Chronic
widespread pain is pain that circulates above as well as below the
waist, or in both sides of the body and lasts for at least three
months. It can affect anyone, and doesn’t depend on age, sex and/or
patient’s lifestyle.
Recent
research conducted by a group of doctors from the University of
Aberdeen, Scotland showed that more than 1 in 10 people have
developed chronic widespread pain caused by a traumatic event taken
place during 4 years following the accident.
Further
studies revealed that 43% of all patients with chronic pain had
experienced a traumatic accident, surgical operation or have had
broken bones over the same period of time. This information proves
that car accidents together with workplace fractures and other
injures can be a significant indicator of future chronic widespread
pain.
To
support the study, Gareth Jones, PhD., University of Aberdeen,
Scotland and his colleagues turned to the Epidemiology of Functional
Disorders Study conducted in northwest England. 6,290 volunteers of
various age, sex, working in diverse spheres were recruited from
three general practices in Manchester and were given a questionnaire
with part of the questions related to chronic widespread pain.
Four
years later pain-free people were invited for a second questionnaire
and were asked to answer the questions. Over 11% of people reported
chronic widespread pain, and 38% of them mentioned at least one
traumatic experience, such as car or work accident, fracture,
surgery, childbirth (for women) or inpatient treatment.
Summarizing
the evidence and the facts, Jones and his colleagues determined that
traffic accidents still remained a major cause of new chronic
widespread pain. Nevertheless, the current research may not be fully
taken into account and requires deeper analysis and supportive
evidence. Therefore, in future studies researchers will try to
specify what aspects of car accidents can be responsible for chronic
widespread pain.
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