Los Angeles Chronic Pain
Support and advocacy information for individuals dealing with chronic pain.
Category: Uncategorized
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Frustrated by What You Can’t Do Anymore? You’re Not Alone.
Living with chronic pain means rewriting what life looks like—sometimes daily. I used to hike. I used to work. I used to run errands, garden, cook, clean the house, and still have energy left to help a friend move or attend a late-night concert. I used to be able to do so much more. Sound…
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The Power of Purpose: Goal Setting While Living with Chronic Pain
IntroductionLiving with chronic pain reshapes the way we move through the world. It often requires giving up former routines, redefining what’s possible, and finding new ways to measure progress. Yet even in the face of pain, setting goals—and pursuing them—can offer direction, purpose, and a renewed sense of hope. Goal setting isn’t about pretending pain…
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Setting Expectations: A Vital Skill for Living with Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain doesn’t mean giving up on life — it means learning how to live in a different way. One of the most powerful tools we have is the ability to set expectations — for ourselves, for others, and for the world around us. But here’s the hard truth: expectations can be a…
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What SSA Needs to Understand About Chronic Pain and the Tools That Help Us
I was honored to participate in the recent National Academies’ “Exploring the Treatment and Management of Chronic Pain and Implications for Disability Determinations: A Workshop.” I was privileged to serve as the person with lived experience (PWLE) on the panel titled “Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Comprehensive Chronic Pain Management,” alongside Dr. Peter Wayne (Harvard…
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Advocacy as a Lifeline: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Keep Going While Living with Chronic Pain
“Step 12: Learn to pace yourself. Know that you have a right to say no and to do only what you can.”— The American Chronic Pain Association, 12 Steps to Chronic Pain Management We often think of advocacy as a grand gesture — marching on Capitol Hill or giving testimony before policymakers. But for people…
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“I Will Not Fear” – The Power of Belief in the Midst of Chronic Pain
Have you ever been told you’re “so strong” while silently wondering if you have anything left to give?Living with chronic pain can strip away confidence, isolate you from hope, and leave even the strongest among us questioning our worth. Yet, deep inside each of us, there’s a quiet fire—an unbreakable core of determination, courage, and…
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Therapy Options for Chronic Low Back Pain While on Opioids
What a New Study Tells Us About Mindfulness and CBT 📄 What Was Studied? A large research study (770 participants) looked at two types of talk therapies for people living with chronic low back pain who had been taking opioid medications for at least 3 months: Researchers wanted to know which worked better at: 🧪…
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How to Become a Patient Advisor in Clinical Research or Join a Guideline Panel as a Person with Lived Experience
In recent years, the voice of the patient has gone from being “nice to have” to absolutely essential in health research and clinical practice. Whether it’s in a clinical trial or on a guideline development panel, people with lived experience (PWLE) are helping shape the decisions that impact millions. But how do you actually become…
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What Is a Patient Advisor in Clinical Trials—and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
Clinical research is evolving—and people living with chronic conditions are no longer content to be studied from the outside. They’re stepping up as partners, shaping the very trials that once overlooked their voices. These partners are known as patient advisors, and they’re transforming the way research is done—making it more relevant, ethical, and effective. If…
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Understanding Engagement in Clinical Trials and Guideline Development: Participants vs. Patient Advisors
In both clinical trials and guideline development panels, the term “engagement” refers to how individuals are involved in the process—but the nature and purpose of engagement differ significantly between participants and patient advisors (or partners). 🔹 Clinical Trial Participants 🔹 Guideline Development Panel Public Representatives (without advisor training) 🔹 Patient Advisors / Patient Partners (in…
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Understanding and Managing Sciatica: A Patient-Centered Guide (Updated 2024)
Sciatica is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. This updated guide reflects the most current (as of 2024) evidence-based recommendations for managing sciatica, with a focus on self-care, non-opioid therapies, and patient empowerment, in line with the World Patients Alliance’s values of transparency, accessibility, and patient-first care. What Is Sciatica? Sciatica is…
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Living with Lower Back Pain: What Every Patient Should Know
Lower back pain is one of the most common and misunderstood health conditions worldwide. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve experienced it—or are living with it every day. You’re not alone. And more importantly, you deserve to be heard, supported, and equipped with the right tools. This article follows the World Patients Alliance (WPA)…
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Understanding Scoliosis: A Patient-Centered Guide to Living Well with Spinal Curvature
Introduction Scoliosis is more than just a curved spine — it’s a condition that can affect every part of a person’s life, from physical comfort to emotional well-being. In alignment with the World Patients Alliance (WPA) guidelines, this article provides a clear, compassionate, and empowering overview of scoliosis, placing patients and their lived experiences at…
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Understanding Chronic Pain: Facts, Lived Experience, and Global Resources
Chronic pain is more than a symptom—it’s a global public health challenge that affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide, disrupting lives, livelihoods, and well-being. As part of the World Patients Alliance’s commitment to empowering patients, caregivers, and communities, we’re developing resources that address specific conditions like chronic pain. This article offers an overview of chronic…
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Held Through the Pain: What My Faith Has Meant in My Journey with Chronic Pain
I think I’ve always been strengthened by my faith. It hasn’t just been a belief system—it’s been a steady presence in my life, an anchor in the storms of chronic illness, cancer, and loss. My journey with pain has been long and difficult, but never without meaning. And never without the sense that I was…