Suffering From Pain? Go to Work Anyway

Hurtin’ for Certain: More U.S. workers suffer from chronic pain now than 10 years ago, but an overwhelming majority show up for work in spite of that, a new national study concludes. Chronic pain is up nearly 38 percent in that time, according to the “Pain in the Workplace” survey co-sponsored by health care company PriCara and the National Pain Foundation. Apparently, the pain has to be excruciating before workers call in sick. Nearly 90 percent of chronic pain sufferers show up for work rather than stay home. Nearly the same percentage of workers says they experience pain at work “often” or “sometimes.” Other notable findings: About 46 percent say the pain hinders their ability to perform the job.

—Garry Kranz