Chronic Pain Epidemic Continues to Grow

An NIH-funded study of 90,000 people found the chronic pain epidemic is worsening. It showed that the percentage of Americans with chronic pain grew from 20.9% in 2021 to 24.3% in 2023. That's a 3.4 absolute percentage point increase, which translates to a dramatic 16% relative rise in just two years.

It's no surprise that much of this increase was attributed to Long COVID, which triggers a secondary fibromyalgia.

The frustrating truth? Most people's pain could be eased, yet it often isn't. One big barrier is that many physicians receive too little education in pain care.

Three Steps to Reducing Pain

My published research in fibromyalgia as a model has shown that pain can be effectively treated by going after its root causes. This includes addressing:

1. Muscle pain and tightness. A recent study showed that many people with chronic pain are low in key micronutrients. When you’re short on B vitamins and magnesium, your cells make less energy. Low energy keeps muscle fibers from fully relaxing, so they feel tight and sore. A daily high-potency multivitamin (e.g., Energy Revitalization Drink Mix) plus better sleep can help restore energy and ease muscle tension.
2. Inflammation. Balancing inflammation can be done safely and easily with natural options such as curcumin and Boswellia. I recommend the supplement Curamin®, which includes both of these in combination.
3. Brain pain. Most long-lasting pain doesn't just live in the body. It can get "turned up" in the brain. This amplification involves the brain's immune cells (microglia), a process called microglial activation. Two options that may help calm this response are PEA (palmitoylethanolamide), a natural over-the-counter supplement, and low-dose naltrexone (LDN), a prescription therapy. A large body of research suggests PEA can ease many kinds of chronic pain. For best results, choose a high-absorption PEA formula; preferably one that also contains serratiopeptidase to help dissolve inflammation.

Countless studies suggest that about 60 million U.S. adults are living with chronic pain—many unnecessarily. Getting pain free is simpler than it seems. It's just a matter of educating physicians and the public. And much of it can be done at home and without prescriptions.