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.

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. 

Back Pain Spotlight

Of all the different types of aches and pains people experience, back pain is the most common. A majority of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives. The American Pain Foundation has created a practical online guide to educate you about back pain and arm you with information to talk with your health care providers about prevention and treatment. As with other pain conditions, it can take time and patience to find answers, but these articles, worksheets and tips offer information to help you advocate for quality symptom management. If you or a loved one suffers with back pain, take some time to learn self-care strategies that can help you get well and build a stronger, healthier back to prevent future problems.  Please read our Spotlight on Back Pain.

Breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) is different from ongoing, persistent pain. Unlike persistent pain (sometimes called background pain) that develops gradually and lasts at least 12 hours a day, BTCP strikes suddenly. It is usually unpredictable, lasts for an average of 30 minutes and is often described as sharp, shooting and radiating.  APF has developed a practical online toolkit to increase awareness of cancer pain and, specifically breakthrough cancer pain, among people with cancer, survivors and caregivers, and to encourage patients to talk with their healthcare providers about cancer pain and advocate for quality symptom management. Please read our breakthrough cancer pain online guide.

Cancer Pain Spotlight

Cancer Pain: Your Guide to Relief™ provides information, coping strategies and tools to help cancer patients and their caregivers understand the basics of pain management and better communicate with their doctors. This CD-ROM has personal stories, medication fact sheets, reporting & management tools and tips on how to work with your medical team.  Learn more about cancer pain and what you can do by reviewing the Cancer Pain section of our website.

Caregiver Spotlight

CareCentral recognizes that caregivers are vital supporters in the lives of those with pain. In collaboration with HealthCentral Network, we offer a powerful, private way to help you cope. Caregivers, create your own CareCentral site, start a journal or guestbook, share photos, get organized, maintain a calendar, create a wishlist, make announcements and more. You can invite your family and friends to join your site to keep in touch and provide support. Take the Tour and view a sample site before getting started. Learn more and join CareCentral now!

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. 

Health Decision Making Guide

Finding the right information and having the skills to engage in health decision making is an important step to managing your or a loved one’s acute or chronic pain condition. Educating yourself and being well informed will help you to weigh various alternatives, consider your personal preferences and feel more confident in the choices you make. APF created an online guide to help people living with pain better understand health decision making. Included in this new resource are articles, worksheets and tips to help steer you in the right direction. Start here>> 

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. 

APF's Military/Veterans Pain Initiative has launched a website, Exit Wounds, which is a companion site to the 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: 06/30/10