National Pain Awareness Month
Welcome to it. The entire month of September has been designated as National Pain Awareness Month.
The goals of National Pain Awareness Month are threefold:
- Create a greater understanding of chronic pain among healthcare providers, patients, and the community.
- Reduce the stigma associated with chronic pain.
- Break down the barriers to effective pain management.
The British Journal of Anesthesia has cited that chronic pain is the number one cause of disability and disease burden globally, and the CDC indicates that one in five adults in the United States will experience chronic pain. So, how can you do your part in raising pain awareness and help us achieve the goals noted above? I’m glad you asked.
1. Share Your Story
Whether that involves opening up to friends and family or your online family with social media, tell your pain story. You will be surprised at how many are willing to lend a sympathetic ear, provide words of encouragement on your bad days, and you may be surprised that you are not alone in what you are going through. A great many may offer tips and ideas at coping and managing pain that you had not thought of previously.
2. Social Media Surge
The first step in reducing the stigma associated with chronic pain is getting the word out. Social media is a powerful tool for doing so. Share your story or re-post pain messages that may help others. Feel free to peruse ASAP’s website for pain articles that you can reshare to help break down barriers for others to receive effective pain management.
3. Talk To Your Pain Doc
If you are suffering, it is important to convey what you are going through to your pain specialist so together an appropriate treatment plan can be prepared. Let’s all make a concerted effort during National Pain Awareness month to reduce the stigma of pain management, break down barriers to effective pain management, and help alleviate pain whenever and wherever, it rears its ugly head.
Let’s all make a concerted effort during National Pain Awareness month to reduce the stigma of pain management, break down barriers to effective pain management, and help alleviate pain whenever and wherever, it rears its ugly head.