“There are about six times more Americans living with chronic pain than with all kinds of cancer. The NIH [National Institutes of Health] has its own Cancer Institute, which received $4.8 billion in 2005, or about 20 times more than the $229 million that went to pain research.”
This information comes from Advocates Demand Funding for Pain Care. Yes, cancer is life-threatening and pain is not (in the traditional sense), but that’s a huge disparity and way too many people are suffering from it.
Proposed legislation to increase the NIH’s pain research funding and to create six pain research centers around the country has the American Medical Association’s backing, but it the bill has faded into the background. Under the direction of the American Pain Foundation, pain patients are stirring up new interest in Congress by telling their stories.
Unless you have a chronic condition or live with someone who does, I think it is difficult to understand how horrible it is. We tend to think of things in black in white, and if the person is not facing death, it is tempting to think the situation probably isn’t that bad. We need all the awareness, research, and quality health care providers we can get.
*******
Absolutely. I agree wholeheartedly.
K
I read this book called Dream Healer by Adam (no last name) It’s a new book. Have you ever tried alternative healing techniques? I’m a new reader to your blog so I haven’t read all your posts. That book opened my eyes and I’ve been trying some of the techniques on my migraines. I think they help a bit. But I have to do it every hour or so when I have a headache. I think there are some herbals that could help also. Feverfew perhaps? I’ve not tried it.
*********
What are the techniques recommended in the book? I’ve tried various alternative therapies, but haven’t heard of this book.
K