MySpace a place for friends

"RSDS and Chronic Pain Support Group"
Grand Rapids, Michigan

This link will take you to the
ABC News OnCall+ Pain Management Center.
Find answers to the most pressing questions on pain
management answered by the nation's top medical experts
from the country's most prestigious medical centers.

For inspiration and good advice, just click on the
PHOENIX Body, Mind & Soul Magazine image
ALSO...they have a MySpace page.

NEXT MEETING...

All are welcome...

Meetings are held the 2nd Monday of every month
from 7PM - 9PM
at the Kent Community Hospital
Spectrum Health Hospital
750 Fuller Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
1st Floor Meeting Room
*there are bright orange signs
just follow them to the meeting room*

Hosted by Sherry and Cliff
616-364-4014

This just in from Cliff and Sherry
"I just took action on an issue that I consider very important.
I urge you and people you know to take action and spread the word!"

To take action on this issue, click on the link below:
The Anerican Pain Foundation
National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 (S. 3387)

Pain Facts & Figures
Incidence of Pain, as Compared to Major Conditions

A hallmark of many chronic conditions, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.

Sources:
Pain – 76.2 million people, National Centers for Health Statistics
Diabetes – 20.8 million people (diagnosed and estimated undiagnosed), American Diabetes Association
Coronary Heart Disease (including heart attack and chest pain) and Stroke – 18.7 million people, American Heart Association
Cancer – 1.4 million people, American Cancer Society


Incidence
More than one-quarter of Americans (26%) age 20 years and over - or, an estimated 76.5 million Americans - report that they have had a problem with pain of any sort that persisted for more than 24 hours in duration.
[NOTE: this number does not account for acute pain].
Adults age 45-64 years were the most likely to report pain lasting more than 24 hours (30%).
Twenty-five percent (25%) of young adults age 20-44 reported pain, and adults age 65 and over were the least likely to report pain (21%).
More women (27.1%) than men (24.4%) reported that they were in pain.
Non-Hispanic white adults reported pain more often than adults of other races and ethnicities (27.8% vs. 22.1% Black only or 15.3% Mexican).
Adults living in families with income less than twice the poverty level reported pain more often than higher income adult.

Duration
Adults 20 years of age and over who report pain said that it lasted:
Less than one month – 32%
One to three months – 12%
Three months to one year – 14%
Longer than one year – 42%


The Burden of Pain on Every Day Life
The annual cost of chronic pain in the United States, including healthcare expenses, lost income, and lost productivity, is estimated to be $100 billion.

More than half of all hospitalized patients experienced pain in the last days of their lives and although therapies are present to alleviate most pain for those dying of cancer, research shows that 50-75% of patients die in moderate to severe pain.

An estimated 20% of American adults (42 million people) report that pain or physical discomfort disrupts their sleep a few nights a week or more.


Commonly-Reported Pain Conditions
When asked about four common types of pain, respondents of a National Institute of Health Statistics survey indicated that low back pain was the most common (27%),
followed by severe headache or migraine pain (15%),
neck pain (15%) and facial ache or pain (4%).

Also...
An estimated 70% of those with cancer experience significant pain during their illness, yet fewer than half receive adequate treatment for their pain.

An estimated 46 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia.

By 2030, an estimated 67 million of Americans aged 18 years or older will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

Painful knees and hips are common symptoms among older adults, with about 30% of adults 65 years of age and over reporting knee pain or stiffness in the past 30 days and 15% reporting hip pain or stiffness.

In 2003, knee replacement surgery was estimated to cost the nation $11.9 billion and hip replacement $12.2 billion.

Osteoarthritis is the most common diagnosis associated with knee and nonfracture hip replacement procedures – 97% of knee replacements and almost 70% of nonfracture hip replacements in 2003-2004 were for patients with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

As many as 6% of all men and up to 18% of all women
(about 12% of the population as a whole) have experienced a migraine headache.

Migraine, jaw and lower facial pain (TMD/TMJ) account for over 25 million pain suffers, many of who treat themselves with over-the-counter medications.
Many pain sufferers take over-the-counter pain relievers for 5-10 years despite label warnings.


Disparities in Pain Care
African Americans and Hispanics are affected by racial profiling for diversion and under-treatment by some physicians.
This is compounded by a lack of research on pain across racial and ethnic differences, as well as cultural attitudes toward pain care.

In one study, more than 80% of African American patients and 80% of Hispanic patients waited until their pain severity was a 10 on a 10-point scale before calling their health care provider or oncology clinic for assistance with pain management.

Elders are among the most undertreated for pain.
Of the community-dwelling elder population, 25-50% can expect to suffer pain.
Among institutionalized elders, 71-83% report at least one pain problem.

Unfortunately, under-treatment of pain in the pediatric population is worse than that for adults, including elders.
Only recently has the FDA required new medications be evaluated for efficacy and safety in the pediatric population.
In one study, 65% of children younger than 2 years old went without pain medications compared to 48% of older children up to 10 years.

Gender is also a bias in pain assessment and treatment.
Women seek help for pain more frequently than men, but are less likely to receive treatment.
Physicians often assume either that women can handle more pain or that they are exaggerating the level of pain they experience.
Women are more likely to be given sedatives for their pain while men are more likely to be given analgesics.

Historically, the medical literature has portrayed women as hysterical and oversensitive.
By extension, physicians often view women’s statements as emotional, rather than objective.
In one study of patients with chronic pain, female patients were more likely than their male counterparts to be diagnosed with histrionic disorder, excessive emotionality, and attention-seeking behavior.

Studies of VA patients show that the pain of veterans is significantly worse than that of the general public.
A higher incidence of pain in veterans was anticipated compared with the general public because of the greater exposure to trauma and psychological stress,
both of which increase pain and compound therapy.




Manage Your Pain
Why is managing your pain important?
Persistent pain can interfere with your enjoyment of life. It can make it hard to sleep, work, socialize with friends and family and accomplish everyday tasks.
When your ability to function is limited, you may become less productive.
You may also find yourself avoiding hobbies and other activities that normally bring you happiness in order to prevent further injury or pain.
Ongoing pain can cause you to lose your appetite, feel weak and depressed.
Try not to allow your physical illness or pain to take over your life.
Pain is a part of you, but it is not YOU.
It is not who you are.
Managing your pain is an important step to reclaim your life and ensure it does not control you.

SO......

Hello folks,

For those interested in federal advocacy:

This year for the first time, the federally mandated ICDR is utilizing an innovative Web-based approach to collect online disability research comments to assist in developing a federal disability and rehabilitation 2010 research agenda.
Sign up to submit your recommendations on what you believe are critical research issues related to disability.
Recommendations will be accepted March 27-April 17, 2009.

This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link:
DisabillityInfo.gov

Follow updates to DisabilityInfo.gov at:
Disabilitygov's Twitter page

This information and video regaurding
The National Pain Care Act of 2009
is being posted here for your approval.
Be informed, be impowered.



American Pain Fondation/Pain Care Act

American Pain Fondation/Take Action Now

American Pain Fondation/How to Get Involved

National Pain Care Policy Act Petition

National Pain Care Act of 2009 Now in the Senate



We had discussions about this bill.
While all of us agreed that for over 78 million Americans living life in pain,
(this is 1 out of 4 people)
is not an easy task AND being over looked has been frustrating.

Most concerns had to do with the ever growing new "pain clinics" popping up all over America and how they handle pain this new bill.

Some in our group expressed that going to their current doctors has been just fine and didn't want to go through anymore extreme change in their current therapies.
Everybody id differnt.

Some asked about medical marijuana and if that was going to be addressed.
(locally, Michigan passed a new Medical Marijuana Law)
For your own questions, check out the links we have here and if you know of any others, please let us know.

Ask the doctor who is currently managing your pain to see how this will affect your situation.
(and your doctors situation)

Be informed, be impowered.

Then write your congressman to let your voice be heard.
















To: All individuals and organizations who care about access to pain
care in America.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION!

Correction: We made a mistake in the Alert we sent yesterday by
identifying the FDA as the "Federal Drug Administration"
instead of the "Food and Drug Administration." We apologize for the
error. Please forward this alert to your networks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may remove important pain
medications from the market or could very likely limit access to certain
pain medications that are currently legally prescribed to millions of
Americans suffering from pain.

The FDA needs to hear how vital access to these medications is to people
with pain and what tragic results could occur if they were denied access
to these medications or if additional barriers were created making
access more difficult for people who are legally prescribed these
medications.

ACTION REQUESTED

Send a letter to the FDA sharing your story about how their decisions
would impact you or your loved one. The FDA MUST receive your letters
by Tuesday, June 30th, so don't delay.

Please review the following to assist in your letter writing and to
provide further information on the issue:

* Frequently Asked Questions
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=og_P3K-vOP74ABfSavk1aA..

* Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Consumer Talking Points
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=O5XUb9skMwU1H2nBSgbBww..

* American Pain Foundation's Position Statement on REMS
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=6gPxzilVr6sXEs1Lt1TstQ..

* American Pain Foundation's Recommendations on REMS
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=e0HfoO8ny_K86fWVIltwVQ..

Please Note: All letters sent electronically or through the mail must
clearly include the following information at the top of your
letter: Docket No. FDA-2009-N-0143. Please send a copy of your letter to
advocacy@painfoundation.org so we also can have an opportunity to hear
your commentary.

Click here to go directly to the FDA comment submission page to submit
your letter electronically or mail your letters to:
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=7WMxzYmvj1UWwLYadmhLIQ..

Division of Dockets Management (HFA305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Testimony of Pain Advocates at FDA Hearing, May 27th and 28th. These
testimonies may also help you write your letter.

* Mark Maginn
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=XTeOJg5M74apJw9rg9rrpw..

* Carolyn Noel
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=_BorF5f02AMgzH_h9zI0KQ..

* Teresa Shaffer
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=7l2x4EpMom7ONG54e4GR4g..

* Mary Vargas
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=LpLQm7pGi_bEst5sB9OG9w..

FDA's REMS Information
http://action.painfoundation.org/site/R?i=rQU0E9_5o218Rr9FNMPo2g..

THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING YOUR LETTER AND ALLOWING YOUR VOICE TO BE
HEARD!

Sincerely,

American Pain Foundation