Specialised pain therapy: does it pay for patients and health authorities?

Specialized pain management centres have been shown to achieve significant clinical efficacy and a relevant reduction of direct a nd indirect costs. F urthermore, only patients are admitted after conventional therapies failed. The results of specialized pain management might be even more impressive i f patients were treated earlier. Parameters of cost efficacy in pain treatm ent include pain reduction, reduction of drug intake, increase of physical activity, improvement of quality of life, reduction of inability to work, a voidance of early retirement.