New Survey Finds 85% of Floridians are Living with Pain and Nearly Half Believe it's Just Part of Life

CHICAGO, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Floridians living with pain are not alone. According to a new survey released today by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), more than 85% of Florida residents say they, or someone they care for, have experienced pain in the past 30 days. With more than 76 million Americans living with pain every day (1), chronic or reoccurring pain affects more Americans than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined.

The AOA survey also reveals that more than 90% of those in Florida underestimate the severity and prevalence of chronic pain, underscoring the need for consumer education to dispel the common myths associated with chronic pain. In response, the AOA, which represents the nation's more than 70,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs), launched the "Break Through Your Pain" public education campaign to raise awareness about the safe and effective options available to treat chronic pain and empower Floridians to get the help they need.

"Chronic pain is a serious public health issue. Many Florida residents live with pain because they believe it is just a part of the aging process or fear their pain cannot be treated," said Joseph A. Giaimo, DO, an AOA board-certified internist and pulmonologist in Palm Beach Gardens and an assistant clinical professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale. "We're encouraging patients to take the first step to finding relief by openly discussing pain with their physician and then working together to develop an individualized treatment plan."

Busting the Myths Associated with Pain

The AOA survey found most Floridians believe the common myths associated with pain and then proceed to ignore, downplay or under-treat their own chronic pain:

• Half of Floridians mistakenly believe pain is just a part of life.
• Nearly four out of 10 (39%) do not believe pain is something that can be eased with proper treatment.
• Less than half (47%) would speak to a specialist if experiencing chronic pain.
• One in three (31%) would not speak to a medical professional about their pain for fear they could not afford treatment.
• More than two out of five (44%) fear prescription pain relief medications are easily addictive, while four out of 10 (39%) believe medications come with side effects that are worse than the pain itself.

Taking Action to "Break Through Your Pain"

Chronic pain comes in many different forms and affects many parts of the body (i.e. back, knees, neck, legs, head, feet and arms). Just as there are multiple types of chronic pain, there are a wide variety of treatment options, ranging from medication to hands-on techniques.

Effective treatment requires an individualized pain management program created through patient and physician collaboration. The AOA "Break Through Your Pain" campaign aims to empower Floridians to take charge of their health, starting with a few simple steps:

1. Visit the AOA website and take advantage of new pain assessment tools that can help you describe and track your pain. The Living With Pain? Quiz and Break Through The Pain! Assessment Tool/Patient Journal are both available at www.osteopathic.org/pain.
2. Make an appointment to speak with your physician about your pain – ignoring or under-treating your pain can lead to more pain – creating a debilitating cycle.
3. Work with your physician to design an individualized treatment plan that meets your needs – managing chronic pain is not a "one size fits all" diagnosis.
4. Follow your personalized pain management/treatment plan – sticking to a treatment plan will pay off in the long-run.

"This is a unique time in Florida when the state legislature is reevaluating current health policies and introducing safeguards to limit and prevent prescription drug abuse. The AOA is concerned with the rise of prescription drug abuse and supports efforts to protect patients. We are also mindful of the fact that pain is a major health problem and also do not want to see these efforts hinder access to quality care," said Karen J. Nichols, DO, president of the American Osteopathic Association. "We encourage Floridians living with pain to find a physician they can work with to create an individualized pain management plan. Osteopathic physicians are trained to treat the whole person and work with patients to determine which treatment options will best address their patients' pain as well as help them track their progress over time."

For more information and to download pain management tools from the AOA "Break Through Your Pain" Campaign, visit www.osteopathic.org/pain.

About the American Osteopathic Association

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 70,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.

(1) National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2006 With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: 68-71

SOURCE American Osteopathic Association