Interdisciplinary treatment of the injured worker with chronic pain: long-term efficacy

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to determine long-term efficacy of an outpatient interdisciplinary pain treatment and management program for injured workers with chronic pain, and (2) to determine if those referred earlier after injury are more likely to benefit. Ninety-one questionnaires were completed a median of 36 months following program completion. Ninety-three percent of patients reported improvement in pain symptoms at the time of program discharge and 76% reported maintenance or improvement of pain level between discharge and the time of survey. Of those not working at the time of initial evaluation, 74% reported return to work or current involvement in a retraining program. Patients referred < or = 12 months after injury reported greater mean pain improvement and were significantly more likely to return to work. We conclude that the interdisciplinary pain treatment and management approach is effective in treating injured workers with chronic pain and that early referral enhances outcome.