Face pain campaign launched

Friday October 11th, 2013

A campaign has been launched to highlight the misery faced by those who suffer pain in the face, mouth and jaws.

Experts, launching the campaign at a European conference, said the problem is more than simply problems caused by teeth.

The European Year Against Orofacial Pain was launched in Florence, Italy, at the conference of the European Pain Federation, EFIC.

Experts list problems such as burning mouth syndrome, cluster headache and a condition called trigeminal neuralgia.

Federation president-elect Dr Chris Wells, from Liverpool, UK, said: "Although acute pain is often well treated, chronic pain is often neglected and unrelieved and the social cost is huge.

"Across the EU, chronic pain accounts for 500 million lost working days, costing the European economies more than 34 billion Euros per year.  However, only 2% of patients see an appropriate specialist trained in chronic pain, and 33% remain without any treatment for their pain."

He added: "EFIC believes that better diagnosis, treatment and prevention of oral and cranio-facial pains will significantly improve the quality of life of patients and have a considerable socioeconomic impact."

Tags: Europe | Pain Relief | UK News

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