Health data shows that the number of patients suffering from chronic pain in Czechia is rising, driven in part by sedentary lifestyles and an ageing population. Doctors are planning to draw up a national treatment strategy, arguing that the problem deserves special attention. They say that specialist-led care is essential in preventing widespread dependence on painkillers.
Pain is most commonly associated with musculoskeletal disorders, which affected more than 370,000 people last year. Up to four in ten patients continue to experience problems after spinal surgery. Chronic pain is also common among patients who have undergone major joint operations.