Print View  

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day – May 12th!

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects an estimated 6-10 million people in the United States, yet half might not know they have it. In recognition of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, APF is launching new information, special chats on that day, and other awareness activities, as well as highlighting existing fibro spotlight activities and materials. Click here and join others across the country to raise awareness about fibromyalgia or find out if your pain might be caused by this disorder.

National Pain Care Policy Act, S. 660 - Video and Petition

The American Pain Foundation was recently made aware of a video created by a 19 year old college student in Southern California, Casey Mathews, whose mother has suffered from chronic pain for as long as he can remember. As part of a political science class project, Casey created a video and petition. The petition will be delivered to the U.S. Senate to encourage support and passage of the 2009 National Pain Care Policy Act, S. 660. Watch the video here and then sign the petition here.

FDA Will Require Additional Warning Labels on Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers and Fever Reducers

APF applauds the U.S. Food and Drug Administration final ruling issued on April 29, 2009 that will require manufactures of over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers to revise their labeling within one year to include warnings about potential safety risks such as internal bleeding and liver damage which can be associated with these medications. Products included in this ruling include acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). NSAIDS include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen. Cold medicines that contain any of these ingredients are also included in this ruling.

Manufacturers will be required to prominently display on the outside packaging as well as on the bottle label the active ingredients and must warn consumers of the risks of stomach bleeding when taking NSAIDs and severe liver damage when taking acetaminophens. Labels on medications containing acetaminophen must instruct the consumer to consult a doctor before taking the product if they are taking the blood thinning drug warfarin. Click here for more information on the FDA ruling.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Help pass the National Pain Care Policy Act, S. 660 by contacting your Senators and requesting they co-sponsor this critical pain legislation. Please click here to TAKE ACTION.  If you are from Utah or Connecticut, please click here to thank Senator Hatch or Senator Dodd. To read more about the National Pain Care Policy Act 2009, S. 660, please click here.

Spring 2009 issue of Pain Community News

We are delighted to bring you the Spring 2009 issue of Pain Community News. This new issue is chock full of news you can use, including: Unraveling fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease and chronic pain, music therapy for pain relief, Pain & Sexuality series, Top 10 Tips for coping with arthritis, FAQs about opioids, and much more. This issue of Pain Community News is only available online. Please pass it along to friends, family members and others who might be interested in reading it. Simply click here to see the newsletter.

Insurance Barriers to Fibromyalgia Pain Care

APF is committed to reaching out to individuals who live with pain and well aware of barriers to effective pain care than can be attributed to insurance companies’ policies, no matter the pain problem. Insurance coverage can have a decisive impact on quality of care, available providers, timeliness and more. In 2009, a national online survey was conducted to identify whether APF members were affected by restrictive insurance coverage policies that delay effective pain management for fibromyalgia. Thank you to all those who responded to the survey. Please read the summary now.

We comply with HONcode standards

for health trustworthy informatison

Verify here