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Pain Monitor
June 2006
THE NEWS
 Food and Drug Administration Licenses New Vaccine to Reduce Older Americans’ Risk of Shingles
The FDA has licensed Zostavax, a new vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles (herpes zoster) for use in people 60 years of age and older.
Novel Research Points to Promising Relief Target for Chronic Pain
New research appearing in the Journal of Neurophysiology reported that the place to look is between the nerves that are producing the pain and the spine, rather than from the spine to the brain.
Chronic Pain Hurts Both Workers and Employers
Wayne Hochwarter, an associate professor of management in Florida State University's College of Business, has conducted several studies to examine the role of chronic pain on work factors such as job stress, employee performance and organizational profitability. He found that social stigmas and job fears help mask the true size of the problem.
 Global Problem Of Adherence To Osteoporosis Treatment Puts Lives At Risk And Costs Billions
A new report from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) details for the first time the global implications and significant personal, social and economic costs associated with women not staying on their osteoporosis treatment.
Combining Mainstream, Alternative Therapies Brings Back Pain Relief
Used together, conventional and complementary/alternative treatments help patients ease their low back pain better than using mainstream treatment alone.
Knee Replacement: Surgery Can Relieve Pain
Knee replacement surgery can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints.
Study Suggests Tension Headache May Actually Be TMJD
People whose recurrent headaches have been diagnosed as tension-related actually may be suffering from temporomandibular muscle and joint disorder, or TMJD.
People Who Have Trigeminal Neuralgia Know the Depths of Chronic Pain
A little known disorder called trigeminal neuralgia causes severe facial pain.
Military Online Program Screens for Mental Health Problems
The Department of Defense launched an online Mental Health Self-Assessment Program four months ago to help service members and their families screen for mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The confidential program, which is available 24/7 at no cost, is divided into subsections for depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse. The program reviews answers to questions about recent behavior and mood, and if a user's answers indicate a possible problem, it suggests options for seeking help.
 Scientists Look at Genetic Cause for IBS
Researchers found that nearly half of the close relatives of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome also said they were affected by the disorder.
Chronic Pain Syndrome Hits Women Harder
Being in pain isn’t easy and can place serious obstacles in your path. But for hundreds of thousands of Americans, mostly women, who suffer from a chronic pain syndrome known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD), the pain can be constant and excruciating, making it difficult to even get through the day.
Managing Chronic Pain Helps Arthritis Sufferers Stay Active
As joints deteriorate over time, it becomes more important for arthritis sufferers to learn how best to manage chronic pain.
Youth Overweight Increases Risk of Bone Fractures, Muscle and Joint Pain
Children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to suffer bone fractures and have joint and muscle pains, according to a study conducted at the National Institutes of Health.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Congressional Briefing On Pain Was A Success!!!
The Congressional Briefing on Pain, held June 13, 2006 on Capitol Hill, was attended by over 100 congressional staffers and pain advocates. The room was packed and over-flowing into the hall, as Rep. Mike Rogers, Rep. Charlie Norwood and featured speakers passionately shared the facts about pain, the personal and economic impact of this “silent epidemic,” and the critical need for federal pain policy and legislation. Click here for a full report.
THANK YOU to each and every one of you who responded to the Congressional Pain Briefing Alert! Over 2,000 of you responded and encouraged your Representatives to attend the briefing. BRAVO!
We want to know! Share with us how you’d like to get involved and ways you might be able to contribute your voice and skills to our joint efforts by completing our online Advocacy Survey. By completing the Advocacy Survey, your information will: provide valuable guidance for our efforts, let us know how you might like to be involved and assist in determining how to best target your advocacy interest and experience as it is needed on important issues. We welcome your participation and look forward to working with you!
APF NEWS
 Pain has taken away all of my independence…
We understand how much pain has affected your life whether you are the one with pain, the caregiver, family member or friend. Over a year ago we asked the question, “how has pain affected your independence?” and got many powerful replies (click here to read some of them). We think of this again as we approach Independence Day and reflect on the injustice of the undertreatment of pain in this country. At APF, we are not just reflecting however, we are taking action! In collaboration with others, we orchestrated a Congressional Briefing on June 13 to educate Congress on the impact of pain in this country, the loss of independence, the financial toll, the human toll. We brought your stories and explained the barriers to effective pain treatment, the research that needs to be done, and the education that needs to happen.
Support this and other efforts to take action against pain by donating to the American Pain Foundation. Secure online donations can be made by clicking here. If you prefer, you can mail your donation to: American Pain Foundation, 201 N. Charles Street, Suite 710, Baltimore, MD 21201. Contributions to the American Pain Foundation are tax-deductible. Look here for many more ways that you can help us in our efforts to eliminate the undertreatment of pain and help someone you love.
SCIENCE & MEDICINE
 Journal of Pain Medicine
The Journal of Pain Medicine is offering free access for a limited time to its May 2006 supplement focusing on neuromodulation/spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain conditions, including interstitial cystitis, pelvic pain, low back pain, facial pain, headaches and RSD. The issue also includes psychological considerations and the History of Electrical Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain.
Pain Management for Sickle Cell Disease (Abstract)
The primary aim of the article review was to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological analgesic interventions for pain management in sickle cell disease, including the treatment of acute and chronic pain in children and adults.
APF Hosts Information Series in APF Pain Monitor
APF started its question and answer section in January 2004 with articles addressing frequently asked questions about pain, answered by Dr. Scott Fishman. These articles originally appeared on the DiscoveryHealth web site.
Dr. Fishman has updated three documents, originally published on the APF website in 2004. Please review the new versions:
#12 Cox-2 Inhibitors
#17 Neurontin
#18 Glucosamine and Chondroitin
COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
 Music May Reduce Chronic Pain
Research published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing has confirmed that listening to music can have a significant positive impact on perception of chronic pain. The study also found that music helped people feel less disabled by their condition.
Hypnosis, Therapy May Help Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A new study indicates that short courses of hypnosis or cognitive therapy may help to reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Mastering Migraines
Can gentle, holistic healing methods really control a disease that affects 28 million Americans and costs their employers 13 billion dollars annually in lost worker productivity?
EN ESPANOL
Preguntas Frecuentes Acerca de Cistitis Intersticial
La cistitis intersticial es un problema cronico de la vejiga. Cerca de 750,000 estadounidenses tienen cistitis intersticial. La mayoria son mujeres...
FamilyDoctor.org http://familydoctor.org/e717.xml
Women's Health.gov http://womenshealth.gov/faq/spanish/intcyst.htm
Asociacion de Cistitis Intersticial http://www.ichelp.com/xit-es/LaCistitisIntersticialYLaDieta.html
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute has written A Consumer Guide For Getting and Keeping Health Insurance for each state and the District of Columbia. The consumer guides are available online and will be updated periodically as changes in federal and state policy warrant. The website offers links to news, reports and information resources to help handle disputes with health plans.
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 17-19, 2006
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Current Concepts in Palliative Care: Update and Review Course
Las Vegas, NV
September 7-10, 2006
17th Annual Clinical Meeting American Academy of Pain Management
Orlando, FL
September 11-12, 2006
The Fourth Scientific Meeting of The TMJ Association: A Systems Approach to the Understanding of TMJ as a Complex Disease
Bethesda, MD
September 14-16, 2006
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association 6th National Conference
Portland, OR
RESOURCES
 Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association Resources
RSDSA Support Group Newsletter, May/June 2006 Issue
Resource Directory: In Pain, Out of Work and Can't Pay the Bills
PDF version and Web version
 The Handbook of Health Social Work Published by Wiley & Sons
The Handbook of Health Social Work, a professional textbook, provides a comprehensive and evidence-based overview of contemporary social work practice in health care. Written from a wellness perspective, the chapters cover the spectrum of health social work settings including with contributions on pain management and palliative care (written by Terry Altilio, MSW, ACSW, Shirley Otis-Green, MSW, ACSW, Susan Hedlund, MSW and Iris Cohen-Fineberg, PhD) and end of life care (written by Yvette Col?n, MSW, APF's Director of Education & Internet Services). The textbook offers both a foundation for social work practice in health care and a guide for strategy, policy, and program development. Order a copy now!
VOICES OF PEOPLE WITH PAIN
PainAid Online Support
Join our vibrant community and share discussion and your personal stories with others affected by pain. Here you will find: Conference Rooms (regularly scheduled chats on a range of issues); Discussion Boards (threaded message boards on a broad range of topics); and Ask the Expert feature (pose questions to licensed healthcare professionals). PainAid is staffed by highly qualified volunteers with a range of backgrounds, all of whom either live with chronic pain or care for people who do. Visit PainAid!
Be sure to check out the VOICES section of our website! New personal stories are added weekly!
Thank you to our medical/science editor, Peter J. Vicente Ph.D., ABPP.
It's not too late to join our mailing list by completing our "Get Involved" form. Please forward this to a friend who might be interested in our publications and projects.
Share with us how you’d like to get involved and ways you might be able to contribute your voice and skills to our joint efforts by completing our online Advocacy Survey. We welcome your participation and look forward to working with you!
The American Pain Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that relies upon private donations to fund its programs, services, and distribution of educational materials. There are millions of people who live with unrelieved chronic pain. If you can help, please make a donation to the American Pain Foundation. For other ways you can support APF’s work, please visit our website at www.painfoundation.org.
To make sure you continue to receive our newsletters and alerts, please add AmericanPainFounda@painfoundation.org to your address book or approved sender list.
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