The control of pain is an issue of major importance for older patients. As the proportion of elderly persons in society grows, these problems take on particular humanitarian and economic significance. Review of the literature indicates that the sensory mechanisms subserving pain in older persons are not unique, but painful pathologic states are more likely to occur in old age. Stereotypes of the older person have led to insufficient management and overmedication of this patient population. Moreover, the complex nature of chronic pain in the aged patient has not been appreciated by health care professionals. The literature points to an urgent need for more data that will shed light on the nature of pain problems in old age.
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