Doctors often don't recognize chronic pain as an illness (1:05)
Russell Portenoy, MD, a leading pain expert, believes chronic pain is a crisis being ignored by the U.S. health-care system.
Click the thumbnails below to watch more real stories.
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Chronic Pain Is Real
Doctors don't recognize chronic pain
( 1:05 )
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Acute vs. Chronic Pain
They need different treatment
( :46 )
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Don't Be Stoic
Tell your doctor how it really feels
( 1:52 )
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Be a Good Patient
How to get the best care
( 1:24 )
Share Your Thoughts
Have you been treated for chronic pain?
Chronic pain occurs in as many as 30% of Americans and costs the U.S. close to $100 billion a year. “It’s a problem as big any other health-care problem we have in America,” says Russell Portenoy, MD, chairman of the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. In this video, Dr. Portenoy explains that, despite those facts, “most patients go to doctors with a chronic pain problem and essentially get almost no treatment for their chronic pain.”
Chronic Pain Is RealDoctors don't recognize chronic pain
Acute vs. Chronic PainThey need different treatment
Don't Be StoicTell your doctor how it really feels
Be a Good PatientHow to get the best care
