Worker pain costs more than $61 billion annually.

The pains in your head, joints or muscles are causing pains in the wallets for employers across the United States.

The study published late last fall in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that employees in pain from headaches, arthritis, back pain and other musculoskeletal

Headaches affected the greatest number of workers, 5.4 percent, followed by back pain, which affected 3.2 percent, while arthritis and other musculoskeletal pain each affected 2 percent of workers. The study of nearly 29,000 workers in a variety of blue-collar and white-collar professions found that headaches resulted in a loss of 3.5 hours of productive work a week on average, while the other ailments resulted in losses of more than five hours a week on average.

Researchers said the purpose of the study was to make the cost of common pain-related conditions real to employers. They said that employers have closely monitored costs associated with worker disability and that most studies on the work-related impact of pain have only looked at lost time due to worker absenteeism in the form of lost or shortened workdays.

But this study showed that disability and absenteeism are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lost productive time, and "presenteeism" is actually the largest cause of lost productivity of work. Presenteeism is defined as reduced performance while at work, which is commonly caused by pain-related conditions, such as headache, back pain and arthritis.

Researchers hope the findings raise awareness among workers, doctors and employers, who might be able to help keep pain-related costs down by launching workplace awareness campaigns about treatment options.

Through MACPA-endorsed Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan programs, members have free access to wellness programs and information that address pain management. For information on the Association's BCBS health care programs, contact the Paul Goebel Group online, or call 616-454-8257.