Los Angeles Chronic Pain
Support and advocacy information for individuals dealing with chronic pain.
Author: paintom
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How Your Advocacy Efforts Can Make a Difference in Medical Treatments
When you live with chronic pain, your focus is on getting through each day—managing symptoms, pacing yourself, and trying to hold on to some quality of life. Advocacy might feel like one more thing on an already overwhelming to-do list. But here’s the truth: advocacy is part of managing your condition. Every time you speak…
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The Missing Link: How Clinical Trials Shape Your Treatment Options and Insurance Coverage
Imagine walking into your doctor’s office, hopeful that they’ll have a solution for your chronic pain. You’ve done your research, read about promising treatments, and ask about a specific therapy—only to hear, “Your insurance doesn’t cover that.” Or worse, “That’s not included in our treatment guidelines.” Why does this happen? Why are some treatments widely…
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What Are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are research studies conducted with human participants to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of medical treatments, interventions, or devices. These studies are essential for developing new treatments, improving existing ones, and ensuring that healthcare advances are based on solid scientific evidence. Clinical trials follow strict ethical and regulatory guidelines to protect…
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The Future of Pain Care: What I Intended to Say About Putting People First
Introduction Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at an Axios event in San Diego on “The Prognosis for America’s Pain Management.” It was an incredible opportunity to highlight the challenges in pain care and advocate for a future where people with lived experience (PWLE) are partners in shaping research, policy, and treatment decisions—not just…
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Why Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Matters More Than Ever
IntroductionResearch has long been viewed as something done to communities rather than with them. Historically, people—especially marginalized groups—have been subjects of research without having a say in how it is conducted or what is done with the results. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) seeks to change this dynamic, ensuring that research is conducted with communities, respecting…
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Why We Say “People With Lived Experience” (PWLE) Instead of “Patients”
In healthcare, advocacy, and research, language matters. The words we use shape perceptions, influence policies, and impact how people see themselves and their roles. One term that has been gaining traction is “People With Lived Experience” (PWLE)—a phrase intentionally used instead of “patients.” But why does this shift matter? And what does it mean for…
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How People with Lived Experience (PWLE) Can Shape Clinical Trials and Medical Treatment Guidelines
Medical treatment guidelines and clinical trials play a crucial role in shaping the care that patients receive. Guidelines influence everything from the treatments doctors prescribe to the insurance coverage available for different therapies, while clinical trials determine the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. Yet, too often, the voices of those most affected—people with lived…
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How to Handle Increased Displays of Anger from Others While Living with Chronic Pain
Imagine you’re driving, carefully maintaining a safe speed because sudden jolts can trigger severe pain. Suddenly, a passenger beside you erupts in anger, shouting at you for driving too slowly or missing a turn: Your heart starts pounding, your pain spikes, and your body tenses. You want to defend yourself, to explain why you’re driving…
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Laughter as Medicine: How Humor Helps with Chronic Pain
Ever laugh so hard that you forgot—just for a moment—how much you were hurting? That’s not just coincidence; it’s science. Humor isn’t just a distraction—it’s a powerful tool that can make living with chronic pain a little more bearable. Why Does Humor Help? ✅ Pain Relief on Demand – Laughter triggers endorphins, the body’s natural…
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Why Patient Advocates Should Participate in Guideline Development Panels
Patient advocates play a pivotal role in shaping clinical guidelines to ensure they reflect real-world patient experiences and needs. Their involvement leads to: How to Get Selected for a Guideline Development Panel To become a patient representative on a guideline development panel: Your Voice Matters—Take the Next Step If you’ve encountered medical recommendations that don’t…
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“I Don’t Have Time to Advocate for Others; I’m Too Busy Living with Chronic Pain”
Why Self-Advocacy is a Form of Collective Advocacy Living with chronic pain is an all-consuming experience. From managing symptoms to attending medical appointments, navigating insurance battles, and simply getting through daily life, it can feel impossible to think about advocating for others. Many people with chronic pain say, “I don’t have time to advocate; I’m…
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Chronic Pain Advocacy Has No Age Limits—Action Is What Counts
Chronic pain doesn’t discriminate by age, and neither should advocacy. Whether you’re young, middle-aged, or a senior, your voice in the fight for better care, awareness, and policies is just as powerful. What matters isn’t how many years you’ve lived—it’s the action you take. Young Advocates: Challenging Stigma & Raising Awareness Teenagers and young adults…
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The Power of Sharing Your Story in Advocacy
Your story has the power to change lives. Whether you realize it or not, the experiences you’ve lived through—the challenges, the triumphs, the setbacks—can inspire, educate, and spark meaningful change. In the world of advocacy, statistics, policies, and research provide the foundation for progress, but it is personal stories that give these efforts heart. Whether…
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Getting Through the Hard Days with Chronic Pain
Some days are just hard. The pain is high, the energy is low, and depression creeps in, making everything feel heavier. If you’re struggling today, know this: you are not alone. Bad days happen, but they don’t define us. Here are some ways to get through when everything feels overwhelming: 💙 Acknowledge the day for…
