Stroke Awareness Month takes place every May to raise awareness of the devastating impact of stroke and highlight the importance of providing vital support to survivors and those who care for them.
Post-stroke pain is one example of central neuropathic pain. In this context, the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) would like to draw attention to the importance of primary and secondary preventive measures, which have the potential to reduce the incidence and severity of neuropathic pain and other chronic pain conditions, mitigate avoidable disability, and support the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems.
Types of preventive interventions
Prevention strategies can be broadly divided into two categories:
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- Primary prevention, aiming to stop chronic pain from developing in the first place (e.g., promoting healthy behaviours in the general population and in individuals with acute or subacute pain).
- Secondary prevention, focusing on early detection and timely intervention to prevent recurrence or progression to disabling pain.
Prevention as both a public health priority and economic imperative
Beyond their impact on patients, neuropathic pain and other chronic pain conditions place a substantial burden on economies and societies through increased healthcare costs and productivity losses. Recognising prevention as both a public health priority and an economic imperative is thus essential to improving quality of life for millions of people across Europe living with chronic pain.
Read more about preventive healthcare for chronic pain here.