OBJECTIVES: Develop a cost study and frequency of care for patients with chronic pain or neuropathic pain by occupational disease or consequences of occupational accidents in Colombia between 2002 and 2008, from the perspective of third-party payer. METHODS: A retrospective study using double source of information both registration of authorized services and consumption of the insurer's database as the histories of two institutions specialized pain care belonging to network service providers the same insurer, using a random sample of patients (n = 271) within a universe of 803 patients between 2002 and 2008. Using Bottom-up methodology is performed a micro-costing analysis grouping by frequency setting monthly consumption and annual costs with measures of central tendency and dispersion, costs were estimated at constant prices of 2008. RESULTS: The average age of presentation of the diseases was 37 years, there were no significant differences in gender distribution. (47.6% men and 52.4% women) The average total annual cost per patient was US$ 3322, the trend of the data series showed an increase of total costs in the period 2002-2006 and then a reduction in the period 2006-2008 with variable behavior depending on the category costs. The services represent a greater financial burden are the outpatient medicines (35%) and osteosynthesis materials (30%). We estimated the annual expected frequency of use for a patient with these characteristics. It is possible that cost trends are explained by the incorporation of a pain management program of the insurer with the use of new medicines that improve the clinical picture of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain and neuropathic pain represent a significant economic burden, is essential to identify the most cost effective interventions in their management