Among all interventions, chiropractic care is the 6th most common technique for addressing pain (28%). However, despite its utilization, chiropractic interventions address pain “very well,” while most other interventions achieved less favorable results.
 
Effectiveness of Interventions

Of all respondents, only 53% report having a consultation with a health care professional regarding their pain. Among those who had a consultation, only 31% report having a “great deal” or “complete relief” of their pain. Meanwhile, 41% report experiencing “just some” or “hardly any” pain relief.

Conclusion

Overall, a large number of Americans experience some level of pain and the majority of them are “poorly or under treated.” Many Americans are seeking effective pain treatment. One of the most effective interventions for managing pain is through conservative chiropractic care. Denver Pain Care provides comprehensive, conservative interventions, including chiropractic care, rehabilitation, intramuscular stimulation (IMS), acupuncture, and nutrition for pain. Current literature supports these types of services as safe and effective for spinal pain.