( ause them to stay home from work. ...)Chronic pain up almost 40 percent among US workers in past decade

"In my practice, I am seeing an increasing number of patients for chronic pain and hearing more patients talk about how their pain affects activities of daily living," said Charles Argoff, M.D., director and assistant professor of neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York. "They’re looking for ways to manage their pain, and there are treatments that can help such as diet and exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture and a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications. Extended-release chronic pain medications, such as prescription ULTRAM® ER (tramadol HCl) extended-release tablets, taken once daily, have been shown to relieve moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who need around-the-clock treatment for an extended period of time."

Addressing Pain at Work

There have been positive changes in the workplace in the last decade. More than two-thirds, or 66 percent, of employers surveyed now offer worksite wellness programs to employees, compared to 40 percent in 1996. But while the number of wellness programs is relatively high, the number of programs addressing chronic pain is not. Only 22 percent of wellness programs include a component about preventing or living with chronic pain conditions. "We have seen some improvement in the recognition of pain-related illness in the workplace, and that should be commended," said Dr. Gallagher. "But more U.S. businesses should invest in these wellness programs. Once employees are given the tools to better understand and manage their pain successfully, they can begin to improve many areas of their lives affected by their chronic pain."
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Source:Ruder Finn Public Relations