Pain Therapy For chronic pain the best way to work together

"Action day against the pain": More attention for people with chronic pain
The treatment of pain patients often involves several doctors and health professionals. On the occasion of the nationwide "Aktionstag gegen die Schmerz", the German Pain Association is aware of the need for close cooperation. A therapist alone could not help the person concerned enough, according to the president of the company, Professor Michael Schäfer. "Only in combination of different disciplines can a successful therapy succeed."

Pain therapy is not given enough attention by politics
In Germany, around 20 to 28 million people live with chronic pain. Until they receive adequate treatment, it often takes years. Supply is patchy, especially in rural areas, according to Schäfer. In addition, there is not always a clear cause, such as cluster headaches. The recurring, sometimes very severe pain affects the everyday life of those affected enormously, so that many are no longer or only partially able to work.

According to the pain society, the topic has received too little attention in Germany so far. For example, politics must make pain therapy "a top priority in health policy," says Schäfer. He hopes that the hospital reform will change a lot. According to the coalition's plans, quality will have a greater impact on hospital planning and compensation in the future. An important quality criterion could then be pain relief, says Schäfer.

Close cooperation between patients and doctors. Picture: Coloures-pic / fotolia

Every year at the beginning of June, the "Aktionstag gegen die Schmerz" takes place, in which not only pain therapy practices and nursing institutions participate, but this year also some 250 pharmacies participate in various activities. According to Rainer Bienfait, Deputy Chief of the German Pharmacists Association, the discount agreements often stand in the way of a good supply of pain patients. "Patients with chronic pain should always be treated with the same drug if possible," he points out to the newspaper. Painkillers should therefore be on the so-called exchange ban list. However, pharmacists would then no longer have the opportunity to switch to another drug, for example, when it comes to a certain means to supply bottlenecks. In these cases pharmacists should be allowed to deviate from the list, according to Bienfait. (Ag)