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What Does the Research Say?
Chronic Pain in America: The Crisis by the Numbers
Pain is the most common reason adults seek medical care. The scale of the problem demands a fundamentally different approach to treatment.
50M
adults in the United States live with chronic pain. Of those, 20 million have high-impact chronic pain that significantly limits daily activities, work, and social participation.
The Shift
2022
The CDC issued updated clinical practice guidelines formally prioritizing non-opioid, team-based strategies over opioid-centered treatment for chronic pain.
The Cost
$635B+
Estimated annual cost of chronic pain in the U.S., including direct medical care and lost work productivity. These costs keep climbing as the population ages.
The Evidence Base
7
Integrated modules in this course covering pathophysiology, assessment, pharmacology, rehabilitation, psychology, emerging tech, and team-based implementation.
The Population
65+
Older adults face unique challenges: cognitive impairment, polypharmacy, fall risk, and age-related changes in drug metabolism that demand specialized approaches.
⚠️
Why This Matters Now
Clinical evidence now supports a major shift: moving away from opioid-centered treatment toward comprehensive, team-based strategies that combine validated assessment, non-opioid medications, physical rehabilitation, psychological support, and newer technologies. Every member of the care team has a role to play.
3 Takeaways for Your Practice
1
Assessment Priority
Start with Validated Tools, Not Guesswork
Effective pain management begins with accurate, multidimensional assessment. Use the Numeric Rating Scale for intensity and the Brief Pain Inventory for functional interference. A pain number alone does not capture how pain affects a patient's life.
2
Treatment Design
Multimodal Means Every Provider Has a Role
No single treatment addresses all the biological, psychological, and social drivers of chronic pain. The nurse assessing pain, the physical therapist prescribing exercise, and the psychologist delivering cognitive behavioral therapy each target a different link in the pain chain.
3
Early Intervention
Treat Pain Aggressively Before It Becomes Chronic
Once central sensitization sets in, the nervous system itself changes, and pain becomes a disease of the brain. Early, multimodal intervention targeting peripheral sensitization, central amplification, and psychological distress offers the best chance of preventing chronification.
Product Spotlight:
Multidisciplinary Pain Management and Assessment: Evidence-Based Update
$37.97
This course, Multidisciplinary Pain Management: An Evidence-Based Update, is designed for healthcare professionals such as nurses and allied health clinicians who manage patients experiencing pain. It offers a comprehensive, up-to-date exploration of pain management grounded in the latest clinical evidence… read more
This content is for informational purposes for licensed clinicians and does not constitute medical advice or a substitute for your own clinical research and judgment. Content may include AI-synthesized information; all clinical data, protocols, and dosages must be verified against official primary sources prior to patient care. Any reference to CE rules or regulations is provided as a guide and must be independently verified against current governing body requirements prior to completing credits. This article may contain links to external websites or third-party AI platforms. Ridley Learning has no control over the nature, content, and availability of those sites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Ridley Learning is not liable for any injury, loss, clinical outcomes, or licensure issues resulting from the use of or reliance on this information. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of these terms.
Meet the Author: Anne Osborn, PT, MPT
Anne Perry Osborn is a distinguished physical therapist and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience bridging clinical practice and healthcare education. She holds a Master of Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and currently serves as the Owner and Director of Quality and Accreditation at Ridley Learning. With a background that includes clinical roles in outpatient rehabilitation and home health, Anne brings practical, hands-on insight to her leadership in continuing education, ensuring that learning opportunities remain relevant and impactful for today's practitioners.
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