Pain Awareness Month: Solving Pain Together

September marked a standout Pain Awareness Month with the theme #SolvePainTogether, emphasizing the complexities of pain and the necessity of comprehensive, collaborative solutions. Through weekly articles, daily social media updates, live events, a virtual, educational Pain Series offered in collaboration with Humana Neighhorhood Centers, and more, we shared vital information about the lived experiences of those with chronic pain, the role of health care providers, and the importance of reliable data and research. Our NIH HEAL Initiative webinar—delving into research on biomarkers to help predict chronic pain—highlighted the need for continued progress in pain science.

Educational Initiatives

We launched essential resources to help individuals and families manage chronic pain, including:

• The updated "Living Well With Chronic Pain" print and digital booklet, now available in editions for adults, kids, and teens, as well as in Spanish.
• The “Living Well With Migraine” guide, a co-collaboration with the Danielle Foundation.
• A five-part "Navigating Pain at School" webinar series co-hosted with Migraine at School.

We amplified the voices of individuals living with chronic pain by actively participating in more than 15 conferences and events as speakers, exhibitors, and attendees. Highlights included a presentation at the American Society for Pain Management Nursing Annual Conference, where we emphasized the importance of active listening in improving patient outcomes for those with chronic pain. We also addressed critical gaps in pediatric pain care during an FDA Public Workshop on Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic Drug Development for children aged 2 to under 12 years.

Additionally, we educated future health care providers on chronic pain and the patient experience through presentations to medical students in Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Massachusetts. To advance innovation in pain care, we moderated a Novel Therapeutics for Pain panel at a BIO event in New York. Furthermore, we highlighted the state of pain management in America as a featured speaker during Axios’ Prognosis for America's Pain Management event in Miami.

Advocacy Successes

In 2024, U.S. Pain Foundation achieved significant victories in advancing pain policy. In Massachusetts, a pivotal provision was passed as part of a broader substance use disorder bill, eliminating prior authorization for non-surgical, non-medication pain treatments. This milestone improves access to essential therapies, including acupuncture, massage, movement therapies, and chiropractic care. Similarly, Maine enacted a groundbreaking law to expand coverage for multidisciplinary pain therapies, which will take effect in 2026.

Beyond these legislative wins, we led efforts to educate lawmakers on the importance of accessible pain care, hosting a pain awareness event at the Massachusetts State House and presenting to a Georgia legislative committee on strategies to improve access to multidisciplinary pain treatments.

At the federal level, the Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act, which we helped spearhead, gained traction, with new co-sponsors and strong advocacy from dozens of other organizations and nonprofits, setting the stage for 2025. Telehealth flexibilities for Medicare were also extended through March 2025, improving access to care.

Additionally, U.S. Pain led a virtual advocacy training series to equip 25 pain advocates with the skills to drive change at the state and federal levels. 

Peer Support

Knowing the close ties between chronic pain and mental health, we remained focused on strengthening peer support and mental health services by training new support group facilitators and welcoming a new director and assistant director of mental health and support. We believe it is vital that individuals living with pain have a safe, supportive space to connect, feel validated, and access helpful resources every day. U.S. Pain helps make that happen not only through state, national, and specialized groups, but also a daily group that offers a virtual space for those needing connection more frequently.



We expanded our network this year by launching four new peer support groups and partnered with the Danielle Foundation to offer a dedicated monthly space for parents of children living with pain. Additionally, we hosted several holiday peer groups, providing a sense of community and connection during the more difficult times of the year.

Pediatric Pain Warriors: Empowering Our Youth

The 3rd Annual Pediatric Pain Warrior Family Summer Camp brought together 52 families for education, connection, and fun. Daily peer support groups and workshops equipped children and parents with tools to advocate and thrive. The camp fostered lasting friendships and provided a safe space for families to share experiences and support one another on their journeys.

In addition to our summer camp, we were thrilled to host three Family Pain Education Days throughout the year, two of which were in collaboration with Miles for Migraine. These events provided families with valuable, practical knowledge on managing pediatric pain, exploring treatment options, and accessing emotional support. Our goal was to promote a sense of community within a community, empowering families to build stronger local networks and acquire the tools and skills needed to navigate the challenges of chronic pain management together.

INvisible Project

This year, we launched the INvisible Project: Diabetes Edition, highlighting the lived experiences of those with diabetes-related pain, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Through personal stories and educational articles, we raised awareness on DPN science, the specialists who treat diabetes and pain, foot health, early warning signs and complications, and treatment options. We distributed over 6,200 magazines and engaged at key events like the 9th Annual Diabetes, Obesity, & Metabolic Disease Conference, ENDO24, and the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Conference, helping empower individuals with diabetes and chronic pain—and their medical providers—for better health outcomes.

KNOWvember: Raising Awareness About DPN

In November, we focused on raising awareness about diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) to help individuals better understand and manage the condition. Through articles, social media posts, live events, a webinar, and a digital and print foot care guide, we provided valuable information and resources to support the journeys of those affected by diabetic nerve pain, as well as caregivers and providers. A key highlight of the month was our webinar, which has garnered over 12,000 Facebook views, further extending our reach and impact.

Medical Cannabis

U.S. Pain continues to provide education and advocacy related to medical cannabis and CBD, with the goal of ensuring safe access to those who use these therapies as part of their pain management plan.

This year, U.S. Pain advocated alongside other medical cannabis patient advocates at Americans for Safe Access's The Validated Voices Summit, in addition to endorsing the Medical Cannabis & Cannabinoid Act (MCCA) and the Safe Access 4 All campaign. We also continue to advocate for legislation improving access at the state level.

Collaboration Highlights

This year, we strengthened our connections with key organizations like the NIH HEAL Initiative and Humana Neighborhood Centers. Together, we offered informative webinars and created educational resources, including the Pain Series and Health Hack videos, which reached thousands of individuals. These collaborations brought forward critical discussions about pain management, helped improve quality of life, and highlighted the need for research into more effective treatments for chronic pain.