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.

• Medtronic Foundation Makes Donation
  1/25/2010
  Medtronic Foundation Makes Donation
  on Behalf of Global Hero Dennis Houghton
  
  The Medtronic Foundation recently donated $1,000 to the American Chronic Pain Association on behalf of Medtronic Global Hero Dennis Houghton. Houghton has a pacemaker to treat a heart arrhythmia and was chosen by the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon to be part of its 2009 class of 25 Global Heroes, after a worldwide search for runners whose lives have been improved with the help of medical devices
  
  
• Pain Survey of Older Adults
  11/3/2009
  The Alliance for Aging Research commissioned a nationwide survey of 800 U.S. adults age 65 and older to better understand their attitudes, perceptions and concerns regarding age-related pain management and changes under consideration by the FDA to over-the-counter acetaminophen products. Clarus Research Group conducted the survey on behalf of the Alliance for Aging Research between September 14 and September 18, 2009. Click below for complete survey or go to: http://www.agingresearch.org/content/article/detail/2442 to read the complete survey
  
  
• Disposal by Flushing of Certain Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
  10/14/2009
  Medicines play an important role in treating certain conditions and diseases, but they must be taken with care. Unused portions of these medicines must be disposed of properly to avoid harm. Almost all medicines can be thrown away in the household trash after mixing them with some unpalatable substance (e.g., coffee grounds) and sealing them in a container.
  
  However, certain medicines may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal in a single dose if they are used by someone other than the person the medicine was prescribed for.
  
  
  
• FDA Takes Action on Darvon, Other Pain Medications Containing Propoxyphene
  7/7/2009
  FDA notified healthcare professionals that it is taking several actions to reduce the risk of overdose in patients using pain medications that contain propoxyphene because of data linking propoxyphene and fatal overdoses.
  
  
• Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
  5/12/09
  The National Fibromyalgia Association’s theme for the 2009 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day campaign is “Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone” and will focus on the far-reaching effects of this disorder—from broken lives to the economic costs to patients and society.
  
  Visit the National Fibromyalgia Association at http://www.fmaware.org to learn more.
  
  
• ACPA Consumer Guide to Pain Medication and Treatments
  January 4, 2010
  The ACPA believes that people with chronic pain benefit from being well informed about their medications. This knowledge may relieve the fears that can interfere with receiving maximum benefits from medications.This supplement is not meant to serve as medical advice for your condition or regarding your medication needs. Remember that the best source of information about your health and medication needs is from an open dialogue with your treating doctor
  
  
• Follow Directions: How to Use Methadone Safely
  5/31/09
  Follow Directions: How to Use Methadone Safely – is designed to reach treatment programs and patients, and consumers to help educate them about the safe use of methadone
  
  
• House passed the Pain Care Policy Act of 2009
  3/30/2009
  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 2009 is designed to address many of these barriers by improving pain care research, education, training, access, outreach and care.
  
  
• Pain QuickAlert
  February 27, 2009
  Coalition of Pain Experts Offers Guidance on Measures to Prevent Misuse and Abuse of Pain Medications; Calls for Treating Chronic Pain as a Chronic Disease
  
  
• Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR)
  02/01/2009
  Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) is pleased to announce the launch of a pain fund to serve patients suffering with chronic pain, beginning on February 1, 2009.
  
  
• Fibromyalgia PSA
  12/17/2008
  The First Lady of Idaho, Lori Otter has partnered with the ACPA to create a public service announcement on managing chronic pain. Click the link below to view.
  
  View the PSA
  
  
• Follow-Up From Your Visit
  December 9, 2008
  It is important that after your appointment with your doctor you follow through with what was discussed during your visit. The ACPA Follow-Up tool provides you with this simple guide to ensure that you complete all the treatments/advice/ recommendations. Keep in mind that you play a significant role in your health care.
  
  
• When Good Medicines Become Bad Drugs
  October 29, 2008
  A very successful webcast on October 22, facilitated by General Barry McCaffrey, When Good Medicines Become Bad Drugs, led panelists through a robust and insightful discussion about the safe and appropriate use of prescription opioid pain medications. An archive of the webcast is available: www.goodmedicinesbaddrugs.com.
  
  
• House of Representatives passed HR 2994, The National Pain Care Act
  9/24/08
  The Pain Care Act is designed to improve research, training, education and outreach for pain care. For more infomration and the text of HR 2994 click below.
  
  
• Sweeping Veterans Mental Health Bill Now Law
  October 27 2008
  SWEEPING VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH BILL NOW LAW
  Akaka’s legislation was inspired by first-hand accounts from veterans and their families.
  
  
• September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State
  August 21, 2008
  For the 5th consecutive year, For Grace has sponsored a resolution proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. This year we worked with Senator Carole Migden (D-3rd District) who authored and introduced the resolution, SR 33, for us yesterday.
  
  
  
• OPIOID AVAILABILITY ON-LINE COURSE ANNOUNCED
  Aug 12, 2008
  The Pain & Policy Studies Group is pleased to announce our new on-line course
  Increasing Patient Access to Pain Medicines around the World:
  A Framework to Improve National Policies that Govern Drug Distribution
  
  
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicines: A Guide for Adults
  June 2008
  This guide can help you work with your doctor or nurse to find a medicine for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is a lifelong condition. RA causes inflammation (swelling, redness, and pain) that can damage the joints. No treatment can cure RA. But the drugs in this guide can slow down the disease and help you feel better.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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
  
  
• NEW GLOBAL SURVEY SHOWS EFFECTIVE PATIENT-PHYSICIAN COMMUNICATION
  March 2007
  CRITICAL TO ACCURATE AND TIMELY RECOGNITION OF NEUROPATHIC PAIN
  
  
• 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).
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Proclamations Tool Kit
  The goal is to obtain a Governor’s Proclamation declaring September 2005 as Pain Awareness Month.
  
  
• 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
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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
  
  
• 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!
  
  
• Living with Pain
  September 2006
  
  

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