Chronic pain - threat to employers
Personnel managers have been faced with one of the most common and yet most hardly addressed problem today in the work organization - absenteeism.
Based on studies made by organizational managers, chronic pain is among the top reasons why employees miss work or sometimes report to work late. The studies also showed that persistent, chronic pain has risen dramatically among full-time U.S. workers in the past 10 years.
Although some employees opt to go to their jobs rather than call in sick,they become less effective and adversely affects job performance.
"Chronic pain appears to be increasing in prevalence among U.S. workers as Americans age and lead more sedentary lifestyles," said Rollin Gallagher, M.D.,director, Center for Pain Medicine, Research and Policy of the University of Pennsylvania.
Chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts for at least six months, was more common in the workplace in 2006 than it was in 1996, studies show.
For fear of reprisal, however, employees experiencing chronic pain opt to go to work rather than stay at home. The studies also revealed that some employees reported experiencing chronic pain at work "often" or "sometimes."
Chronic pains do affect daily living activities, in or out of the work place. Medical experts say there are ways to manage the pai. There are likewise treatments that can help such as diet and exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture and a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Extended-release chronic pain medications, such as Tramadol taken once daily, have been shown to relieve moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who need around-the-clock treatment for an extended period of time, doctors say.
Tramadol users, however, are advised to inform their doctors of any allegric reaction to the medication or other opioids in the past.
Seizures have been reported in people taking Tramadol, available online through drugstoretm.com., The risk of seizures is increased with doses of Tramadol above the recommended range.
Use of the medication increases the risk of seizures in people taking antidepressants, other opioids or other drugs that can cause seizures. Risk of convulsions may also increase in people with epilepsy or a history of seizures.
More importantly, users are advised to inform their doctor of any suicidal tendency or have a history of drug addiction to avoid fatal side effects.
Because they do not want to loose their businesses and have brushed off the idea of retrenchments, employers have then come out with strategies to solve the persistent problem.
There have been positive changes in the workplace in the last decade. Most employers today already offer worksite wellness programs to employees, a benefit not provided to employees decades ago.
However, while the number of wellness programs is relatively high, the number of programs addressing chronic pain is not. Only 22 percent of wellness programs include a component about preventing or living with chronic pain conditions.
What employees then do to avoid the "habitual" absences, is to turn on to over the counter pain relievers - some may make them drowsy and hamper office efficiency, but they claim, the idea is better than having to be named "professional absentee"
"Pierre Gabriel" is a Writer for DrugStoreTM.Com, for more information please visit Buy Tramadol Online
Article Source: http://archivex-ht.com/articles
About the Author
Rating: Not yet rated