Chronic Pain Australia has produced themselves a fine report. Among other actions, they ask the federal government to recognize chronic pain, not simply opioid use, as a national health crisis. Together, these findings paint a shocking picture of how pervasive chronic pain is among Australians living with pain. They call on Congress to address the urgent need for systemic changes in healthcare funding and support.
The study has found that 3.6 million Australians, or one in five, live with chronic pain. This epidemic exerts a larger economic burden than cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. Almost two-thirds of people living with chronic pain are not able to work, which can cause a devastating economic impact. What’s more, countless others describe waiting years for an accurate diagnosis, deepening the burdens they experience.
Chronic Pain Australia recommends localized funding for primary care and modifications to the current coding system for chronic pain treatment. Chronic pain has a wide reach on our National Treasure’s lives. Unfortunately, it is too often brushed aside as only a symptom and not recognized as a serious health issue. This lack of understanding fuels stigma, escalating the isolation that those who experience it already feel.
A recent survey of 5,000 Australians found these alarming statistics. It demonstrated that over half (54%) of respondents waited longer than 2 years for a diagnosis, with 44% waiting longer than 3 years. We know that timely and effective care for chronic pain is available, but not currently provided. Only 18% of people with this condition are referred to specialized, multidisciplinary care—where a team of health professionals can address the multiple facets of their pain.
Nicolette Ellis, a spokesperson for Chronic Pain Australia, addressed the lack of integrated health services. She is fighting to improve care for chronic pain patients.
“It’s more burdensome than or more prevalent than mental health conditions. It costs our economy more than cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes combined and one in five Australians, that’s about 3.6 million live with chronic pain.” – Nicolette Ellis
Ellis went on to discuss the challenges of systemic chronic pain treatment, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain care.
“Chronic pain is a complex condition to treat and it usually needs a team of health professionals, with different skillsets to help build that person’s toolkit. Unfortunately, in the National Pain Report we saw that only 18 per cent of people are referred to what we call multidisciplinary care where they can get access to those different health professionals to help support their care.” – Nicolette Ellis
Nelli Stevenson, chronic pain sufferer since the age of 14, spoke about these issues embedding the audience inside her personal struggles with the condition.
“I’ve had several medical professionals tell me that I’ll be in pain for the rest of my life. There’s only so much they can do for me surgically.” – Nelli Stevenson
Her experiences underscore the isolating and emotional toll of living with chronic pain. She noted that those in chronic pain communities experience an existential grief for the lives and capacities they’ve lost that runs very profound.
“I often see folks within chronic pain communities talk about grief, they talk about grieving their healthy bodies or grieving their former life or former abilities.” – Nelli Stevenson
The National Pain Report touches on the physical pain these people continue to face. It sheds light on the mental health concerns that come alongside their pain. Almost 75% of people living with chronic pain experience mental health challenges as a result of their pain.
