For Patients
What is pain? Pain is defined as a sensation or feeling that is unpleasant or hurts. If you feel pain, it normally indicates something is wrong. Pain has different ranges and can have a quick onset or develop over time. Each individual feels pain differently and it is a unique experience.
There are two types of pain – acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain is considered pain that is intense and short-lived. Normally, acute pain is associated with an injury and goes away once the injury has healed. Chronic pain is considered a pain that is lasting. The severity of the pain can range from mild to severe.
Pain affects many Americans each year. A recent report from the Institute of Medicine confirms that, “Every year, approximately 100 million adult Americans experience chronic pain, a condition that costs the nation between $560 billion and $635 billion annually. Much of this pain is preventable or could be better managed.
Working with Patients
Working with patients on the issues of pain medication misuse, abuse and diversion is probably one of the most challenging parts of your job. Prime helps you meet these challenges with more than just urine drug monitoring. We provide tools and resources to help you assess your patients’ risk of pain medication misuse or abuse.
Many patients don’t understand the dangers and risks of not adhering to their chronic opioid therapy, which may help explain why many of them may not be taking their pain medications as prescribed.
