If you are reading this, you may already be WELL AWARE of pain.

Pain Awareness Month, truthfully, is directed at the general public and all of the health care providers, as well as family members of those who suffer from pain.

The messages of Pain Awareness Month:

The Cost of Pain:

• Did you know that chronic pain affects 100 million Americans, more than cancer and heart disease combined?
• Chronic pain is a leading cause of employee absenteeism.

The Impact of Pain on Quality of Life:

• Pain can adversely impact a person, and limit their ability to work, to socialize and to form and maintain good relationships with family and friends.
• Pain sufferers also report poor sleep, which exacerbates their pain and ability to function.
• Pain and depression often co-exist.
• Pain and anxiety can also co-exist.

Not Everybody Understands Pain:

• Many health care providers “don’t get” pain, underestimating its intensity or impact.
• Prescription pain management and proper use of prescription medication complicates the treatment of pain.

Ways to celebrate this month:

• Share your pain story with others. Tell those who don’t understand pain how you cope, what works and what your struggles are. Your goal is to educate those around you about this seemingly invisible illness. Make it visible!
• Take time to take care of yourself. Lead your friends and neighbors in a restorative walk. Host a healthy potluck. Get together with pain sufferers and non-pain sufferers to share how you get through tough times.
• Take time to learn, taking advantage of resources on our website as well as with our knowledgeable staff. We can recommend lots of websites, books and magazines that we trust.

You are more than your pain. But your pain deserves to be acknowledged and treated.