Featured Stories | Jennifer Grey on Communicating About Pain

Country music legend Naomi Judd is a passionate advocate for those living with chronic conditions, including persistent pain. Listen as Naomi shares her views about why it is so important to effectively manage pain.

Lynne tells the dramatic and inspirational story of her battle with chronic pain. Dr. Bonakdar discusses the serious, long-term medical consequences of untreated and undertreated pain.

Learn more about how to overcome some of the common 'road blocks' that many people in pain may encounter in their pursuit of a proper diagnosis and effective treatment plan. Dr. Bonakdar and Lynne offer tips on how to have productive interactions with healthcare providers by relaying critical details about pain and by asking the right questions.

Medications are important tools for treating pain, and their benefits can often be enhanced by an integrative approach to treatment.¹ Integrative care combines conventional therapies like prescription pain medication with complementary techniques such as acupuncture, massage, meditation and Tai Chi.¹ Dr. Bonakdar outlines the components of integrative care and how to incorporate them into a pain treatment plan.

^1. Patel G. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Noncancer Pain. Med Clin North Am, 2007; 91(1):141-167

Naomi, Dr. Bonakdar and Lynne share some final thoughts on how to rise to the challenge of chronic pain.

Lower back pain is one of the more common types of pain people experience. This presentation will help you discover why it's important to seek out a healthcare professional who can properly assess your condition, create a pain management plan, and advise you on activities you should and shouldn't do. You'll also learn four proven ways to ease lower back pain.

Pain is a frequent yet often overlooked consequence of cancer. An estimated 70% of those with cancer experience significant pain during their illness, yet fewer than half receive adequate treatment for their pain. Pain can be an issue at any point in a battle with cancer – occurring during active treatment or after treatment is completed. If pain is not managed properly, it can worsen the physical, emotional, and psychological toll of the disease.

As advances in battlefield medicine continue, so do the prolonged periods of rehabilitation that are accompanied by pain and frustration. Learn how the American Pain Foundation and an alliance of patient advocacy organizations have banded together to improve the care for returning servicemen and servicewomen. You'll also have access to important resources for additional help.

Discover the most effective ways to communicate with your physicians so that you will receive proper diagnosis and effective treatment for managing pain. You'll learn about seven simple steps to help you better communicate with your healthcare professional and how to download a patient comfort assessment guide.

Pain creates many challenges not only for the people who suffer from it, but also for those who care for them. For this reason, the Caregiver Cornerstone Program was created to help you—the family caregiver—find the information, encouragement, and tools you need to care for your loved one with pain.

Jennifer discusses the three R's for maximizing the time you have with your healthcare professional: Research, Record and Rehearse.

Jennifer explains each of these steps to help you incorporate them into your next medical visit. The video also provides additional tips for improving how you communicate about pain with your healthcare professional.