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Pain Awareness Month Edition
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September 2014
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To my fellow Pain Warriors and Friends:
September is nearly here meaning another National Pain Awareness Month will soon be underway. This is such an important month for anyone living with pain. For thirty days, public attention will be drawn to the hardships, struggles and trials of those suffering. Our Ambassadors and other organizations strive to work more closely together to promote pain education and awareness. We work together to unite the pain community while additionally raising awareness about how pain affects us all. Pain Awareness Month essentially creates hope and compassion for those with pain, reminding them they are heard, validated and never alone.
Yet what happens on the first of October? While those invested in the epidemic of pain continue their missions to advocate, educate and empower, others sometimes lose interest in the cause. A new issue takes center media spotlight, which ends the action piece that many of us were looking to follow the progress of September from happening.
 This is where YOU - the pain warrior, care champion, supportive ally - play a role. It is up to you to continue voicing your stories, sharing your worries and breaking down barriers. September gives us the boost we need to bring our concerns to the forefront. But we have to take that next step. We have to push for the funding, the research, the education and the legislative changes we wish to see. It might seem like a tedious task, but every September I feel more optimistic that our collective voice is making an impact. That we are somehow getting closer to that moment when the topic of pain care is at the forefront of health care, and pain is not looked upon with a stigma but as a real disease.
I am thankful to the coalition of organizations who created Pain Awareness Month fourteen years ago. They had a vision to eradicate the under-treatment of pain and shed light on 100 million Americans living with chronic pain. Together, we are making headway but there is still such room for growth. That is why we need to keep pushing the envelope. We must come together as a community and work for the common good of people with pain.
To all those out there who feel isolated and alone, remember there are many who understand your plights and are working to create your better tomorrow. It is our goal for everyone to have access to proper pain care, to have the ability to see the doctors they need, to receive appropriate treatments, and most importantly to walk this journey with you.
This month, and every other month, U.S. Pain is dedicated to lessening the suffering of pain and to help guide you to a hopeful and fulfilling life. We are in the process of revamping our current website. The updated site will hold more information, tools and resources to educate, empower and advocate for the pain community. Our goal is for it to go 'live' this fall. We are also working on a U.S. Pain app as well as a whole host of events, seminars and educational days for the upcoming fall and winter of 2015. It is important to us to expand our programs, and to do this, we continue to work with many community partners to have these programs for you.
Let's make the 2014 September Pain Awareness Month the strongest one to date. Together, let's shift perceptions, start that positive dialogue we want to see and finally obtain the answers we need for better medical advancements the field of pain care.
You are all pain warriors, and each of you inspires me. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Day by day, we are making small steps toward victory.
Wishing you all a low-pain and high-spirits day,
Paul Gileno
Founder & President, U.S. Pain Foundation
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The Importance of September
In 2001, a coalition of groups and organizations established September as National Pain Awareness Month. The goal was to increase awareness about the effects of pain and to educate citizens about the advanced treatment options available to help alleviate pain. Now, fourteen years later, September is still dedicated to raising public awareness around issues related to pain and pain management. While great strides have been made in pain care since 2001, we still have work to do.
U.S. Pain asked some of our team to share their personal feelings about this month. We wanted to know what is so important about this month and why a month dedicated to pain awareness matters so much.
Here are the responses:
"September is recognized as Pain Awareness month. Helping to bring people together that have pain, this should be the model for all other months during the year for the pain community. People with pain need to connect, as we help one another on our journeys. This month is important because people with pain need validation. They need to be reminded that they matter and they need a voice advocating for their continued care."
-Paul Gileno, Founder & President of U.S. Pain Foundation
"September is a time for us to collectively come together all over the country to do all we can to let Americans know that so many of us live with pain all the time and that pain takes a tremendous toll on the lives of those of us who are affected. We have been the silent majority often overlooked and forgotten. Widespread awareness of the enormity of the chronic pain problem is the first step we must take to improve pain care for all.
I believe that from awareness and understanding flows empowerment and action! When we and others look around and see all the activities and publicity spawned by Pain Awareness Month we see that collectively we can raise our voices and work together in the eleven subsequent months each year to make the changes in the treatment of people living with pain we wish to see."
-Cindy Steinberg, Director of National Policy and Advocacy
"Nationally recognized for over one decade as pain awareness month, September marks a time when pain warriors across the globe are acknowledged for 30 days. That's 30 days of validating the existence of chronic pain, 30 days to empower fellow patients, 30 days to become self-advocates and 30 days to create positive change.
 September represents hope for those who feel as if they have traveled down their pain journey alone. The entire month promotes awareness through the efforts of organizations similar to U.S. Pain Foundation. If you are ready, and willing, to be a part of that positive change, I invite you all to attend one of the incredible events taking place this month as well as following the U.S. Pain Foundation's Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook pages for ideas and ways to take part in this year's Pain Awareness Campaign."
-Shaina Smith, Director of Ambassadors
"Pain Awareness Month reaffirms to me the power, strength and resilience within the pain community. September is about creating a new and positive dialogue that shows the country not only the challenges those suffering endure but also the courage of those same individuals. It is thirty days focused on bringing attention and awareness to one of our healthcare's largest epidemics. This month also reminds me of how important it is to advocate and educate every day of the year. We are pain warriors, and it is our stories that generate change; therefore, we must continue to collectively come together and speak out."
-Nicole Hemmenway, Director of INvisible Project
"September is a time to reflect collectively across the country that as pain warriors, we are not alone and do have a voice. While educational and empowering events happen throughout the year, those in September seem to be even more special. September fuels us to continue advocacy efforts for better pain care throughout the year. It strengthens us and validates that together, the 100 million of us living with pain, matter."
-Ellen Lenox Smith, AdvocacyDirector of Medicinal Marijuana
"Pain Awareness Month is important to me because it unities all of us Pain Warriors together to show there is a large community out there, and we are all fighting for the same cause. It helps those that feel they are alone realize they have a large support system!"
-Casey Cashman, Volunteer Director of Fundraising
"Members of the pain foundation spend the year engaging in a variety of activities directed at supporting our mission and specific goals. Having one month dedicated to pain awareness allows for a feeling of solidarity and serves not only our mission but reminds all of us that we are part of something larger than ourselves and this is important."
-Stu Smith, Director of Caregivers
"September is a month to recognize all of our community pain warriors. It is a way to commemorate them on their strength, courage and will to keep fighting for themselves, and others, together as one. It is a time to recognize our caregivers for all they do, and continue to do each and every day.
 Pain Awareness Month shows that as a community we unite to stand strong and brave. We rely on each other for support and strength, we learn to become empowered and we see that our voices are being heard. As a group, we are making strides to obtaining the relief we all deserve and need."
-Lori Monarca, Executive Office Manager
"Statistics show that over 100 million people are living with pain on a daily basis. As Pain Awareness Month, September  provides the opportunity to raise the awareness necessary to help doctors, family members, and individuals throughout the world better understand the lives of those 100 million people living with pain. Pain Awareness Month is also a time to provide patients the and help and information they need to get the best possible treatment available."
-Michaela O'Connor, Director of Newsletter
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"I Have a Dream"
On November 6, 2009, Cindy Steinberg received the Presidential Medal of Honor from the American Pain Foundation. This award was presented to her for her dedication to raising awareness about the issue of pain as well as her ongoing advocacy efforts to improve pain care.
U.S. Pain Foundation was moved by her profound acceptance speech, and asked if we could re-share her remarks. Cindy, thank you for your endless work to create change for the millions of us living with pain. We at U.S. Pain Foundation are so appreciative of your dedication and commitment to advocacy.
"I Have A Dream"
"I deeply thank the members of the committee who chose me for this award.
I view this award as not about me because there are many worthy and dedicated pain advocates among you in this room.
It's about the work all of us are doing together to change the way people in pain are treated in America today. It's about the fact that I have learned from my experience as a pain advocate these past nearly 10 years, as banal as it sounds, that any one person can truly make a difference at a local, state and even national level.
 I think our work on behalf of all Americans living with pain is worthy of being viewed as a "movement" so I thought why not borrow from the greatest movement speech of all time...
I have a dream that one day in America chronic pain will be viewed as an illness, not a symptom or a stigma.
I have a dream that people in pain will be listened to and believed not treated as drug seekers or "doctor shoppers".
I have a dream that all Americans in pain will have access to the most effective, multi-modal treatments for their pain conditions.
I have a dream that all healthcare providers who treat pain sufferers will be educated in their professional schools and through continuing education on the latest techniques of pain assessment and treatment.
I have a dream that hundreds of millions not a few million dollars will be directed at unlocking the basic mechanisms of pain in the human body.
I have a dream that we will one day find a cure for chronic pain and, why not?
This is my hope.
So let's go back to California and Washington and Connecticut and New York and wherever you call home and continue together, the great work that each of you here are doing to realize these dreams so that one day all Americans who suffer with debilitating chronic pain will instead enjoy an excellent quality of life.
Thank you again for this honor."
-Cindy Steinberg
November 6, 2009
American Pain Foundation Gala
Acceptance Speech, Presidential Medal
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Pain Proclamations: create awareness and make a difference
 
The month of September centers on bringing the issue of pain and pain care to the forefront. The desired outcome is that with this newfound focus on public awareness change will occur. Better education, more funding, new and promising research, renewed hope and less stigmatization for those suffering.
One way to generate action is by informing those in office of the struggles we face, and work with them to advocate for better laws that protect our rights. That is why we encouraged individuals to submit city, town or state proclamations requesting the month of September be declared as National Pain Awareness Month.
This year, over twenty U.S. Pain Ambassadors contacted their local and state government branches for proclamations. As of August 23, nine proclamations had been approved and signed with fourteen others still waiting responses.
Approved Pain Awareness Month Proclamations
 Connecticut
Illinois
Indiana
Maine (for the towns of Biddeford and Saco)
Maryland
Massachusetts
Ohio
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Awaiting Confirmation:
 Alaska
Georgia
Kentucky
Mississippi
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
Vermont
Wisconsin
We would like to thank those U.S. Pain Ambassadors who worked to get these proclamations signed.
| April Richardson | Lynda Avallone
| | Beverly Rivera | Michelle Tracy
| Cindy Steinberg
| Nancy Bonk
| | Ellen & Stu Smith | Susan Dudley Gold
| Jeannette Rotondi
| Tabitha Orander
| Jennifer Olson
| Terri Boettcher
| Joselynn Badman
| Tracy Jones
| J.P. Summers
| Shaina Smith
| Julian Phillips
| Shelia Purcell
| Kris Corleone
| Shelli Schwengler
| Lee Vanderlin
| Vickie Tway
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Beautify in Blue
On August 29, Engine, in partnership with the University of New England's Center for Excellence in Neuroscience and the U.S. Pain Foundation, will mount an exhibition - Beautify in Blue - featuring original works of art done in blue. A portion of the proceeds of any sales will benefit U.S. Pain Foundation.
For those in the Biddeford area, U.S. Pain encourages you to attend this amazing event. Support the show, connect with others who understand and embrace art as a positive form of therapy along your personal journey.
Event Details:
 Beautify in Blue Mini-Exhibition Friday, August 29, 2014
5 - 8 pm
Engine
265 Main Street, Suite 103, Biddeford, ME
For More Information:
ENGINE, located in the heart of Biddeford, Maine, is a non-profit arts organization. Engine's mission is to make arts-driven programming, cultural development, and sustainable creative entrepreneurialism an explicit community value and civic priority in Biddeford. www.feedtheengine.org
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE NEUROSCIENCES aims to foster creativity and collaboration among people who have a passion for understanding the complexities of the nervous system and applying this knowledge to improve human health, productivity and quality of life. www.une.edu/research/cen
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National Pain Strategy
What is the National Pain Strategy?
The much-heralded Institute of Medicine report on pain in America issued in June of 2011 made a number of recommendations for addressing our nation's enormous burden of pain. A core recommendation of the report called on the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a comprehensive strategy for pain prevention, treatment, management, education, reimbursement and research. HHS tasked the National Institute of Health with overseeing the development of this strategy now called the National Pain Strategy (NPS).
Who is creating it?
The Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (IPRCC) within the NIH created six working groups of pain experts from around the country to develop the strategy.
When will it be released?
There is not a specific date yet for the release of the strategy but it is anticipated that there will be a public comment period in the late fall before the NPS is finalized. We, at the US Pain Foundation, will let you know when it is released.
What role can I play in getting it implemented?
It will be very important to get your input during the public comment period. Once the report is finalized, it will be critical for all of us who are affected by pain to contact our federal lawmakers and ask for their support in implementing the NPS. The US Pain Foundation has joined with 15 other pain advocacy organizations to form a task force called the Consumer Pain Advocacy Task Force to support, influence and monitor HHS's implementation of the NPS.
By Cindy Steinberg, National Director of Policy and Advocacy, U.S. Pain Foundation
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INvisible Project
The INvisible Project uses photography and story to illustrate the day-to-day struggles of real people living with chronic pain.
The goal is to make visible the experiences and challenges that are oftentimes hidden, ignored or misunderstood.
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Upcoming Events
Engine in partnership with UNE & Saco ArtWalk Show
5 - 8pm
265 Main St., Suite 103
Biddeford, ME
Exhibit, "Beautify in Blue," to feature art in various shades of blue. A portion of any sales will benefit U.S. Pain Foundation.
PAINWeek
9am - 5pm
The Cosmopolitan
3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV
Come see the INvisible Project display as well as visit U.S. Pain's booth.
RSDSA's Integrated Solutions to CRPS Conference
8:30am - 5pm
The Grand Hyatt in Dallas
Fort Worth, TX
The INvisible Project will be showcased. For more information, CLICK HERE.
7th Annual Women in Pain Conference
9am - 4pm
California's Endowment Center for Healthy Communities
1000 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA
Visit U.S. Pain's booth and see a portion of the INvisible Project. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Arlington Town Fair
10am - 3pm
Booth will be near the Town Hall
Arlington Center, MA
Learn more about U.S. Pain and find available information on Support Group that meets at Robbins Library in Arlington Center.
25th Annual AAPM Clinical Meeting
Desert Marriott
Phoenix, AZ
Western Pain Society Conference
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA
Alex & Ani's Charmed by Charity Event
6 - 9pm
Alex and Ani Store
12 Broad Street
Redbank, NJ
Ellen & Stu Smith's Pain Awareness Event
2 - 5pm
Miriam Hospital
164 Summit Avenue
Providence, RI
Lisa Gladfelder's Pain Awareness Event & Health Fair
7:30 - 10:30am
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
325 Main Street
Lawrence, KS
Quench the Fire
8am - 12pm
Woodley Avenue Park
6350 Woodley Avenue
Van Nuys, CA
U.S. Pain is proud to be a sponsor. Come out and walk, run or roll! Visit the U.S. pain table and see the INvisible Project on display.
Please contact U.S. Pain if you need further information about any of these events.
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The U.S. Pain
30-Day
PAM Challenge
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Follow our social media sites beginning September 1 to learn more about the 2014 U.S. Pain 30-Day "PAM Challenge!"
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BLOGS
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Inspiration
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"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."
-Robin Williams
Dead Poet's Society
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Partnering Groups
U.S. Pain Foundation would like to thank all of its corporate members. To see a list of our corporate members, please click here. |
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Looking for a good read?
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A hope-filled story for the 100 million Americans suffering from pain in the USA,
No, It Is NOT In My Head is a raw look at suffering with pain and how it affects everyone. It also shows how to triumph over the odds and find your own voice.
Order an autographed copy today!
www.nicolehemmenway.com
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Donate
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If you wish to make a donation to U.S. Pain Foundation, please click the Donate button below.
We appreciate each and every donation we receive. No matter how big or small, each dollar ensures that the 100 million Americans living with pain receive validation and proper medical care.
Thank you for your support.
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An Easy Way to Support U.S. Pain
while Shopping Online
SMILE WHILE YOU SHOP
U.S. Pain has joined forces with AmazonSmile. Here is a simple and automatic way for you to support U.S. Pain  Foundation every time you shop - at no cost to you! When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices as Amazon.com, but with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to us.
Thank you for supporting U.S. Pain as you shop!
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