La prise en charge de la douleur chronique : un problème de société

Pain is a real issue of public health, quality and evolution of a system of health test: this is a major social problem. Pain management meets a humanistic, ethical purpose and dignity of man because of the physical and psychological implications. It induces a disability, which excludes the patient of society gradually or suddenly. The physical pain and mental suffering to all ages of life make more vulnerable people weakened by disease. Rebel chronic pain means disabilities and major changes in the quality of life. Results of the STOPNET survey conducted in 2004 showed that 31.7% [95% CI: 31.1-32.3] of the 24,497 individuals over 18 years interviewed have daily chronic pain. Among them, 6.9% [95% CI: 6, 6-7, 2] have a chronic pain associated with neurological signs, 65% of them have less than 60 years, the majority are in case of prolonged disease (>6 months), if not disability 1st and 2nd class. The progress of medicine has helped the healing of certain serious diseases, but also favoured acute diseases to turn to chronic diseases. The result is an increase of lifetime sometimes without disease, but this survival may be also accompanied by disease or disability. Progress, pain and suffering, the end of life, and ethics will be the core of the basic thoughts of tomorrow.