Living With Pain? American Pain Foundation Offers Help
Erica Goodstone, Ph.D. asked:
Are you currently suffering from some type of chronic pain? Well, you are not alone.
It is estimated that:
o 50 million Americans live with chronic pain each year (American Pain Foundation)
o 33 million Americans have at least 1 of 100 forms of arthritis and nearly 90% of people over 40 have beginning signs of arthritis (Journal of Rheumatology, 16)
o 1 out of 3 Americans each month lose more than 20 hours of sleep due to pain (American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives)
o Pain is the second leading medical cause of work absenteeism (American Pain Society)
o 60% of men and women experience pain every day (American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives)
o 50% of elderly living in the community experience pain while 71%-83% of institutionalized elderly suffer from some form of pain. (Pain, 1997)
o Women are less likely to receive treatment for pain than men (Law/Medical Ethics, 2001)
Chronic pain is a subjective experience, affecting each person in a unique way. There are as many different causes as there are types of pain. Also, each person responds to pain differently. Some have a higher physiological threshold for tolerating pain. Some have a naturally more relaxed body or a way of breathing deeply that may dampen some of the painful sensations. Personal attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and the attitudes and responses of healthcare providers and loved ones can either help to alleviate or actually exacerbate the actual pain.
In the 1980′s, The American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) was formed to facilitate dialogue among physicians, counselors, educators, administrators and patients. That organization, still very active today, represents a powerful professional resource, providing cutting edge research on the most effective methods for treating and alleviating pain. But this organization focuses mainly on professionals and clinicians.
The American Pain Foundation (APF), established in 1997, now has a membership of over 80,000 people living with pain, their caregivers, and healthcare personnel. This foundation was established to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from pain, sometimes daily, and to advocate for public awareness, information, education and research into this elusive medical condition that affects so many of us.
In 2004, the APF created a Military/Veterans Pain Initiative to help veterans, those active in the military, and their families to cope with the pain that many of them live with daily. This initiative provides educational materials and peer to peer support to reduce the sense of isolation and to improve the quality of their lives.
The APF offers a toll free, pain information center hotline and personalized email responses from staff. The free online support community, PainAid, gives current information for patients to determine the best pain care and connect with others struggling with their own pain. The APF site also offers a Pain Resource Locator, a database of local resources and organizations as well current pain-related clinical research trials.
If you are suffering from pain, regardless of the cause or the severity, you do not have to suffer in fear and isolation. This organization has been created to help you, or someone you know who is suffering from chronic pain, to find the best way to cope with the pain, alleviate the pain, and get back to living an enjoyable life.
Butalbital Live
Are you currently suffering from some type of chronic pain? Well, you are not alone.
It is estimated that:
o 50 million Americans live with chronic pain each year (American Pain Foundation)
o 33 million Americans have at least 1 of 100 forms of arthritis and nearly 90% of people over 40 have beginning signs of arthritis (Journal of Rheumatology, 16)
o 1 out of 3 Americans each month lose more than 20 hours of sleep due to pain (American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives)
o Pain is the second leading medical cause of work absenteeism (American Pain Society)
o 60% of men and women experience pain every day (American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives)
o 50% of elderly living in the community experience pain while 71%-83% of institutionalized elderly suffer from some form of pain. (Pain, 1997)
o Women are less likely to receive treatment for pain than men (Law/Medical Ethics, 2001)
Chronic pain is a subjective experience, affecting each person in a unique way. There are as many different causes as there are types of pain. Also, each person responds to pain differently. Some have a higher physiological threshold for tolerating pain. Some have a naturally more relaxed body or a way of breathing deeply that may dampen some of the painful sensations. Personal attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and the attitudes and responses of healthcare providers and loved ones can either help to alleviate or actually exacerbate the actual pain.
In the 1980′s, The American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) was formed to facilitate dialogue among physicians, counselors, educators, administrators and patients. That organization, still very active today, represents a powerful professional resource, providing cutting edge research on the most effective methods for treating and alleviating pain. But this organization focuses mainly on professionals and clinicians.
The American Pain Foundation (APF), established in 1997, now has a membership of over 80,000 people living with pain, their caregivers, and healthcare personnel. This foundation was established to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from pain, sometimes daily, and to advocate for public awareness, information, education and research into this elusive medical condition that affects so many of us.
In 2004, the APF created a Military/Veterans Pain Initiative to help veterans, those active in the military, and their families to cope with the pain that many of them live with daily. This initiative provides educational materials and peer to peer support to reduce the sense of isolation and to improve the quality of their lives.
The APF offers a toll free, pain information center hotline and personalized email responses from staff. The free online support community, PainAid, gives current information for patients to determine the best pain care and connect with others struggling with their own pain. The APF site also offers a Pain Resource Locator, a database of local resources and organizations as well current pain-related clinical research trials.
If you are suffering from pain, regardless of the cause or the severity, you do not have to suffer in fear and isolation. This organization has been created to help you, or someone you know who is suffering from chronic pain, to find the best way to cope with the pain, alleviate the pain, and get back to living an enjoyable life.
Butalbital Live



