Pain Facts
MOPI is a statewide nonprofit volunteer member organization
dedicated to removing the barriers to effective pain assessment
and management in the state of Missouri through professional
and patient education, advocacy, and changes to the health system.
- More than 50 million Americans suffer from persistent, recurrent
pain each year
- Another 25 million experience acute pain as a result of
injury or surgery
- Pain is the number one reason people seek medical help
- In 2005, 31% of Missourians reported that during the past
month, pain made it hard for them to do usual activities, such
as self-care, work, or recreation. Eleven percent reported
experiencing
significant
pain for 15-30 days that month. (Source: Missouri 2005
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey)
Barriers existing in Missouri include inadequate training of
health professionals, exaggerated fears of side effects and addiction
related to taking pain medication, lack of communication between
patients and health care providers, limited access to care in
the rural and urban core, the low priority of pain management
in the health care system, and health professional fears of regulatory
scrutiny.
Absolutely. Appropriate and timely evaluation and treatment
is effective at relieving or greatly easing most types of pain.
Well-controlled pain leads to improved function and increased
quality of life.
POP is a statewide grassroots public awareness project sponsored
by the American Pain Foundation and the Alliance of
Pain Initiatives. The goal of POP is to empower and mobilize
the public to demand better pain assessment and treatment. The
Missouri Pain Initiative has been recognized by the American
Pain Foundation and the Alliance of Pain Initiatives
as a POP campaign partner for 2006. As such, we have access to
advocacy and education materials and resources that we would
like to share with interested partners. We also have trained
speakers available for community presentations.
Contact us!
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About Pain