Pain…Pain….Go Away!

If you or someone you know has been affected by pain, here is something you may find of interest.

A group of Albertans is developing the Alberta Pain Strategy. The purpose of the strategy is to:

  • Outline a coordinated, provincial approach to addressing the complex issue of pain, starting with priorities;
  • Capture the considerable amount of work already underway across the province related to pain and the use of opioids within a single strategy document;
  • Build on successes and identify and focus on the remaining gaps.

To this end, the Alberta Pain Strategy team is seeking your thoughts, feedback and input. Please take a few minutes to read this short document and complete the online survey found here. The survey will be available until September 17, 2018.

What a Pain!

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Did you know that…

  • 17% to 31% of the general community report chronic pain.
  • 50% of hospitalized patients report acute pain of moderate to severe intensity.
  • People in pain miss work, spend time in hospital and visit the doctor often.
  • Pain is almost unmentioned in medical training.
  • Severe shortage of acute pain services and pain clinics in hospital settings.
  • In-hospital patients with pain from non-surgical conditions are less likely to have their pain taken seriously enough to be treated.
  • Outpatients who report pain of chronic duration to health care professionals are often dismissed, or are accused of malingering.
  • There is a large gap between what is known and what is practiced in the treatment of all kinds of pain
  • November 6th-12th is National Pain Awareness Week.

Click here to find out more.