September is Pain Awareness Month

In 2001, the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) declared and ran the first Pain Awareness Month in September. Since then, the tradition has carried on every year, raising awareness for different types of pain that we experience daily. The purpose of Pain Awareness Month is not only to help the general public realize how widespread general pain is, but to educate on what to do with pain, as well as help raise funds for curing different types of pain. It is a unified movement to improve treatments and relax the suffering felt by those experiencing pain.

When this tradition first started, the ACPA joined 80 organizations together in a coalition called Partners for Understanding Pain. These groups involved medical professionals, community organizers, pain specialists, and a variety of consumer groups. Since then, the movement has grown, and every September a countless number of businesses are involved with Pain Awareness Month.

Why is pain so important to address?

• When you experience pain, that is a signal from your body that something needs attention. Ignoring pain means ignoring a potential issue that could transform into something medically serious.
• Pain Awareness Month puts a particular focus on chronic pain, which is experienced by 100 million Americans.
• Many of these same people are affected in their everyday life due to that pain.

Besides Chronic Pain, Pain Awareness Month also addresses the following branches of pain that people experience:

• Back pain: At some point in their life, eight out of ten people may find themselves suffering from back pain. Considering how much of our daily lives risk the healths of our spine, such as slouching at work or lifting heavy objects improperly, it’s no surprise that back pain is so common.
• Headaches: Headaches can mean more than just an annoying tickle at the back of your head. The amount of headache types one can experience ranges in the dozens, and painful migraines caused by poor diet and stress can stop someone in their daily routine.
• Arthritis: Many people associate arthritis with painful joints, but it also means an autoimmune disease. At the moment, there does not appear to be a solid cure for arthritis, and though it is normally associated with older patients, children are still vulnerable to the disease.

How can you raise awareness?

Participating in Pain Awareness month is easy, get involved in whatever way is comfortable for you. For some, that may simply mean discussing Pain Awareness Month with friends and family, and agreeing on what you can do together to improve your daily routines to reduce pains. For others, community service or helping with local events may feel like a better fit.

Most importantly, make an effort to take care of yourself. If you are experiencing pain in New Jersey and are looking for the best treatment, contact us at Garden State Pain to request an appointment.