Every September, we stop to recognize Pain Awareness Month. For those of us living with chronic pain, it’s not about one month. But this is our chance to shine a light, share our stories, and push for better understanding and care. The U.S. Pain Foundation’s most recent reports show just how urgent this work is.
What the Report Shows
In the U.S. Pain Foundation’s 2025 survey, #ThisIsPain: Unmasking Pain, people living with pain told us:
- 87% have been living with pain for more than five years.
- 93% say their pain keeps them from being physically active.
- 88% struggle with anxiety or depression because of their pain.
These are real people, not just numbers—and their stories echo what so many of us already know.
The U.S. Foundation’s 2024 Chronic Pain Fact Sheet adds even more context:
- Almost 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with chronic pain (that’s pain on most days or every day for at least three months).
- 8.5% have high-impact pain, meaning it regularly interferes with daily life and work.
- Between 11–38% of kids and teens live with chronic pain.
- Most treatments only reduce pain by about 30%, leaving many people still struggling.
- Between half and nearly nine out of ten report trouble sleeping.
- Pain is not evenly distributed. American Indians, Alaska Natives, bisexual people, rural communities, and those living in poverty carry a heavier burden.
Sources:
- #ThisIsPain: Unmasking Pain 2025 — https://uspainfoundation.org/news/this-is-pain-2025/
- 2024 Chronic Pain Fact Sheet — https://uspainfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FINAL.2024-CHRONIC-PAIN-FACT-SHEET.pdf
Why This Matters
Pain is often invisible, and that invisibility leads to stigma. People are dismissed, told “it’s all in your head,” or left waiting years for a proper diagnosis. Meanwhile, treatments fall short, mental health support is too often missing, and sleep problems make everything worse.
And the inequities are glaring. If you live in poverty, in a rural community, or belong to a marginalized group, your chances of living with chronic pain—and struggling to get help—are higher.
How You Can Step In This September
Here are a few concrete ways to get involved during Pain Awareness Month:
- Pair facts with your story
The numbers mean more when we connect them to real lives. Share them alongside your own experience. - Push for change
Advocate for better coverage of non-opioid and non-drug therapies, better training for providers, and a faster, more respectful process for diagnosis and treatment. - Join the movement
Take part in the U.S. Pain Foundation’s #ThisIsPain campaign and help spread awareness. - Address the whole picture
Speak up for pain care that includes mental health support, sleep care, and counseling—not just pills or procedures. - Support those left out
Make sure rural communities, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+ folks, and others who face barriers are included in our advocacy. - Volunteer
One of the most powerful steps you can take is joining the U.S. Pain Foundation’s Volunteer Network. Volunteers help run support groups, share stories, push for policy changes, and spread awareness. Details here: https://uspainfoundation.org/get-involved/volunteer/ - Use your voice
Write to your lawmakers. Tell local health systems we need more pain education in medical training. Keep the pressure on for patient-centered care.
A Call to Action
September can’t just be about wearing blue or posting once on social media. It’s about action.
- We need providers to listen and believe us.
- We need policies that take down barriers to care.
- We need approaches that go beyond pain relief to include sleep, mental health, movement, and community.
- And we need each other—to stand together, share stories, and volunteer our time and energy.
Pain Awareness Month is our chance to turn stories into change. Let’s use it.
Disclaimer: The views, positions, and recommendations expressed here are based on my personal experiences and independent research. They are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA).
This article was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT.