Folks are clear on where they hurt, but often can't link that pain to a specific cause. And in a surprising look at what works for pain relief, researchers find that just as many people cite prayers as prescription drugs.

These findings come from a recent nationwide survey sponsored by Stanford University Medical Center, ABC News and USA Today. Among the survey's significant findings:

• Where does it hurt? Back pain is far and away the most common. Knees and shoulders are also troublesome. About one-quarter of all respondents cited back pain as their most recent difficulty, and another quarter cited joint pain. Nearly one-tenth said they suffered from headaches.
• Why does it hurt? Half the crowd could identify a specific medical condition or injury behind their most recent painful experience. Just as many could not. Among those who could, injury or accident was the most common culprit, followed by arthritis.
• Does it matter? Yes. About four in 10 people cited interference with each of these quality-of-life indicators: work and other duties, mood, day-to-day activities, sleep and enjoyment of life.
• What helps? In desperation, people have tried everything from over-the-counter drugs to alcohol. For effectiveness, prayer and prescription drugs come out on top.

"Pain has been a hidden disease; it has not received as much attention as other diseases," said Raymond Gaeta, MD, associate professor of anesthesia at the Stanford School of Medicine and director of pain management services at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. "But now there's a growing recognition that pain really is not just the sensation we have - it's s
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Contact: Ruthann Richter
650-725-8047
Stanford University Medical Center
9-May-2005