Thank you for coming to the Pain Research Advocate’s Blog. This blog is maintained and updated by Aniwaya Advocates, a branch of Aniwaya Artistry. We are all Intractable Pain patients who simply want honest research about pain as a disease made available to those who seek it out. Most of the articles here are by one doctor in particular, Dr. Forest Tennant. The reason for that is because this one doctor has done more research throughout the years with real pain patients than any other doctor we know. Plus the articles here are some of the only ones that deal with pain as a DISEASE first and foremost, not simply a SYMPTOM of a greater pathology. We hope you find something you are looking for while you are here. Feel free to print this material out and share it with others you know in pain and/or with your treating doctor.
The more we as pain patients’ stand up for ourselves and demand that we be heard, the more we will be seen as real people. We are people with a medical disease just like those with Diabetes or Thyroid problems who need help. Pain patients have true medical needs that must be addressed. We are tired of just passed off as “drug seekers” as many in the medical field have done in the past and are still doing to millions even today.
For more information about pain research, advocacy issues and how you too can get involved, there are several organizations that can help. One is the American Pain Foundation www.painfoundation.com ; the American Chronic Pain Association at www.acpa.org is another.
Thank you for stopping here. Thank you for reading. Thank you mostly for choosing to be informed.
Radene Marie Cook
Owner
Aniwaya Advocates,
Aniwaya Artistry
Painresearchadvocates's Blog 
What an amazing webblog! Radene, you should take a bow. It’s wonderful that you have all these practical, well researched pain articles for our use. I am SUCH a fan of Dr.Tennant, most especially because he really knows and understands all of the facets of chronic pain living.
Is there any copyright issues here,or can anyone print and distribute this information? I am working on a Chronic Pain binder for my doctor’s clinic and these articles would be perfect! Do you have them available in pdf format?
Finally, Radene, I would really like to volunteer to assist you in this cause in anyway I can. I am still unable to stand or sit for any period of time (but unlike you, I haven’t figured out how to travel, live life outside my home etc). However, I have a background in marketing and publishing, and have a medical background (clinical research), so there might come a time that I can assist.
Thanks so much for fighting so hard for all of us, Radene. With your energy and the love of your friends, family and other cp patients, real changes can be made for all of us!
((((hugs))))
Lori, Ontario
By: a friend of P.R.A. on June 9, 2009
at 1:39 am
I’m a 49 year old male. In 2003, I was severely hurt on the job. I was a Firefighter/Paramedic. I had to have a 7 hour operation to fuse C4-C7 area of my neck. I know have a Titanium cage,plate, and screws implanted to stabilze the area. I was left with a loss of ROM (range of motion) and pain that is constant, worsening with fatigue. I use a Fentynyl transdermal patch for long term pain management. I used Actiq and then Fentora 800mcg for break through pain management. When my insurance switched, I could no longer get either Actiq or Fentora. I’ve tried everything from Dilaudad,Oxycodone,Morphine, etc. Nothing has come close to working like Actiq or Fentora. I know that it is the cost. I am on disability and a fixed income due to my injuries, but that doesn’t seem to matter to Medicare or my private insurance. Any ideas of what I can do? I’m so p[issed off and in pain that it is changing the way I act and feel.
By: David M on March 11, 2011
at 4:28 am
I have a sleazy brother who is trying to force me out of treatment. I asked him if it was news to him that I had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He responded “I don’t know what that is”. He ran for Fullerton city council three times and lost by 90 votes the third time. He can’t win in politics so he takes it out on a handicapped brother or so it seems. My mother died 3/19/2011 and she had been my main support.
By: Bill Chaffee on April 18, 2011
at 12:51 am
Coud somebody please reccomend a pain specialist who is knowleageable with arachnoiditis and prescribes medicine management in northwest Illinois or eastern Iowa. I have yet to date find a doctor who has had let alone know’s how to treat an arachnoiditis sufferer…Please Help, Aaron
By: Aaron M Linke on April 22, 2012
at 7:41 pm
Dear Aaron, I am so sorry that this reply is so long after you wrote to “Pain Research Advocates.wordpress.com” I am the one of the pain patients who started this blog and because of the business of life as pain patients and good deal of legislative work (then recovering from the traveling) upkeep on the blog fell to the side. I apologize personally because I am the one who is supposed to check this and the month you wrote and I too have adhesive arachnoiditis (lumbar:stage 3 from L4 down thru the coccyx, stage 2 from T12 to L4 & poss.cervical C4-C7) with 4 other intractable pain conditions and I was where you are now; without a doctor and literally dying from the pain. I hope by now you have found an intractable pain specialist in your area (we are in California). If not, I will look and see if I have ANY recommended doctors on our lists. In the meantime, learning as much as you can not just about arachnoiditis but also about the disease of intractable pain (now sometimes called “centralized” pain) will help you in recognizing what you need from a doctor as well as a possible treatment course. For me, finding the information from Dr. Forest Tennant (www.foresttennant.com) and then getting the treatment he recommended for IP (intractable pain) was the life saver for me. I’m hoping it will help you too.
Another big help in the life of any pain patient is adding “pain peers”, for lack of a better term, to your support system. Pain peers being those who share your disease and can provide specialized suggestions and support. One of my favorite groups for arachnoiditis says it very well on their opening page (group is on Yahoo.com in the groups section called “Arach_Friends@yahoogroups.com”):
“This group is here for those that suffer from Arachnoiditis, as well as their caregivers and loved ones. It is our intention to bring people that have been affected by Arachnoiditis together, and have a place to share our feelings and first-hand knowledge of this dreadful affliction… Regardless of how strong your support system is, there really is nothing like speaking with people that truly understand what you’re going through.”
I wish you the very best Aaron. If I find a doctor in your area, I will be sure to contact you.
Sincerely, Pain Research Advocates
By: painresearchadvocates on February 21, 2013
at 8:26 am
my doctor was let go after a buy out.He is a fantastic doctor,but I’m the one in trouble! They made it impossable for me to stay.Basically I was neglected, abandoned not to mention they tried to 51/50 me,did’nt work thank God!! Ended up having my Xmas in the E.R. ambulance ride and all.Have a medical place that’s taken on my care&they want to slowly take my opiod pain meds I have been on in the past ten year’s,actually I was on alot more medication that I gave up myself willingly.My insurance has me grandfathered in for the pain medication I am on.I have lived with chronic pain since I was 9yrs old.I’v been the guenie pig , I’v been the test crash dummie too.I do know medically I am alot to take in,I just need to find a doctor that is o.k. with the plan that has given me the most functionably comfortable life I can live.Why now do I have to fit in this box they have created,well I don’t think the answer is for meI to be stuffed into thier box it should be to build a bigger box! I am frustrated!
By: Daisy-Mae Graziano on February 19, 2013
at 3:43 am