Chronicle
The Chronicle is published quarterly by the American Chronic Pain Association. Click below to view our most current newsletters or view past articles from the Archives page. Sign-up to receive future newsletters via email by clicking here.
December 2011 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Relieving Pain in America: The new report from the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine validates ACPA’s mission to help individuals with pain. The report calls for a cultural transformation in the way we teach, treat and understand pain.
- A Blueprint for the Future: Members of the IOM committee discuss their primary recommendations, emphasizing that pain management is a moral imperative that is best served with interdisciplinary and comprehensive approaches.
- Individual-Centered Care is Essential: Why complementary and alternative treatments for pain often succeed when other approaches don’t.
- Pain Awareness Month: ACPA support group leaders gain recognition for Pain Awareness Month in Maine and Pennsylvania
- Veterans in Pain: Online and in-person support groups help veterans achieve a healthier lifestyle by learning to manage their pain
- For Inspiration and Reflection: Two stories talk about the power of community and reaching out to others. We also review a Buddhist-inspired book that guides the chronically ill and their caregivers.
- Plus..., letters, new groups, tributes and thanks to our corporate sponsors..
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September 2011 Chronicle
September is Pain Awareness Month!
In this issue:
- The Financial Costs of Pain: Just as we manage the physical and emotional impact of chronic pain, we must also plan for how pain affects our finances.
- Living Well with Less: ACPA facilitators discuss how they cope with the economics of pain, and live happily while living frugally.
- Adjusting to Your Financial Future: When chronic pain limits your earning ability, you must plan for a different future.
- Members' Forum: Facilitators and members share their stories about living with pain, helping others, and fighting to stay well.
- Veterans in Pain: Veterans have to cope with economic casualties of war.
- Insomnia and Chronic Pain in Adolescents: Medical researches explore the connection between sleep and pain in young people.
- Medical and Research News: Updates on acetaminophen dosing, complementary and alternative therapies, and using the arts to manage pain.
- Plus..., book reviews, new groups, tributes and thanks to our corporate sponsors..
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June 2011 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Connecting Mindfulness and Pain: People with pain can listen to their bodies, be mindful of their emotions, and better manage their pain.
- Moment by Moment: ACPA facilitators discuss how they use meditation and relaxation practices to reduce stress and enjoy life.
- Self-Hypnosis Techniques: Basic hypnosis practices can help people with pain to relax and improve their sleep habits.
- Members' Forum: ACPA support group members discuss how attitude and self-awareness help them cope with their pain.
- Veterans in Pain: Veterans have their own support groups through the ACPA.
- REMS to Combat Drug Abuse: Learn more about the steps the federal government is taking to combat prescription drug misuse and abuse.
- Medical and Research News: Updates on research into pain's biological pathways, pain logs and other news.
- Plus…book reviews, new groups and how to honor someone special for Pain Awareness Month in September.
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March 2011 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Pain in the Workplace: Learn how people with pain can keep their jobs and remain productive when pain is their constant companion.
- Challenges of Working While Living with Pain: ACPA facilitators discuss how they adjusted their career goals and found meaningful activity when pain forced them to reassess their job prospects.
- The Value of Work in a Balanced Life: Pain can contribute to a medical disability, but accomodations can help you return to work.
- Talking About Pain with a new Employer: How those with chronic pain can face a new boss and coworkers.
- Don't let Your Job be a Pain: Changes you can make in your work environment to help you manage and avoid pain.
- Opioid Understanding Lags as Abuse Climbs: An ACPA survey reveals that often people who use opioids don't understand enough about the drugs to ensure safe use.
- Plus…poetry, new groups, tributes and thanks to our corporate sponsors.
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December 2010 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Focusing on Veterans with Pain: Almost all returned veterans face emotional upheaval when they leave the service. For veterans with chronic pain, this can make managing pain more complex.
- Veterans Support Groups: The ACPA is devoting resources specifically to assist veterans with chronic pain. Read about how groups assist with peer-to-peer support.
- Resources for Veterans: Online resources from the VA and elsewhere can aid veterans in filing claims for disability and improving their health..
- Medication Use and Abuse: ACPA takes part in When Good Medicines Become Bad Drugs, an effort to share information about prescription medication abuse.
- ACPA Update: A new PSA for opioid safety and an ACPA survey look at attitudes and behaviors about opioid medications.
- Easing Holiday Travel: How advance planning and thoughtful preparation can help people with chronic pain enjoy their travels.
- Plus…memories of friends and colleagues, new groups, tributes and thanks to our corporate sponsors.
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September 2010 Chronicle
In this issue:
- The 30th Anniversary of the ACPA: A look back at how ACPA began, struggled, expanded and thrived, with personal interviews from those who made it happen.
- Three Decades of Support: Facilitators talk about how ACPA has changed their lives through support groups.
- Looking Back and Looking Forward: The president of the board of ACPA anticipates the future.
- ACPA Update: Connecting with veterans who have pain.
- Board Member Profile: Meet Ed Covington who developed Cleveland Clinic’s chronic pain rehabilitation program
- Plus… new groups, tributes, updates and thanks to our corporate sponsors.
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June 2010 Chronicle
In this issue:
- The Magic of Peer Support: Support groups provide companionship, understanding, role models, and reduce feelings of isolation.
- Improve your ability to express your needs to your health care providers, friends ,and family.
- Solutions for Sleepless Nights: People with chronic pain may benefit from these tips for fighting insomnia.
- Learn how this national effort to reduce drug abuse and misuse could affect those with legitimate medication needs.
- Interdisciplinary Pain Programs, new groups, tributes, and more.
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March 2010 Chronicle
In this issue:
- How can we explain to health professionals and others what it means to live with chronic pain?
- ACPA facilitators discuss how they break through the barriers that obstruct clear communications. Learn about the messages we send out about pain, sometimes without meaning to.
- Understanding the difference between responsible opioid use and addiction.
- Researchers look at how children can manage their pain through online tools.
- Also, a study of controlled substance medication management agreements used by physicians, hypnosis for chronic pain management and more.
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December 2009 Chronicle
In this issue:
- The ACPA helps people with pain connect with the resources they need for medical, financial and legal assistance. Specific organizations are listed and described, with Web sites and phone numbers.
- ACPA facilitators talk about how support group members help each other with guidance and references to helpful sources of information.
- How nutrition can decrease chronic inflammation and help manage pain.
- How to be aware of the dangers and take steps to avoid complications, thoughts to keep in mind if returning to the doctor after you've been healthy for a long time and more.
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September 2009 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Penney Cowan reveals why men need to pay attention to what their bodies are saying, and why we are devoting this issue to how men live with pain.
- Men are taught to ignore bumps and bruises, life lessons that make it hard for them to communicate about chronic pain.
- ACPA facilitators talk about being in the minority at support groups, and how they have learned that it’s OK to show pain.
- Research shows that men and women approach and manage pain differently and more.
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June 2009 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Penney Cowan and ACPA work to help farmers and ranchers with pain through AgrAbility.
- Giving farmers the tools they need to cope with pain improves their quality of life.
- People with pain who work in agriculture tell their stories.
- How service dogs are being trained to help farmers.
- Proper disposal of prescription drugs, comparative effectiveness research (CER), a medical update regarding a new campaign promoting the safe use of methadone, and more.
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March 2009 Chronicle
In this issue:
- Exploring myths and truths about medication
- ACPA Members discuss how they manage their medications and keep their pills safe from abuse.
- Health professionals review prescription precautions.
- Navigating the insurance maze, agencies that can help you manage your health care plan an more.
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