Programs & Campaigns

The American Pain Foundation “Spotlights” are educational campaigns, both big and small, that highlight specific pain conditions or populations of people that experience pain. Spotlights bring focus to an issue offering a variety of ways for people to learn more about the topic, gain support, and take action. Typical spotlights include online and print information, education, and support to people affected by pain; interactive chats, webinars, and other supportive ways to exchange information between patients, healthcare providers and caregivers; and often creative ways to express one’s pain journey through sharing your story (Voices of People with Pain) and creative endeavors (Pain and Creativity). Raising public awareness of people affected by pain and taking action to do something about it are also major components of spotlights which may include media activities, legislative efforts, speakers bureau activities and national and/or statewide advocacy initiatives.

New! Acute Pain Spotlight

Acute pain caused by strains (the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons) and sprains (the stretching or tearing of ligaments). In fact, one in five injuries experienced by adults aged 25-64 result from working around the house or yard, with strains, sprains and bruises or other superficial injuries accounting for the largest proportion of emergency department (ED) visits. In 2007 alone, nearly 12 million people went to the ED for strains, sprains, bruises or other external injuries—and this number does not include people who did not seek treatment! Please visit our Spotlight on Acute Pain section. 

End of Life Care Spotlight

Pain Management For The End of Life is a resource center for consumers, caregivers and health care professionals. It includes information about hospice care, palliative care, advance directives, emotional and financial concerns, pediatric pain, ethics, end of life organizations and professional practice tools.

Fibromyalgia Spotlight

Fibromyalgia: Getting the Information and Care You Deserve acknowledges that living with chronic widespread pain can be tough. But the more you learn, the better you will feel. There is hope for people with this kind of pain, which may be diagnosed as a condition called fibromyalgia.

Is Fibro the Cause? - APF, with support from Forest Laboratories, is proud to unveil a brand new fibromyalgia toolkit and self-assessment tool, Is Fibro the Cause?, which will help patients and their families gain a better understanding of this painful condition. 

Let's Talk Pain

APF collaborates with two other leading pain organizations, American Academy of Pain Management and American Society for Pain Management Nursing, in the Let's Talk Pain Coalition, to unite the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The core of this work is to encourage people to talk more about pain, listen actively and act in ways that improve care for the millions of people who live with pain. An interactive website provides visitors with comprehensive information and tools to enhance the dialogue between those affected by pain and healthcare professionals.

 Military/Veterans Pain Initiative

New! APF's Military/Veterans Pain Initiative has launched a new website, Exit Wounds, which is a companion site to the upcoming Exit Wounds book. The Military/Veterans and Pain Initiative reaches out to active duty military and veterans who are in pain to provide educational information and support to improve your pain care, decrease your sense of isolation, and encourage you in your pursuit of a better quality of life for yourselves and your families. Read an excerpt from the book and visit the website!

Shingles & Post-Herpetic Neuralgia Spotlight

Spotlight on Shingles: Know What You Can Do seeks to raise awareness and understanding among older Americans, caregivers and  healthcare providers about shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia and their potential complications. Learn more about shingles and what you can do by visiting the Spotlight on Shingles section of our website.

Yoga for Chronic Pain & Disability

Yoga for Chronic Pain and Disability Project is a self-empowerment curriculum designed to promote and teach yoga as part of treatment for managing the damaging effects of stress, pain, illness and institutionalization. You can begin to own the practices of yoga – deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, visualization, stretching and moving – with the effect of cultivating body awareness and learning to identify and accept bodily sensation.

 

Last Updated: 10/29/09