Survey Results
Key Findings
| • | Nearly 34 percent of Americans have or know someone who has experienced pain that causes tingling, “pins and needles,” burning or an electric-shock sensation, yet only six percent of people recognize these symptoms as neuropathic or nerve pain. |
| • | Most adults (76 percent) are not aware of what to call pain that causes tingling, burning, or electric shock sensation sensitive to touch. |
| • | Awareness of nerve pain is even low among those diagnosed with a health condition related to nerve pain, such as diabetes, shingles, and carpal tunnel syndrome. |
| • | While one in four adults surveyed were diagnosed with one of these conditions, only 12 percent knew symptoms such as tingling, burning, or electric shock sensation sensitive to touch as nerve pain. |
| • | Nearly two-thirds of adults did not know the central nervous system/nerves cause this type of pain. |
Description & Design
| • | The It Takes Nerve chronic pain survey was conducted by Roper Worldwide on behalf of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA). |
| • | The survey findings are based on an analysis of telephone interviews conducted from August 27-29, 2004 , among a nationally representative sample of 1,004 U.S. adults. A total of 939 interviews were completed among adults not employed in the medical field. |
| • | The purpose of the survey was to ascertain the level of knowledge about chronic pain and specifically neuropathic, or nerve, pain among the general public to support the development of educational materials about this condition. |
The Need for Education
| • | The findings of the It Takes Nerve survey highlight the need for increased education and awareness about nerve pain. People with pain need to understand the cause of their condition and have candid discussion with their physician to identify the most appropriate course of treatment. |