Chronic pain is permanent pain, lasting at least three consecutive months and having significant physical, moral and social consequences. It becomes a disease in its own right, altering the quality of life of patients in a lasting way. Pain treatments are often insufficient to treat chronic pain patients.
In 2019, for the first time, chronic pain is recognised as a disease in itself and not as a symptom!
(WHO International Classification of diseases: WHO, ICD-11)
Chronic pain represents 10% of the resasons for a general practicionar's consultation. It affects everyone:
- osteoarthritis
- low-back pain
- neuropathy
- endometriosis
- migraine
- fibromyalgia
- cancer pain
- rheumatism
- etc.
Chronic pain affects women more than men, and their pain is more intense and long-lasting (with an average prevalence of 20 %).
1 in 5 people suffers from it i.e. more than 10 million people in the French population.
2 in 3 patients are insufficiently relieved by their treatment and 1 in 2 patients has an altered quality of life.
Chronic pain is also an economic and social issue:
60 % of patients suffering from chronic pain are less able to work, of which 20 % lost their job due to chronic pain.
88 million working days are impacted each year.
1 patient in 2 suffering from chronic pain is in sick leave more than 4 months per year.
(Source: Analgesia Institute Clermont-Ferrand)