September has been declared Pain Awareness Month. The goal being to work to raise public awareness of issues in the area of pain and pain management.

Read more about the history of Pain Awareness Month here.

I work with pain patients every day and their concerns have a wide range. From how they will be treated if they need to go to the ER to insurance problems when filling prescriptions to not being able to do the simplest tasks on a daily basis. It is my job not only to help my patients understand and work with and through their pain but to educate caregivers, friends, family and the public on the many challenges of pain.

If you or a person you know is struggling with chronic pain, here is a list of resources from the American Chronic Pain Association to start building your awareness of tools, groups conditions and treatments. And most important, I want each pain patient to know that while their pain is unique to them, they are not alone in dealing with it.