Photography and stories 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.
U.S. Pain Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the 2015 INvisible Project this January!
We would like to acknowledge and thank our upcoming participants - Anthony Ameen, Casey Cashman, Emily Lemiska, Guy LoPresti, JP Summers, Lynne Popadak, Melanie Dickens, Michele Rice, Nick Duggan and Robert Foley - for being a part of this profound campaign.
Learn More
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To My Fellow Pain Warriors and Friends:
U.S Pain has been busy at work during the first month of 2015. Although this month has been rigid and cold, we have been hard at work in both advocacy and empowerment for pain warriors throughout the country. We hope you have been able to stay warm and as pain free as possible during this time as you begin to to further your journey toward empowerment and self-love. During this season of love, we would like to invite each and every one of you to take some time for yourself, to show yourself the care and comfort you need, and to love yourself just the way you are. We are looking forward to continue working throughout the year to help enrich the lives of every one of you and provide access to the tools necessary to fight chronic pain. Thank you for being a part of our mission - to improve the lives of those living with pain by validating chronic medical conditions and educating others. You are all pain warriors, and U.S. Pain is here to help. Wishing you all a low-pain and high-spirits day, Paul Gileno Founder & President, U.S. Pain Foundation
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The Consumer Pain Advocacy
Taskforce & The National Pain Strategy
What You Need to Know
In March of 2014, the US Pain Foundation joined together with 16 pain-related organizations to form the Consumer Pain Advocacy Task Force (CPATF). The CPATF united around one goal - to work collectively to promote, support and monitor the implementation of the National Pain Strategy (NPS). You can learn more about the NPS and how you can be involved by clicking here. We expect the NPS Report to be released for an open public comment period soon. US Pain Foundation will keep you informed about the NPS and ask for your involvement at critical moments. Stay tuned and be ready to take action. We will send you an action alert at the right time so you can join thousands of others living with pain to speak out in response.
The following beliefs guide the collective work of the CPATF:
- Chronic pain is a real and complex disease that may exist by itself or be linked with other medical conditions.
- Chronic pain is an unrecognized and under-resourced public health crisis with devastating personal and economic impact.
- Effective pain care requires access to a wide range of treatment options.
- Allowing people to suffer with unmanaged pain is immoral and unethical.
In the meantime, please read and share this information sheet with others-your family, friends, healthcare providers and community.
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Take Control of Your Pain
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
National Harbor, Maryland
March 19, 2015
2-6 PM
Take Control Of Your Pain is a patient-education seminar where pain warriors and caregivers can learn various empowerment tools to take control of their personal pain and medical journey. Working in collaboration with the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the day will allow patients, healthcare professionals, pain-oriented nonprofit organizations and community members to network and connect together. Attendees will leave feeling empowered and validated!
Taking place on Thursday, March 19th at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD, well-known medical professionals will be speaking on various topics including integrative pain management, safe opioid use and migraine headaches; a motivational patient story will further inspire attendees.
This day of hope and information will include the showing of the INvisible Project as well as displayed booths from supportive nonprofit organizations which share the same goals as U.S. Pain Foundation.
Take Control Of Your Pain is a FREE event that you won't want to miss! Pre-registration is highly recommended to secure a place within the room.
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The Gift of Love
Legends of a man who would perform secret marriages for young lovers, help prisoners escape, and created the first "valentine" greeting have been shared for centuries. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated in countries across the globe. As parts of the world gear up to once again embrace romance and the traditional exchanges of flowers and cards, remember to give yourself a gift: A Gift of Love.
As we near the festivities acknowledging our loved ones, this Valentine's Day consider one technique to practice called cognitive appraisals or positive affirmations. This practice has been proven to ward off negative feelings, thoughts and forms of depression.
A 2012 study conducted by Wesley P. Gilliam of Rosalind Franklin University in Illinois focused on the strategic self-presentations (SSP) theory which suggests that a cognitive shift occurs when using positive affirmations. This study included participants with a history of chronic pain. Some examples of cognitive appraisals may include statements such as, 'My back is strong and healthy' or 'taking care of myself physically is important to me'.
Keep the phrases in the present while being specific so that the affirmations fall in line with your pain journey. Show your mind and body a little love today by trying self-talk and cognitive appraisals! In order to love others, you must first love yourself!As a society, our bodies endure several challenges throughout the day, environmental and emotional obstacles, which can trigger physiological reactions. By the end of the day, we are ready for our pajamas (and thick, fuzzy socks for those of us with poor circulation!) and the opportunity to turn off our thoughts. Consider taking a moment near, on or following Valentine's Day, to welcome a complementary therapy option such as meditation, yoga or gentle massage. Just be sure to check with your healthcare provider if there are any questions or concerns about your body's capabilities and endurance.
Remember that it's okay to carve out time for YOU. Relaxing, resting and time to self-reflect does not make you a selfish person. It shows that you cherish the body that you have and you are willing to pause for a moment so that you have energy for what lies ahead. Try not to dwell on the past and what you can no longer accomplish. Focus instead on what we have today, in this moment. Be mindful of your body; loving it, caring for it and accepting it is your personal treasure to nurture and support. We hope that you have a low-pain Valentine's Day, and remember that U.S. Pain Foundation is here to provide any additional encouragement and empowerment to love and live with pain and not in pain.
-Shaina Smith
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Need Help With Medication Costs?
Pharmaceutical Company Programs That Help Lower the Cost of Medication
Get Help Paying for Medicare and Prescriptions
Financial Aid Organizations That Help Pay for Your Medications
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AmazonSmile
 Don't forget that U.S. Pain joined forces with AmazonSmile. This is simplest, easiest and most automatic way for you to support U.S. Pain Foundation every time you shop! Simply visit http://smile.amazon.com/ and choose U.S. Pain Foundation as the organization you wish to support. Then each time you make a purchase through AmazonSmile, Amazon will give to U.S. Pain in a form of a donation. It is that easy and there is NO COST to you!
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