REHABILITATION MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES

Chronic pain is an often misdiagnosed and poorly understood problem. P ain complaints are the most frequently reported symptom to physicians and nurse practitioners. Unremitting pain can have an adverse effect p hysically, psychologically, and socially. When chronic pain is not rel ieved, anger, frustration, and depression can lead to maladaptive beha viors that interfere with the person's ability to pursue goals and act ivities. Chronic pain is best treated through a multidisciplinary appr oach, with best results achieved by programs specialized in pain manag ement. The goal of rehabilitation in chronic pain management is not to tal pain relief because this is often impossible; restoration of the a bility to function productively and satisfyingly is the target goal. C opyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company