By Strength for Caring

If you are caring for someone who suffers from chronic pain, the American Chronic Pain Association can help provide both of you with some relief. Learning as much as you can about chronic pain is a great way to get, and provide, support. The ACPA website (www.theacpa.org) includes a wide variety of valuable resources for both you and the person in your life who is living with this chronic, sometimes debilitating, condition.

For the Person with Pain:

• - Videos

The Relaxation Guide - Tension increases pain. This five-minute relaxation exercise can help the person with pain let go of physical stress and begin to reduce their sense of suffering.

• - Communication Tools

The Quality of Life Scale - the scale looks at ability to function rather than at pain alone. By measuring activity levels, it can provide a basis for more effective treatment and help to measure progress over time.

Pain Log - the pain log can help keep track of the everyday things that have an impact on pain. Understanding what makes pain worse can help to identify ways to reduce or deal with those pain "triggers."

Support Group for Adults - there are ACPA groups located nationwide. ACPA groups do not focus on symptoms or provide treatment of any kind, but they are a means for people living with pain to share what they have learned and to encourage others to create more satisfying lives by taking an active role in the recovery process.

Support Group for Kids and Teens - Growing Pains is a support group for young people struggling to balance the obstacles of growing up with the ache of chronic illness. Members communicate through email and snail mail. For more information about Growing Pains, send an email to: growingpainsacpa@aol.com.

For the Caregiver:

• - ACPA Family Manual

This manual for families of persons with pain explains chronic pain, addresses the family challenges that can result when someone you love is living with chronic pain, and provides ways to keep your family strong. It can be found in the online store.

• - Chronicle - The ACPA quarterly newsletter

Read articles about caregiving for a person with pain including, "When Family and Friends Share the Pain." This excellent resource is just one of the benefits you will receive with your ACPA membership.

For Both:

• - The 2009 Consumer Guide to Pain Medication & Treatment

The ACPA believes that people with chronic pain benefit from being well informed about their medications. This knowledge may relieve the fears that can interfere with receiving maximum benefits from medications. This supplement is not meant to serve as medical advice for any condition or regarding any medication needs. The best source of information about your loved ones health and medication needs is from an open dialogue with his or her treating doctor. http://www.theacpa.org/people/medication.asp

• - Understanding Nerve Pain

By scrolling over "nerve man," you can both learn about the different parts of the body where nerve pain conditions are most prevalent. By clicking on the image of the body, you can check symptoms and learn about conditions. Nerve Central Station is an excellent way to learn about, and discuss, nerve pain. http://www.theacpa.org/nerve/hurt.asp.

The ACPA site also includes excellent lists of other websites, books, and professional groups that can provide support and information about living with and managing chronic pain. To learn more, go to www.theacpa.org.