Has Anyone Started or Belong to a Chronic Pain Group

[GJZH]

I have looked in my area for a Chronic Pain Group to join and found that there is none. My pain doc and pcp have suggested that I start one. Is there anyone on this forum that has experience with this endeavor and how did you do this?

[911]

no exspreriance but best of luck and keep us posted on how it goes what would be really cool i think would be to have an online chat sesion with chronic painers ??? dave

[debhun]

I just come here. I don't leave the house much. Like the people here.

Deb

[Mark N]

I don't know about a pain group but good luck with the one you are starting or thinking about starting. I don't know that in my condition I could get together consistently enough to be worthwhile to be in a pain group. I hope you are able to find enough people to have a pain group.

[Peter B]

G,
Hello. Hope you're feeling as well as you can expect to. I belong to a group that was started by a fellow patient in the docs office. In fact, the group was started with his help. (the docs')

The group is called P.A.L.M. - Patient Advocates for Legislative. Movement.
Consider asking your doctor for his/her help. Start by typing up your thoughts about how you want your organization to function. There are many areas of focus to think about so you may want to form the group first, then go about deciding how you want the org. to function.

This letter is basically for recruitment. That's why you would need your doc. approval. Ask him/her if they would distribute the letters to all of his pain patients.

If you like, I can ask the president of PALM to write something up so as to give you some sense of how to begin. Right now PALM is finishing up with a letter writing campaign in defense of a doctor who is being railroaded by the DEA. After that, we're going to focus on the Insurance industry and the fact that they are indirectly taking over the jobs of medical professionals by dictating to them what they are willing to pay for.

Anyway, let me know and I'll see if there's any other areas that I may be of assistance to you. As I said, there are a bunch of issues that an organization can affect change.

G, allow me to thank you on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves. I shudder to think of how many people are incapable of helping themselves. I shudder to think of how many people are bed ridden. I shudder to think of how many people are bed ridden AND under-medicated. I shudder to think of how many medical professionals are either innocently ignorant or are blatantly negligent when it comes to providing relief to those of us who suffer in silence.

Pain free days,
Pete

s

[krashleen]

Excellent. I am concerned for the welfare of the doctors that undergo scrutiny every day for helping us, the chronic pain patient.

Some of us need opiate relief, others get better, and for some reason others don't.
Please include me in this movement. PALM. I like that.

I'll PM you later to find out more.

[GJZH]

Pete,

Yes, please send me any information that you think might help me in this endeavor. My pain doc thinks I am up to all of this...He wants me to write books and start groups..I think he thinks if I am busy I will not think about my pain...

Since the only other group I started was a parent group to fight an educational program in our school system years ago, I am new to this...That group just grew out of a parent/teacher meeting with the media getting hold of it and then it grew into a media event....

I will send you my e-mail address via PM...Thanks...

Anyone else with good ideas, please do not hesitate to share...We can share ideas here about what a good pain group should include....We have a nice group of people here too...

[jena1225]

Wow, what a great idea! I think that is something I would love to do, and think it would be good for my wellbeing to do it. I would also want to look into doing one for MS. Please include me in this.

Peter, would you mind also looking into getting me something written up as well? I would really appreciate it.

Thank you!