Pain from Arthritis and Other Causes Affects Millions of Lives
According to the Centers for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics, “One in four U.S. adults say they suffered a day-long bout of pain in the past month, and 1 in 10 say the pain lasted a year or more.” As adults get older, the numbers increase. According to the NCHS report, “One-fifth of adults 65 years and older said they had experienced pain in the past month that persisted for more than 24 hours,” and “Almost three-fifths of adults 65 and older with pain said it had lasted for 1 year ore more.”
These alarming statistics point to an enormous amount of suffering and loss of productivity and quality of life among Americans. After all, when a person is in a lot of pain, they can’t work, enjoy their families, or engage in recreational activities. Acute pain – such as that experienced as a result of an injury – can lead to reliance on prescription drugs, while chronic pain – like that accompanying health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or other joint pain – can lead to depression.
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