Ed. Note:  The following is a press release from 3 pain advocacy groups (see end of release)

Pain Advocacy Groups Offer Help in Understanding the Changing Medication Environment

ROCKLIN, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- 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steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications have been withdrawn from the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.  Some
providers, fearing litigation, have stopped prescribing needed medications.
These events are creating fear and confusion about what's safe and effective
for treating pain.
    For many people with pain, the medications now under fire make the
difference between productivity and disability. Losing a medication that keeps
pain at manageable levels is highly distressing -- some people have said they
would rather live 10 years in relative comfort with medication than to suffer
through 20 without.  But many also worry about the risks.
    Now, three leading pain advocacy organizations are joining forces to
provide support, information, and resources to help people live with chronic
pain. 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.
    "We want people in pain to know that there are organizations out there
that understand their dilemma and can help," Mary Pat Aardrup, executive
director of the National Pain Foundation, notes. "They are not alone."
    The idea for a consumers' guide grew from the leaders of the three
organizations.  "People with pain are doubly burdened in the current climate,"
observes Penney Cowan, executive director of the American Chronic Pain
Association.  "In addition to the daily stresses of living with chronic pain,
they now must face difficult decisions about their care. In many cases, they
don't know where to turn for information and answers."
    The organizations will post the Consumer Guide on their web sites to
provide people with pain with sound information and resources to help them
make decisions about their care.  "The removal of certain drugs from the
market makes adequate pain care much harder to get. We are working diligently
at APF to combat this worsening trend," says Will Rowe, executive director of
the American Pain Foundation.

    More About the Guide
    A CONSUMER GUIDE TO OPTIONS FOR MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN offers an overview
of ways individuals can help themselves regain control over their situation,
learn about their own conditions, and communicate openly with their health
care professionals.  It also advises consumers to explore the full range of
pain management strategies.  Included are common questions and answers,
complete with links to organizations and resources that can provide additional
information.

    About the American Chronic Pain Association
    Since 1980, the American Chronic Pain Association has worked to help
individuals with chronic pain to regain a higher quality of life. The ACPA
provides peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and
their families so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their
pain and to raise public awareness about issues of living with chronic pain.
    Among the ACPA's activities are peer support groups for people with pain;
print and video materials that teach pain management skills, an informative
web site at http://www.theacpa.org/ public awareness outreach programs, such
as Partners for Understanding Pain, and a quarterly newsletter, the ACPA
Chronicle.  The ACPA is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

    About the National Pain Foundation
    Founded in 1998, The National Pain Foundation (NPF) is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization dedicated to educating, supporting and improving the
lives of patients in pain through its interactive, peer-reviewed Web site,
http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/.  The mission of the NPF is to be a
credible and highly effective resource to empower persons in pain to improve
their lives through education, advocacy, communication networks and community
participation.  The NPF website, http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/ offers
in-depth information on a variety of pain conditions and treatment options, an
online support community and monthly updates that include interviews with
experts and people living with pain and information about the latest treatment
options and research related to chronic pain.

    About the American Pain Foundation
    Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation is an independent nonprofit
501 (c)(3) organization serving people with pain through information and
support. The APF mission is to improve the quality of life for people
suffering from pain by:

     * raising public awareness; providing practical information;
     * promoting and advocating activities to remove barriers to care;
     * increasing access to effective pain management.

    The organization:
     * serves as a clearinghouse and resource center for people in pain, their
       families, and caregivers, the general public, healthcare professionals,
       policymakers, and the media.
     * promotes the recognition of pain as a critical healthcare issue;
       educates, and corrects damaging myths about pain and pain management;
       and seeks to remove the stigma often associated with people who
       experience pain.
     * advocates for changes in professional training; regulatory processes,
       and healthcare delivery systems to ensure that people with pain have
       high quality care.
     * encourages healthcare professionals to assess pain routinely and
       provide immediate, ongoing, and effective management.
     * mobilizes a national movement of organizations and individuals about
       better pain management.

 

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