News and Features

Keeping up to date on new developments in pain management is an important part of taking responsibility for your own wellbeing. The ACPA will post items here that can help you stay informed or simply brighten your day.

• Board of Medicine in Iowa has adopted amendments to pain treatment practices
  4-25-08
  Standards of Practice and Principles of Medical Ethics
  
  
• Board of Medicine in Iowa has adopted amendments to pain treatment practices
  4-25-08
  Standards of Practice and Principles of Medical Ethics
  
  
• Children of Chronic Pain parents needed for study.
  03/20/2008
  Participants are needed for a research study conducted by Kent State University College of Nursing to explore the impact of growing up with a parent who experienced chronic non-cancer pain. To be eligible for the study, you must: (1) be 18 to 24 years of age; (2) live currently in the Cleveland-Akron, Ohio area, and; (3) have lived and grown up with a parent experiencing chronic pain. You will be asked to participate in a 1 to 2 hour confidential interview, which will be conducted in your community. Study participants will receive $35.00 reimbursement for their time.
  
  
• Relieving Pain With Abuse-Resistant Drugs
  2/27/2008
  CBS) For many Americans, drug abuse is a painful fact of life. And pain is often the cause. By one estimate, more than 33 million Americans have abused prescription pain killers. For the second part of the series, Easing the Pain, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook examines new prescription pain killers that are designed to prevent abuse.
  
  
• On behalf of the ACPA, this letter about access to care for Fibromyalgia was recently sent to Coventry Health Care
  2/18/2008
  People with fibromyalgia often live from minute to minute because the pain is so intense they cannot function. It seems inconceivable that in today’s world of rising medical cost that treatment that could very well reduce reliance on the medical system, would be delayed while individual suffering increases.
  
  
• Coventry Health Care delays the use of medications that could speed up the recovery process and increase functioning for people with fibromyalgia
  2/18/2008
  People with fibromyalgia often live from minute to minute because the pain is so intense they cannot function. It seems inconceivable that in today’s world of rising medical cost that treatment that could very well reduce reliance on the medical system, would be delayed while individual suffering increases.
  
  
• Coventry Health Care delays the use of medications that could speed up the recovery process and increase functioning for people with fibromyalgia
  2/18/2008
  People with fibromyalgia often live from minute to minute because the pain is so intense they cannot function. It seems inconceivable that in today’s world of rising medical cost that treatment that could very well reduce reliance on the medical system, would be delayed while individual suffering increases.
  
  
• Consumers' Guide: Practice Guidelines for Low Back Pain
  2/06/2008
  Today doctors rely on the current research to determine sound therapies for individual patients. Doctors make the best decisions when they are based on the best evidence and tailored according to individual patient factors, patient preferences, and other considerations such as the availability of therapies and costs. This is called Evidence Based Medicine or EBM. EBM provides a balanced way to explore the best treatment for a patient by looking at all the factors that can provide relief. To read the guideliens, click below.
  
  
• ACPA Chronic Pain Medication Supplement 2008
  1/14/2008
  Staying current with the prescription, over-the counter and alternative medications currently available can be a challenge. This supplement to the ACPA Manual can help keep both consumers and caregivers informed.
  
  
• Shingles Sends Nearly 1 Million Americans to the Doctor
  1/9/08
  Shingles Sends Nearly 1 Million Americans to the Doctor
  Nearly 1 million Americans receive medical care for shingles or its complications, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
  
  
• Shingles Sends Nearly 1 Million Americans to the Doctor
  1/9/08
  Shingles Sends Nearly 1 Million Americans to the Doctor
  Nearly 1 million Americans receive medical care for shingles or its complications, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
  
  
• Policy Evaluation Resources for the Practitioner
  1/2/08
  Policy Evaluation Resources for the Practitioner
  An article, titled “Improving state pain policies: Recent progress and continuing opportunities,” was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. This article presents recent results from the PPSG’s national policy evaluation project, and describes how practitioners can use each state’s findings to inform and guide state-level efforts to improve policies affecting appropriate pain management and patient care. The article is available at http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/reprint/57/6/341.
  
  
  
• Patients with Chronic Pain in the Emergency Department: Short-Term Satisfaction, Long-Term Room for Improvement in the Health Care System
  11/30/2007
  A recent survey conducted by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) reveals that while most people with chronic pain who come to the emergency department are satisfied with the care they receive, gaps remain in the larger health care system for this group of patients.
  
  
• Polyanalgesic Consensus Panel's newest guidelines
  11/29/07
  
  
• PainBalance
  October 2007
  PainBalance™ is a comprehensive educational initiative designed to provide quality education, practical tools and current information and resources to support appropriate care for all patients with pain and the clinicians who care for them.
  
  
• The manufacturer of FENTORA issued a safety information letter on September 13, 2007 regarding use of this product.
  
  
• Better Information for You
  August 2007
  Over the past few years, academics and policy makers are increasingly focused on developing better information for clinical decision-making, ensuring the translation of research to a variety of audiences, including patient, and considering changes to the d
  
  
• Pain Care Act 2007
  July 2007
  Pain is the most common reason Americans access the health care system and is a leading contributor to health care costs. Pain is also a leading cause of disability. Most painful conditions can be relieved with proper treatment, and providing adequate pain management is a crucial component of improving and maintaining quality of life for patients, survivors, and their loved ones. Yet people in pain often face significant barriers that can prevent proper assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of their pain. The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007 is designed to address many of these barriers by improving pain care research, education, training, access, outreach and care.
  
  
• AgrAbility Project Helps Farmers and Ranchers with Disabilities and Chronic Health Conditions Find Solutions that Change Their Lives
  June 2007
  Every year, hundreds of thousands of people working in agriculture are injured or experience the on-set of chronic health conditions that limit their abilities to continue farming.
  
  
• NEW GLOBAL SURVEY SHOWS EFFECTIVE PATIENT-PHYSICIAN COMMUNICATION
  March 2007
  CRITICAL TO ACCURATE AND TIMELY RECOGNITION OF NEUROPATHIC PAIN
  
  
• Chronic Pain Study
  May 2007
  CHRONIC PAIN STUDY
  needs
  Study Participants
  who experience chronic pain
  that is constant and associated with
  a musculoskeletal or neurological condition.
  
  
  
• CHRONIC PAIN STUDY
  May 2007
  CHRONIC PAIN STUDY
  needs
  Study Participants
  who experience chronic pain
  that is constant and associated with
  a musculoskeletal or neurological condition.
  
  
  
• 2007 Task Force on Aging Research Funding
  April 2007
  Urges Congress and the President to
  Uphold a National Commitment to Medical Research
  Calls for 6.7% increase in NIH funding for FY 2008
  
  
• Diagnosis Often Takes a Year or More Even After Seeing a Physician
  March 2007
  A new seven-country global survey reveals that effective patient-physician communication is key to earlier, accurate diagnosis and treatment for patients with neuropathic pain (NeP).
  
  
• Osteoporosis Consumer Guide PDF
  February 2007
  
  
• Breakthrough Pain
  October 2006
  Do you feel that your daily pain is fairly well controlled, yet still find there are times when you experience a sudden flare of pain that “breaks through”? These flares are called breakthrough pain or BTP. Read more.
  
  
• Living with Pain
  September 2006
  
  
• Tool Kit for Older Adults
  On September 12, on the occasion of the Global Day Against Pain in Older Persons, an initiative of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Partners have developed a tool kit to for older adults, caregivers and health care providers. Click on the PDF to view the kit.
  
  
• Conversations Before the Crisis - CCMNY
  
  
• Pick-A-Proxy - CCMNY
  
  
• Taking Meds pamphlet from APhA
  
  
• My Drug and Supplement Diary - AGS
  
  
• Life Care Planning - CCMNY
  
  
• End of Life Care - The Patient Educatin Forum
  
  
• Diabetic Neuropathy - AGS
  
  
• Dementia and Pain Assessment - AGS
  
  
• Daily Pain Diary - AGS
  
  
• Arthritis Pain - The Patient Education Forum
  
  
• Acupunture - The Patient Education Forum
  
  
• Depression Screening
  August 2006
  People who suffer from depression tend to focus on the emotional pain they suffer from – often complaining of feeling blue, empty or hopeless. But for many, physical pain can be a symptom of depression. In fact, 69 percent of patients with major depression reported physical symptoms as their chief complaint.
  
  
• September is Pain Awareness month in California
  For Grace, for the third consecutive year, has authored a resolution (SR 34) with the sponsorship of State Senator Liz Figueroa proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in California. September, due to the efforts of Partners for Understanding Pain, has now been recognized . nationwide as the month to acknowledge pain as a major health issue in the country.
  
  
• Pain Log
  Many things can affect your pain. These include stress, sleep, money worries, and even the weather.
  
  
• Grass Roots Action Kit
  Supporting the Pain Care Policy Act (House Bill 1020) at the grassroots level. For more information, click on the PDF file. Your voice counts!
  
  
• APS Flyer
  June 2006
  The constant threat of physical pain is difficult for anyone to deal with, but particularly so for young adults. To help adolescent learn to cope with their pain, the ACPA is forming a support group for children and teenagers in chronic pain. Maggie Chesnut, age 16, from New York State, has offered to be the group coordinator.
  
  Maggie believes that chronically ill youth need a forum to express themselves and share information. Any young person who wants to learn to stay mentally and physically healthy, and teach others to understand disease, can join this youth community
  
  
• Too Many Trips to the Emergency Room
  May 2006
  People with pain often have more experience with the emergency department than they would like. And that experience is not always good.
  
  The ACPA conducted an on-line survey about this experience and presented a poster of findings at the recent APS meeting. Here is a story about the finding from UPI.
  
  
• Pain Care Policy Act of 2005
  A tool kit to help you support HR 1020, the Pain Care Policy Act of 2005.
  
  
• Acpa Wallet Card
  March 2006
  Here’s a handy way to keep track of your medications and communications with your doctors. Print and fill out this MedCard from ACPA and keep it in your wallet. You can order additional copies by calling 800.533.3231. A special thanks to Robin Earp, Regional Director, Texas for providing the idea for the card! Click to view card.
  
  
• NEW SURVEY REVEALS EMERGING “LIFESTYLE OF PAIN” IN AMERICA
  May 2004
  First survey of its kind to benchmark people with pain’s attitudes toward the condition
  
  
• National Institutes of Health pain-related research
  January 2006
  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is pleased to submit a statement for the record with respect to pain-related research at the NIH, including trans-NIH activities of the NIH Pain Consortium.
  
  
• Fast Track
  A national initiative supported by The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  
  
• Mental Health Diagnostic and Treatment Aids
  November 2005
  Free, downloadable mental health diagnostic and treatment aids available through the nonprofit organization Screening for Mental Health (SMH).
  
  
• Comprehensive Integrated Education Program for Pain Management Professionals
  September 2005
  New Chronic Pain Network Offers Comprehensive Integrated Education Program for Pain Management Professionals.
  
  
• The Role of Nurses in Palliative Care
  June 2005
  Hear from an expert panel of nurse leaders who will share practical insights into areas of key interest to all nurses in palliative care.
  
  
• Proclamations Tool Kit
  The goal is to obtain a Governor’s Proclamation declaring September 2005 as Pain Awareness Month.
  
  
• A Consumer Guide to Options for Managing Chronic Pain
  May 5, 2005
  Pain is in the news and not always in ways the 50 million Americans living with pain might hope. Two COX-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications have been withdrawn from the market and the FDA has mandated more stringent warnings on all NSAIDS. For many people with pain, the medications now under fire make the difference between productivity and disability. But many also worry about the risks.
  
  The American Chronic Pain Association, the National Pain Foundation, and the American Pain Foundation have created A CONSUMER GUIDE TO OPTIONS FOR MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN. The guide answers key questions about recent developments and offers support for people with pain and the challenges they face.
  
  
• On-line advocacy center
  September 2005
  The American Pain Foundation has launched an on-line advocacy center
  
  
• How to Make the Most of Your Visit
  January 2005
  
  
• Neuropathic Pain Impacts Over 15 Million People in Europe and the U.S. Alone
  October 2004
  
  

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