The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage."
Pain is the first reason for consultation in France.
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:
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)
