Phases of chronic pain: a model for assessment and treatment.

Chronic pain can be described as a syndrome or process of decompensation not unlike any other chronic disease or illness. As such, chronic pain patients are often difficult to work with because of the pervasive personal, social, emotional, and physical impact of the syndrome on their lives and the lives of their families. The pain curve was developed to be used as an educational instrument to assist patients in understanding the disease process, confronting denial, and self-diagnosing their illness. This curve now in use at our institution describes both the progression and the recovery of the illness. The pain curve is used as an educational tool to aid patients in addressing important recovery issues such as denial and the disease process, the progression of symptoms in a chronic illness, medication and alcohol use and abuse in the management of chronic pain, the impact on and from the family and the importance of peer support.