Ghaziabad: Ignoring persistent pain in any part of the body can lead to serious problems, says Arvinder Singh, a US-based pain management expert.

"Chronic pain does not have to be an ongoing cycle of non-scientific band aid treatment. Unrelieved, undiagnosed pain leads to 5-D syndrome," said Singh, who is based in Albany in New York.

"These syndromes are dysfunction, disuse, disability, drug dependence and depression. These combined together can cause havoc in one's life," Singh said in a lecture here.

Referring to the multi-disciplinary team concept (MDTC), he said MDTC was quite effective in curtailing pain but it was seldom practiced.

"Using the MTDC concept, we realise that chronic pain must be approached in a way similar to that of diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses.

"Since the team consists of physicians, psychologists and other paramedical staff, we are able to diagnose the physical condition objectively. The inputs from other specialists help us to plan the treatment properly," said Singh.

The doctor, however, felt that prevention through education was the best way to check pain.