Did you know: As many as half of the adult population has some form of chronic pain. The 2011 IOM "Relieving Pain in America" report puts the figure at over 116 million Americans, not including people over 65, children under 18, people in the military nor anyone who is institutionalized. (Obviously, the total figure is much higher!) Common causes include: headaches, TMJ, carpal tunnel, backaches, arthritis, sciatica and fibromyalgia. Chronic pain can be intermittent/persistent, and may require over-the-counter or prescription medication. Seldom does this pain interfere with activities of daily living or disable a person indefinitely. However, many people live with pain that impacts their quality of life on an ongoing basis.

Any amount of pain, as pain sufferers know, is difficult to deal with. But, what about those who suffer long term? What's that called? How is it treated?

The diagnosis is: Intractable Pain: "A severe, constant pain that is not curable by any known means and which causes a bed or house-bound state and early death if notadequately treated. It causes adverse biologic affects on the body'scardiovascular, hormone, and neurologic systems."

Intractable Pain (IP) "has four outstanding characteristics: (1) constant, (2) severe, (3)disabling, and (4) causes detectable biologic impacts on the body's blood pressure, pulse rate, hormone levels, and neurologic systems. It should be considered a serious catastrophic condition that,inadequately treated, leads to premature death. Some of itscomplications include dementia, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, obesity and cardiovascular disease." (All of the above information is quoted here, courtesy of www.IntractablePainDisease.com)

HANDBOOKS EVERY PAIN PATIENT MUST READ

1. Dr. Forest Tennant's Pain Control Guidelines
   On Meds, Staying Active, Diet, Supplements and Discharing Electricity
2. Intractable Pain Patient's Handbook For Survival
3. Pain Medication Abuse: Facts & Myths on The New Drug 'Epidemic' - NEW!
4. Using Objective Signs of Severe Pain to Guide Prescribing*
5. Suicide and Chronic Pain: Research Links & Stats - NEW!
6. What To Do While Looking For A Good Pain Doctor

• American Pain Foundation: Support APF -or- Join Now (Free!)
  The largest pain advocacy organization in the U.S., helps people with pain get access to timely, appropriate pain care.
• ChronicBabe.com
  A site for younger people with pain
• DocHoc - Dr. Joel Hochman's Blog
  With 19 years of experience in pain management, Dr. Hochman (now deceased) has treated thousands with Intractable Pain.
• For Grace - Empowering Women in Pain: Support For Grace -or- Share Your Story
  A Non-Profit Started By Cynthia Touissant, A Pain Sufferer Who Is Actively Seeking Better Pain Care for Women
• Intractable Pain Journal
  A journal created by and for Intractable Pain patients, caregivers and medical professionals.
• Intractable Pain Patients United: Join IPPU (Free!)
  A non-profit grassroots group started by southern california patients/patient advocates, speaking out about pain
• L.A. Lupus Lady
  Because lupus awareness can be fun!
• Pain Research Advocate's Blog
  An Informative Blog by a Knowledgable Intractable Pain Patient & Advocate
• Pain Topics
  A resource for healthcare professionals & patients, focused on evidence-based pain management
• Practical Pain Management
  This journal is an authority on cutting edge pain treatment; includeds research by Dr. Forest Tennant & other experts
• Worldwide Links: A Compedium of Pain Organizations
  Compiled by the International Association for the Study of Pain

ThePainStore.com & The Founder's History of Pain: Why ThePainStore.com? Having dealt with pain for nearly ten years, I was finally diagnosed with IP. Helping others in pain has become a passion for me. I hope this site helps you find a way to manage yourpain, whatever the cause. I know as well as anyone, that even an hour of pain is agony. Finding a way to lessen it, to cope with it, to survive it, is vitally important for anyone who deals with pain. Best wishes on your journey and I hope I can be of some assistance!

The more we make our struggle public, the more people will understand that pain needs to be dealt with much more effectively than it is today. Many doctors are afraid to prescribe the very necessary pain relievers that restore our quality of life. Others have their hands tied by the insurance industry. Too many physicians are letting patients suffer, allowing pressure from outside entities keep them from doing the right thing. It's time we all got pain relief, not the select few that find a REAL pain doctor. If we work together, I believe it is possible. This site is more than a place to find over-the-counter pain relievers. It's also a blog. This blog was developed as a forum to discuss the issues we all deal with. Welcome -- you are among friends!