Managing pain and psychological issues in palliative care

Chronic pain and narcotics

“…Affecting at least 50 million individuals at an annual cost of $70 billion, 1 chronic pain poses a significant health burden in the United States. While therapy for cancer pain has improved dramatically over the past decade, 2 treatment of nonmalignant chronic pain remains a challenge for many practitioners and patients. Difficulties persist despite an array of medications to treat pain.…”