Chronic pain is a major yet frequently overlooked health challenge. New research from Erasmus University Rotterdam shows patients often face lengthy delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Professor Dr. Huygens, Head of the Pain Knowledge Center at Erasmus MC, highlights that too many people endure unrelenting pain, with chronic pain receiving far too little focus. He proposes a three-step strategy: expanding pain medicine as a specialty, establishing disease management programs involving healthcare providers, patients, insurers, and government, and boosting scientific research.
Expanding the Pain Medicine Specialty
Pain is often viewed merely as a symptom of other conditions, yet it can be a standalone disease, explains Dr. Huygens. He calls for immediate growth in pain medicine expertise and research into chronic pain.
Disease management prioritizes the patient, creating an integrated chain of early recognition, prevention, self-management, and care. Healthcare professionals must raise awareness through training and standardized treatment guidelines, sharing responsibility across the sector.
Discover more about pain management at www.mijnpijn.nl.
