September is Pain Awareness Month
This annual campaign raises awareness across the country about the undertreatment of pain. Each September, individuals, organizations, and communities join together to remove barriers that people with pain, caregivers, and healthcare professionals often confront when seeking and providing pain care.
Advocacy Groups That Support People in Pain
Medtronic is proud to help advance the efforts of the two advocacy groups that are leading the way in supporting people in pain: the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) and the American Pain Foundation.
ACPA is a non-profit organization that facilitates peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and their families so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their pain. They also work to raise awareness among the healthcare community, policy makers, and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain. In fact, ACPA led the effort to establish September as Pain Awareness Month as part of their Partners For Understanding Pain. Find out how to get support from ACPA.
The mission of the American Pain Foundation, also a non-profit organization, is to raise awareness among the healthcare community, policy makers, and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain. To learn more about how to get involved in pain awareness, visit the foundation’s main website or www.conqueringpaintogether.org
Resources from the two organizations include:
- Information libraries offering answers and support
- Support groups that meet in many communities around the country
- Online support communities where people with pain, caregivers and loved one can share information, support and hope
- Advocacy activities to raise public awareness and promote the best pain policy, legislation and practice
- Consumer Guide to Pain Medications and Treatment so you can be better informed about your medications
- Videos on a variety of pain-related topics to give you new tools for coping with pain and keep you informed
Virtual March 2010
The American Pain Foundation Virtual March begins on September 1, 2010, and you can participate in this virtual march on Washington anytime throughout September. This online event is intended to unite, empower, and rally those who care about people living with pain and be a part of making a difference in pain policy and practice.
APF Action Network
The American Pain Foundation’s Action Network is a grassroots network of people living with pain, caregivers and health care providers, working in collaboration with other advocates, professionals and organizations who share our belief that people in pain have a right to timely, appropriate and effective pain care.
The APF Action Network will be working in collaboration with other organizations throughout September in rural towns and bustling cities, engaging in activities ranging from:
- Providing public and professional presentations
- Distributing information about pain relief far and widePitching Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and news articles
- Engaging local government and other organizations in celebrating state and city Pain Awareness Month Proclamations
- Spreading the word through social networking sites
What YOU Can Do
Sometimes, the best way to help yourself is to help others. Consider taking time during Pain Awareness Month to reach out. Together we can make a difference!
- Register as an APF member and part of the APF Action Network
- Complete the Action Network Advocacy Survey to let them know how you would like to be involved and what skills you may bring to the network
- Join the Virtual March on Washington
- Use the ideas and templates in the Action Network Action Toolkit to plan, promote and conduct successful Pain Awareness Month activities
- Contact an Action Network leader in your state to learn how you can be part of regional and local activities
- Visit www.conqueringpaintogether.org to find other ways to be a part of Pain Awareness month