A quarter of Dutch people suffer from chronic pain

until November 10, 15:00

Cheers

3.5 million people have pain complaints that last longer than 3 months: chronic pain complaints. Many of these people suffer from pain every day. These shocking figures come from a study recently commissioned by the Dutch Association of Anesthesiologists and Pain Specialists.

Pain becomes a disease when it lasts longer than 3 months

For example, people may be experiencing pain as a result of illness, injury or surgery. But if the pain lasts for a long time, the pain turns from a symptom to a disease. Because pain that lasts a long time changes important things in the nervous system. Processes then occur in the spinal cord, the brain and the psyche which, as it were, preserves the pain. So the pain becomes a condition in itself, which is actually separate from the first cause.

Neck and back pain, osteoarthritis and nerve pain
The constant pains which we usually see, and therefore I see also in my practice at first unexplained neck and back pain. Secondly, more and more people are suffering from osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis you suffer from the degeneration of cartilage in one or more joints. In addition, many people suffer from nerve pain. Nerve pain is caused by damage to the nervous system, which can occur with diabetes, MS or cerebral palsy.

In old people and young people

Older people suffer from chronic pain complaints, but chronic pain occurs in young people as well. From 18 to 35 years old
15 percent complain of chronic pain compared to 30% in people aged 50 to 64. This is 31% for people aged 65 and older. It is logical that older people have more chronic pain complaints: they have more osteoarthritis and back problems. Young people feel more socially restricted by their pain complaints.

Medical acupuncture

Medical acupuncture is very suitable for treating pain complaints, whether acute or chronic. Since the pain is often significantly reduced or even disappears, people begin to exercise more and participate in social activities. This improves the quality of life for many of my pain patients.

From the practice of Doctor Lieveld. (040) 283.76.12.