The Importance of Individualized Therapy Chronic pain afflicts
approximately 10-20% of the adult population. Much of that pain
can be relieved with proper treatment. Forms of chronic pain
include: - neuropathic pain (diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic
neuralgia, post mastectomy pain, phantom limb pain, and reflex
sympathetic dystrophy (RSD or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) -
musculoskeletal (back, knee, hip) pain - rheumatoid arthritis -
cancer pain Pain is one of the most common reasons people
consult a physician, yet frequently it is inadequately assessed
and undertreated, resulting in needless suffering, lost
productivity, and excessive healthcare expenditures. Successful
long-term pain management requires rapid, flexible, and expert
responses to the changing needs of the patient. Patients and
their loved ones should never allow pain to continue amid
concerns of "being a complainer," medication-related side
effects, or fear of addiction or loss of control. Patients with
pain or other distressing symptoms