The pain management challenge

Pain is a serious public health challenge for patients and physicians, whether it is due to an acute medical situation or a chronic condition that may require long-term management," remarked Peter L. Salgo, MD, who is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, New York. Pain is also widespread. Dr. Salgo cited a recent Gallup Poll reporting that nine of 10 Americans 18 years of age and older experience pain at least once a month. "Pain also has tremendous costs," he noted. "In addition to the human suffering caused by pain, the financial cost of pain in this country is more than $100 billion in lost productivity, lost income, and health care expenditures.¹ The medical community clearly recognizes the need to manage pain effectively, yet the achievement of optimum pain management remains elusive for all of us," continued Dr. Salgo, who is also a medical correspondent for WCBS-Television, New York. "We are left with a paradox of clinical barriers, anticipated outcomes, and therapeutic dilemmas." To provide greater insight into the challenges physicians face when managing pain, Dr. Salgo moderated the following Medical Crossfire with a panel of national experts.