J Korean Acad Fam Med.
2003 Feb;24(2):103-111.
Evaluation and Management of Chronic Pain
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea. myovision@medimail.co.kr
Abstract
- Chronic pain is a self-sustaining, self-reinforcing, and self- regenerating process. It persists beyond 3~6 months regardless of initial diagnostic category. It is not a symptom of an underlying acute somatic injury but rather, a destructive illness in its own right. It is an illness of the whole person and not a disease caused by the pathological state of an organ system. Chronic pain is persistent, long-lived, and progressive. Pain perception is markedly enhanced. Pain related behaviour becomes maladaptive and grossly disproportional to any underlying noxious stimulus, which usually has healed and no longer serves as an underlying pain generator. The purpose of this paper to present an approach to the prevention of chronic pain and disability, and to provide the clinician with potentially useful tools for the recognition of individuals at risk for chronic illness for whom multidisciplinary treatment is indicated.
