PAIN MANAGEMENT MARKET OVERVIEW AND DEFINITION

The pain management market is growing quickly due to rising cases of chronic pain like arthritis, nerve pain, and cancer-related pain. An ageing global population, especially in developed countries, is also driving demand for long-term treatment options. At the same time, tighter rules on opioid prescriptions are pushing the shift toward safer alternatives, including non-opioid drugs, abuse-deterrent formulations, physical therapy, and neuromodulation.

The market is segmented by product types (prescription drugs, OTC medications, wellness products, and devices), routes of administration (oral, injectable, transdermal, implantable), and care settings (chronic vs. acute). Regionally, North America leads with its strong healthcare system and fast adoption of new therapies. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is growing rapidly thanks to better healthcare access, increasing awareness, and rising demand. This report captures these trends and offers a clear picture of how the pain management landscape is evolving across different regions and sectors.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain, which is usually defined as pain that lasts for three months or more, has been steadily rising around the world. Millions of people are living with conditions like back pain, neck pain, arthritis, or injuries, and these problems are making life harder for many. Millions of people are living with conditions like back pain, neck pain, arthritis, or injuries, and these problems are making life harder for many. According to WHO data (2022), over 1.71 billion people were affected by such issues and this number is growing since. In the United States, the numbers tell a similar story. In 2019, 20.5% were dealing with chronic pain and by 2021, this rose slightly to 20.9%. Looking at India, one study estimated that nearly 1 in 5 adults suffer from chronic pain. However, the real number could be even higher because many people, especially in rural areas, don’t report their pain or don’t have access to proper treatment. These trends clearly show that we need to take chronic pain more seriously as a public health issue and build stronger systems for managing pain around the world.

Ageing Population

The world’s population is getting older, and this shift is playing a major role in the rising demand for pain management. In 2019, around 703 million people were aged 65 or older.  This number is expected to double by 2025. As people age, they are more likely to suffer from chronic pain conditions like osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders. In fact, nearly 73% of people with osteoarthritis are over 55, and between 45% and 85% of seniors live with persistent pain that affects their mobility and overall quality of life. Older adults also tend to use more healthcare services for managing pain, ranging from medications to advanced treatments, and this drives up both medical costs and the demand for specialized care.

Market Restraint

Opioid‑Related Regulations & Crisis

The opioid crisis has been one of the biggest public health challenges in recent years. It started with doctors prescribing too many opioid painkillers, and then it got worse as illegal drugs like fentanyl flooded the streets. This has led to many deaths due to overdose in the US. To tackle the issue, the CDC updated its guidelines in 2022, urging doctors to be more careful with opioid use. The new focus is on personalised care, using non-opioid treatments like physical therapy or anti-inflammatory drugs first, and only turning to opioids when truly necessary. In July 2025, the Halt Fentanyl Act was passed, cracking down on illegal fentanyl and related substances. However, some experts worry that while these laws are tough on drugs, they don’t do enough to support treatment and recovery. Prescription rates have declined, but access to care, especially in rural areas, remains uneven. While tighter regulations help reduce abuse, they’ve also raised concerns about under-treating people with legitimate chronic pain.

Market Opportunity

Abuse‑Deterrent Formulations & Non‑Opioid Therapies

Pain management is gradually moving in a safer direction, thanks to two major developments: abuse-deterrent opioids and non-opioid treatments. Abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) are designed to make it harder for people to misuse opioids, for example, by making the pills tough to crush or mix for injection. Some, like EMBEDA®, include a second ingredient that blocks the drug’s effect if tampered with. While they’re not foolproof, these medications help lower the risk of abuse and have support from the FDA. At the same time, non-opioid options are becoming more common. These include everyday painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, certain antidepressants or nerve medications, and even newer drugs that target pain differently. Treatments that don’t involve medicine, like physical therapy, exercise, counselling, acupuncture, or wearable pain devices, are also proving helpful. Some people even use mobile apps for guided pain relief programs at home.

Market Trends

Shift to Non-Pharmacological Interventions

More and more people, including doctors and patients, are turning to non-drug treatments as a key part of managing chronic pain. These approaches focus on the mind and body, helping to relieve pain without the long-term risks that often come with medications. Therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and emotional support techniques have been shown to help people manage pain better by changing negative thought patterns and boosting confidence in their ability to cope. Physical therapies are also gaining popularity. Things like regular exercise, yoga, and massage not only ease pain but also improve movement and flexibility. Newer tools, like virtual reality for distraction, biofeedback, and wearable pain-relief devices, are making it easier for people to manage pain from home. These options are helping patients stay engaged with their care and stick to their treatment plans.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Therapy Type

Conventional drugs still lead the way in pain management. They're familiar to doctors, easy to prescribe, and come in many forms. Whether it’s NSAIDs, acetaminophen, or opioids, these oral and injectable medicines are the go-to for most pain cases, mainly because they’re affordable, easily available at pharmacies, and backed by years of clinical use.

Medical devices, like spinal cord stimulators, dorsal root ganglion systems, TENS units, and infusion pumps, are playing a growing but still smaller role. Thanks to advances like smaller, rechargeable, and MRI-safe designs, these devices can now treat more types of pain. However, fewer patients get access to them due to high costs, the need for surgical procedures, and the specialized expertise required for implantation.

Digital therapeutics, apps, VR, and wearables are still new but expanding fast. While they're not yet widely used, they show promise. These tools can bring CBT, remote monitoring, and personalised pain coaching right into a patient's home.

By Route of Administration

Oral delivery is still the most common method across all types of treatments. Patients prefer it because it’s simple, non-invasive, and allows for both quick relief and long-term dosing through immediate or extended-release forms.

Injectables, including IV or subcutaneous forms of opioids and NSAIDs, are critical in hospitals and surgical care. They offer fast action and precise control but require trained professionals to administer and manage them.

Transdermal options, like pain patches or topical gels, strike a balance between pills and devices. They provide steady relief over time, come with fewer side effects, and are convenient for patients who want non-invasive, once-a-day (or longer) applications.

Lastly, implantable delivery methods, such as intrathecal pumps or neurostimulators, are meant for people dealing with complex, hard-to-treat pain. These high-impact treatments are used less often but are gaining popularity as devices become more durable and MRI-friendly, allowing more flexibility in care.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

In North America, the U.S. and Canada are at the forefront of pain management, due to strong healthcare systems and insurance support. In the U.S., about one in four adults lives with chronic pain, and over 17 million people experience pain that seriously affects their daily lives. This high number of patients means there’s strong demand for a wide range of treatments, from common painkillers like NSAIDs and opioids to advanced options like spinal-cord stimulators and virtual therapy tools. In Canada, similar trends are emerging, with many provinces expanding coverage for devices like neuromodulators and offering more multidisciplinary clinics to help people manage pain from conditions like arthritis and back problems.

Europe has some of the highest rates of muscle and joint pain in the world. Around 150 million people, about 30% of the EU population, deal with issues like back pain and osteoarthritis. Many countries offer access to both traditional therapies and more advanced treatments. Ageing populations in countries like Germany, France, and Italy are pushing demand for more comprehensive care. However, access varies across the region, Western European countries tend to use high-tech options like neuromodulation, while Eastern European countries often rely more on generic medicines and outpatient care due to budget limitations.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market for pain management. This is due to rising healthcare spending, better insurance coverage, and a growing urban middle class. Countries like China and India have massive patient populations, but many people still pay out-of-pocket for care, especially in rural areas, which limits access to advanced treatments.

In Latin America and the Middle East–Africa, the pain management market is growing, but slowly. Healthcare budgets are smaller, and insurance coverage is often limited. While many people suffer from chronic pain, most don’t receive proper treatment, especially in lower-income areas. Still, cities in countries like Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and the Gulf region are beginning to adopt more modern treatments, including implants and team-based pain care.

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

In January 2025, the U.S. FDA approved a new drug called suzetrigine (brand name Journavx), making it the first selective NaV1.8 inhibitor to be used for moderate to severe acute pain.

In April 2024, Medtronic got FDA approval for its new spinal cord stimulator called Inceptiv. What sets it apart from older models is that it can sense nerve signals and adjust its stimulation in real time. That means it can keep pain relief steady, even when someone is moving around, bending, laughing, or sneezing, things that usually throw off traditional devices.

GLOBAL PAIN MANAGEMENT MARKET REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION

MARKET REGIONAL COVERAGE

North America (United States, Canada)

Europe (France, Germany, United Kingdom)

Asia-Pacific (China, South Korea, India, Japan)

Middle-East & Africa (South Africa, Israel, UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East and Africa)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia)

MARKET ACTIVE PLAYERS

Pfizer
Johnson & Johnson
Novartis
AbbVie
Merck & Co.
Roche
AstraZeneca
Sanofi
Bayer
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Eli Lilly and Company
Medtronic
Boston Scientific
Abbott Laboratories
Zimmer Biomet