IOM: 100 Million Plus in Chronic Pain in U.S.

By Emily P. Walker, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today Published: June 30, 2011

WASHINGTON -- Chronic pain affects 116 million Americans and costs the U.S. as much as $635 billion each year, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that called for changes in how chronic pain is managed. Much of the chronic pain experienced by Americans isn't treated correctly, in part because doctors are not taught in medical school how to help patients manage pain, according to the report, entitled "Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research," which was mandated by the healthcare reform law./.../