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September is Pain Awareness Month!

September is Pain Awareness Month, a time for uniting and doubling our efforts to raise awareness about the persisting barriers preventing those living with pain from getting the help they desperately need and, more urgently, to take action to break down these obstacles. Serendipitously, it comes as we are pushing for final passage of a national pain policy for members of the military and civilians. These pieces of legislation, if passed, would change the landscape of pain medicine in a similar way to other, once neglected conditions, including HIV/AIDS.

Here are some simple, but powerful ways you can make a difference:

• Add your voice to the movement working to getting this national legislation passed. In a few simple steps you can compose and forward a letter to your Congressperson asking them to sign onto the bill as a sponsor.
• Join APF’s Power Over Pain advocacy network so that you’ll so that you’ll be in the know about movement on this pain bill as it happens.
• Visit the September is Pain Awareness Month section of our website to download valuable tools to help with your pain advocacy efforts. You can find information about hosting a Power Over Pain presentation, and reaching out to your local media to raise awareness about the problems with the under treatment of pain. Consider writing an op-ed piece or submitting a letter to the editor of your local paper. Our PAM toolkit contains easy to use templates for media outreach.
• Check out the Pain Awareness Month planned activities and connect with your POPAN state leader.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved with this growing movement, today can be the day to make a difference in the lives of 76.5 million Americans suffering from chronic pain. Let us combine our voices and our muscle to demand better access to better pain care!

2008 Combined Federal Campaign Begins On September 1st

Federal Employees Can Now Designate APF! Are you a federal employee? If so and you participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the world’s largest annual workplace charity campaign, you can now designate the American Pain Foundation as a recipient of your generosity by listing Designation Code 22290 on your pledge sheet! The registration period for the CFC begins on September 1st and continues through December 15th of this year. Your donation will be tax deductible. CFC information and registration forms should be distributed to you by your supervisor or human resource representative.

If you have not participated in the CFC before or simply would like to learn more, visit click here. If you have a family member or friend employed by the federal government, please share this information with them. Thank you in advance for your continued support to the American Pain Foundation!

APF and HealthCentral Network Call for Artistic Submissions for Creativity and Pain Exhibit

APF and The HealthCentral Network, Inc. announced their call for entries for the second annual “Pain and Creativity Exhibit”. Those dealing with chronic pain from around the world are encouraged to submit expressions of how pain has influenced their lives. Welcome submissions include photos of still art, videos, music and writing that reflect the experience of pain. Select artists and their pain stories will be highlighted through video, online and print publications to help share and illuminate the stories of pain and its impact on individuals and families. Selected videos and the completed pain quilt will be shown at APF’s annual celebration and awards dinner, Images and Inspiration, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland on October 23rd. Click here to electronically submit an entry. Online submissions must be entered by September 15th. Read the full press release.

New! Spotlight on Fibromyalgia

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. Spotlight on Fibromyalgia was produced in collaboration with the American Chronic Pain Association and National Pain Foundation.

Life Love & Health

APF collaborates with Life Love & Health to provide a series of brief messages about pain.  Life Love & Health has become America's most listened to daily health and lifestyle program, reaching millions of listeners via XM, CNN, Fox, ESPN, Sirius, Voice of America, www.HealthRadio.net Internet radio, Public Radio affiliates and Wal-Mart Radio. Listen to our shows now!

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