RAMC Celebrates Pain Awareness Week

September 5, 2023

September is Pain Awareness month. During the week of September 3-9, 2023 RAMC will be offering an educational display for the public in the lobby of the hospital.

Pain is a personal experience that is influenced by many factors such as sleep, genetics, stress, attitudes/beliefs, personality, behaviors, disability, coping abilities, and socialization, to name a few. Although pain usually serves an adaptive role, it may have adverse effects on well-being.

The painful truths about pain (US Pain Foundation):

• Pain is the number one reason people access healthcare

• Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined

• Pain that lasts longer than 6 months is considered chronic

• One in five Americans lives with chronic pain

• Workers lose an average of 4.6 hours per week of productive time due to a pain condition

• The US spends at least $635 billion each year on medical treatments, disability payments and lost productivity related to pain conditions

• More women than men suffer with chronic pain

• Diet can either make pain worse or better

• 20% say their sleep is disrupted because of pain or discomfort at least a few nights per week

• 80% will experience back pain at some point in their lives

• At least 10% of suicide cases in the US involve someone with chronic pain

Treating pain can be challenging. The focus has shifted from eliminating pain completely to helping the person get to a level of functioning in their day-to-day lives. Using medication is just one option, there are many other treatment modalities that can help to restore function.

At RAMC, each department considers your comfort a priority. From heat and cold packs- to aromatherapy, and everything in between, RAMC strives to make you as comfortable as possible during your time with us.