Nationwide, 35 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain, some 50 million of them partly or totally disabled by it, according to Patrick Rubida, RN. “In terms of dollars and cents,” he says, “$100 billion a year is lost in work, productivity and medical costs.”

Pain patients cross the lifespan, from toddlers to centenarians.

Rubida chairs the Pain Management Committee for Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton and Silverdale, bringing together an inter-disciplinary team to discuss the subject. He also works directly with nurses on the floor on this issue. “We take a proactive, progressive approach,” he says.

Nurses, with patients 24/7, are front line pain managers. They administer medications, follow through for effectiveness and side effects, adjust amounts (within an acceptable range) and educate the patient and family on appropriate drug use.

“Pain can be an unpleasant and complex sensory and emotional experience that can effect all aspects of an individual’s life,” defines Rubida. Effects include an inability to function as desired, whether gardening, going to church, interacting with the family, or going to work. Internally, pain impacts every body system, impairing the person’s activity level. Emotionally, pain alters a person’s mood.

The pain scale, in which a patient is asked to judge his or her pain level from zero (none) to 10 (extreme) works with all ages, Rubida indicates. There is no comparison from one person to another, as each individual tolerates pain differently.

Pain is the most common reason for a person to seek medical attention. Rubida says the hospital’s pharmacy administers more pain medications than any other kind. He points out that, in spite of fears to the contrary, less than one percent of patients become addicted to pain medications.

“At Harrison,” he says, “we believe every patient has a right to optimal pain management to return them back to their functional goal.” To that end, each patient is a part of his or her own interdisciplinary team, made up of (depending on the situation) physicians, nurses, spiritual advisor, social worker, physical therapist and family members.

The family must be educated to help find what works for the person’s needs, particularly if the patient is quite young, has a mental disorder, or suffers dementia.

The team choreographs how best to meet the patient’s own functional goal, such as to conquering stairs, resuming bicycling, or returning to work.

Untreated pain may become long-term, or chronic. Eventually, the nervous system could become dysfunctional, sending false information to the brain.

Some feelings of pain are important for the body’s protection. Without any pain mechanism, the body would be extremely vulnerable.

Pain is treated with a number of medications, delivered in the form of pills, epidurals, skin patches or suppositories. Physical therapy might be employed to strengthen various muscle groups, work on posture, apply heat or ice, and stimulate the effected nerves. It may be that a surgical implant is placed into the spinal column to interrupt ongoing erroneous information being passed along that route.

The patient may have a spiritual perspective that comes into play, and the hospital works within those boundaries. Music may help soothe and relax a patient, changing the perception of pain.

“If your pain is uncontrolled and interfering with daily activities or quality of life,” Rubida says, “contact your healthcare provider.”

His encouragement is not to give up.