When Long-Term Recurring Pain Has a Devastating Effect on Your Daily Life
You may not have heard the term “high-impact chronic pain,” but chances are good you have experienced it. According to at least one national study, nearly 11 million adult Americans have sought treatment over the last year for what medical professionals term “high-impact chronic pain.” Simply put, that is physical discomfort that lasts for a minimum of 90 days, and makes it impossible for the sufferer to engage in at least one important life function. Examples include chronic pain that:
- Prevents a person from performing routine household chores or tasks
- Makes it impossible for a person to work outside the home
- Prevents a person from going to school or engaging in ordinary social functions, such as shopping, visiting the doctor or going to church
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), individuals diagnosed with high-impact chronic pain typically report more mental health challenges, as well as cognitive dysfunction. They exhibit less capacity to care for themselves, including such fundamental needs as nutrition, sleep and personal hygiene. They are also inclined to seek medical attention more often than other chronic pain sufferers who don’t have similar limitations.
Here are some of the key findings off the NCCIH research:
- More than 40 million people sought treatment for chronic pain, although about 75% did not report limitations on life functions
- More than four out of every five persons diagnosed with high impact chronic pain were unable to hold a job, and about one in three could not dress or bathe themselves
- High impact chronic pain caused more limitation on basic life functions than any other chronic health condition, including diabetes, cancer and stroke
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Take action today to maximize your health after any type of back injury or trauma. Contact us by phone at 1-877-487-8289 or complete the form provided below to arrange a visit. We offer a number of convenient locations throughout Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio.
