ABSTRACT
Chronic spinal pain continues to be an epidemic and treatment often remains inadequate. 1–16 The devastating nature of chronic pain, which can destroy the quality of life by eroding the will to live, disturbing sleep and appetite, creating fatigue, and impairing recovery from illness or injury, is not well appreciated. 7–10 , 16 Consequences may be especially difficult for the elderly patient in chronic pain, resulting in vocational, social, and family discord, which may make the difference between a reasonable quality of life and loss of function and comorbidity. 11–13
