Today is a nationwide day of action against pain at over 500 locations in Germany and a free patient hotline (0800-18 18 120)

Kiel/Berlin, June 2, 2015. "The healthcare system should be there for pain patients, not the other way around," demands Prof. Dr. Michael Schäfer, President of the German Pain Society. "It's not always best to operate immediately or simply administer medication. Pain patients need time and interdisciplinary therapies."

Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel, Head Physician of the Kiel Pain Clinic: “A key indicator of a high-performing and modern healthcare system is the rapid relief of suffering and pain, sparing patients a lengthy treatment odyssey, diagnostic delays, and ineffective therapies. Severe and chronic pain conditions, in particular, manifest with complex symptoms, have numerous underlying mechanisms, and present with diverse physical and psychological effects. Therefore, they cannot generally be treated comprehensively and with state-of-the-art specialized care everywhere. Without knowledge of current diagnostic criteria and scientifically validated treatment pathways, misdiagnoses and ineffective treatment courses can easily occur.”

In recent years, significant progress has been made in pain therapy. Headache treatment, in particular, has become one of the most successful and fascinating fields in medicine. Many causes of headaches have been identified, and the mechanisms that maintain and exacerbate them are now better understood. Headaches can now be classified and diagnosed with great precision. In 2013, the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders was published, distinguishing over 363 main types of headaches. This is beneficial because most headache types can be treated with precise and highly specialized methods. For widespread headache types, especially migraine and tension-type headaches, prevention through behavioral adjustments, knowledge, and information plays a crucial role. Successful and sustainable headache treatment is impossible without understanding the underlying causes, maintenance, and complications of headaches. Furthermore, new and innovative medications are now available to headache patients. When used appropriately, these can also contribute significantly to improving headache symptoms.

However, up-to-date and modern knowledge must also be made directly available to those affected. In recent years, entirely new ideas have emerged regarding how patients with headaches can be cared for in a modern and effective way in the future. “New care structures, such as the nationwide headache treatment network, have been developed. These enable the rapid provision of current knowledge for better and more sustainable treatment of those affected. Networking and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential foundations for success in coordinated care,” states Prof. Göbel. Health insurance companies and health policymakers have placed the importance of headaches at the center of their activities. New, networked organizational structures have been established to alleviate pain and reduce costs for those affected. A significant force for improving care also comes from the patients themselves. They exchange information in self-help groups and online forums and advocate for better care for migraines and headaches. All of this has led to headaches and migraines being treated more successfully today than ever before in human history.

Chronic pain leads to significant impairment in all areas of life, making psychological and social factors extremely important. "No single therapist can possess all the necessary knowledge and be able to provide comprehensive and correct treatment," says pain management association president Prof. Dr. Michael Schäfer. "For effective pain therapy, doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, nurses, pharmacists, and the patient themselves must work well and intensively together," the pain expert emphasizes. Currently, however, it often takes years for patients to receive adequate pain therapy within the healthcare system.

Pain Society President Prof. Dr. Schäfer appeals to politicians to make pain a top priority in health policy at both the federal and state levels. For example, it is essential that all hospitals provide effective treatment for acute pain and that there are sufficient pain clinics or specialized pain practices. "The current discussions surrounding a second opinion procedure for planned surgeries, the development of a disease management program (DMP) for back pain, and a new focus on quality in hospital policy also offer opportunities for improved pain care," says the Pain Society President.

The German Pain Society, together with partner organizations, organizes the nationwide Action Day Against Pain annually on the first Tuesday in June. On this day, the public receives a wealth of information about chronic pain and its appropriate treatment. In 2015, events, open days, lectures, and the distribution of patient information leaflets took place throughout Germany in over 500 pain therapy practices and clinics, as well as in many pharmacies and care facilities.

As a service, several dozen pain therapists will be available to answer patients' questions from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on the free telephone hotline 0800-18 18 120 on June 2, 2015.

As an extra hotline for nursing professionals, the German Pain Society (Deutsche Schmerzgesellschaft e. V.), together with nursing associations, has set up an expert telephone line "Pain & Care": Nursing professionals can receive advice and tips from nursing experts during the above-mentioned period by calling 0800-18 18 129, for example on questions of specialized training or expert standards in the care of elderly pain patients.

In addition, over 250 pharmacies nationwide participated in the day of action in 2015.