Tens of thousands of people across the country live with daily chronic pain. It's often referred to as the invisible illness. But while your pain may go unnoticed by others, its impact can be enormous. During the entire month of September, organizations join hands to raise awareness, and reduce stigma, about living with pain and pain management. Events (both virtual and in-real-life) are held across the country. Blue ribbons and signs promoting Pain Awareness Month will appear and dozens of landmarks and well-known buildings—from the New Orleans Superdome to Los Angeles International Airport—choose one day to be bathed in blue light as part of the Beautify in Blue initiative to spread the word. Pain Awareness Month is supported by a number of patient advocacy organizations, including the U.S. Pain Foundation, American Chronic Pain Association, and the multi-organization Partners for Understanding Pain.
How did Pain Awareness Month begin?
Pain Awareness Month began in 2001, as an effort by the American Chronic Pain Association, who partnered with several organizations to form the Partners for Understanding Pain. The purpose of Pain Awareness Month is to raise awareness through the power of mass media, public forums, and other platforms and to shine a spotlight on how pervasive chronic pain is. The ultimate goal, of course, is to develop more effective treatments and management techniques. In recent years, social media, of course, has made an impact on raising awareness. As part of Pain Awareness Month, the American Chronic Pain Association (@TheACPA) launched a #giveasquat4pain campaign. This campaign encourages people to hold a squat for as long as they can to help raise awareness.
What can you do to get involved?
There are many ways you can spread the word about Pain Awareness Month. Participating in, or sharing posts featuring, the #giveasquat4pain campaign across social media is certainly a creative way to get involved. In addition, you can:
- Make sure your family and friends know it's Pain Awareness Month
- Call your local government and community leaders and let them know why it's important to you that they know September is Pain Awareness Month. They are often at the frontlines of determining how the medical field responds to and treats chronic pain
- Contact your local media outlets and ask them if they plan on covering Pain Awareness Month
- Take time to care for yourself. Evaluate your current pain management plan, and make sure you know all of your options
Here at Southern Pain & Neurological, with clinics in Marrero, Metairie, and Covington, we are wholly committed to ensuring the public, as a whole, is aware of the impact chronic pain has on our neighbors throughout the region. We also remain committed to providing our patients with the most effective, and least invasive, treatment options to help them improve their quality of life. We encourage you to contact us today to learn more about Pain Awareness Month, or to schedule a consultation.