The whole concept of chronic pain being classified as a disease rather than a secondary symptom of a separate disease has many great advantages for us. Just imagine if all newly diagnosed RSD (chronic pain) patients didn't have to fight insurance companies, health care providers and governments for appropriate and timely treatment. This shift in thinking could help bring the issues patients have to battle constantly to the forefront of medicine. If chronic pain is indeed considered a separate disease that needs to be treated in it's own right, than perhaps even more money to fund chronic pain programs and research money would pour in, bringing more interest from the scientific community. Perhaps more doctors would be inclined to take up this type of specialty.

Just some thoughts...hoping for a brighter future for us all.

MsL