Description
Virtually everyone has experienced pain-the human nervous system's natural response to injury. For most, it occurs for a specific reason, and then it subsides. For others, however, it lingers long after the cause has been removed. Or, its cause persists. Or, the pain comes even in the absence of an identifiable cause. When all its sources are considered, pain is the number-one reason for unscheduled doctor visits in the United States, and more than 76 million Americans suffer from chronic pain that affects employment, mobility, mood, sleep, concentration, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, new treatment options can minimize and relieve the suffering associated with pain. Furthermore, active personal involvement in pain management offers people the best prognosis for pain relief.
