The concept that“pain is pain”and that chronic pain is simply acute pain continuing for too long is archaic and wrong.

This misconception leads to:

1. General misunderstanding of what chronic pain is

2. Inadequate and inappropriate treatment of the pain

• incorrect medication –
• medication dose escalationc. overdosing of medication
• unnecessary special investigations radiology -cost!!
• unnecessary surgery or repeat surgery – especially spine surgery

3. General neglect of these patients:

• doctor doesn‟t know what to do anymore
• patients get told it‟s in their head –to psychologist or psychiatrist
• patients get told they must “learn to live with it”
• change behaviour‟.

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Presentation published on the web site University of Pretoria
Managment of Chronic Pain

Russell Raath MBChB MMed FIPP
Anaesthesiologist and Chronic Pain Practitioner
Jakaranda Pain Clinic Pretoria