Pain & Symptom Management

Welcome to the Michigan Pain Management website. This web site was developed to increase the general public's and health professional's awareness of pain and symptom management. It provides information in the form of professional papers, articles, related statutes, and numerous links to organizations with expertise in the area of pain and symptom management.

Pain is a universal problem that affects millions of people regardless of social, economic and cultural considerations. In a 2011 public telephone survey, 27.2% of Michigan residents have sought treatment from a health care professional for a chronic pain condition in the past year. The survey results also showed that 29.0% of Michigan residents have sought treatment from a health care professional for an acute pain condition in the past year. The American Academy of Pain Medicine estimates that over 75 million Americans live with serious pain.

Appropriate treatment saves lives, reduces pain and suffering, decreases hospital stays and saves money by reducing overuse of health care resources. Pain is a personal experience and unique to each individual. Pain may include a range of physical and mental sensations, such as aching, tightness, numbing and burning. These sensations may vary in severity, persistence, source and duration.

What's New? See below.

GAO Report to Congressional Requesters - Prescription Pain Reliever Abuse
Select the following link to view the report in its entirety - Full Report.

Dr. Oz Raises Awareness about Pain in America!   Select the following link for more information - Dr. Oz.

2011 Conference on Pain Handouts

2011 Pain & Palliative Care Assembly Handouts

American Pain Foundation Launches Initiative to Educate Consumers
and Providers about the Safe Use of Pain Therapies

Institute of Medicine Report: More than 100 million suffer lasting pain - By Lauran Neergaard, AP, Published: June 29, 2011

To subscribe to theMIpainManagement Newsletter, or to view previous issues, select the following link:
Sign me up! 
Fall 2011 Issue released August 30, 2011!

Joint Commission Releases Standards for Advanced Certification Programs in Palliative Care - June 2011

American Pain Foundation Launches Initiative to Educate Consumers and Providers about Fibromyalgia

State of Michigan Information about Free or Low Cost Health Care and Prescription Medication  

ACPSM current report and recommendations - 2011

Results of Public and Professional Surveys regarding Pain Management   

Information for patients, families, and the general public

Information for health care professionals

Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management