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Pain
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Pain

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Last updated: 5th Mar 2024
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It has been estimated that 1 in 5 adults suffer from pain and that another 1 in 10 adults are diagnosed with chronic pain each year. Apart from the acute pain associated with surgery or tissue damage, approximately 28 million adults in the UK live with chronic pain which markedly undermines quality of life, increases use of health resources and increases mortality.

Chronic pain is a term encompassing both inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain. Inflammatory pain is usually the result of neuronal injury which causes neurogenic inflammation such as that which causes low back pain or rheumatoid arthritis. Neuropathic pain is an intense, sharp, stinging or burning pain caused by damage to nerves or a disrupted nervous system.

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