CONGRATULATIONS!! to the inspiring and awesome Together Walk Organizers, volunteers, walkers, participants, and sponsors of 2016 and 2017. Their combined efforts raised $10,000 for research of fibromyalgia to be awarded through the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association Research Seed Grants program! Reaching this historical first milestone is proof that together we can make a difference. The NFCPA is delighted to work with the dedicated teams to build on the strong foundation laid over the past two years for walks in their communities.
Why is raising funds and friends so important now? New research has always been the brightest hope we have for a better tomorrow for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. No one is going to do this hard work for us. It's never worked that way. Standing together, speaking with a united voice, and working to achieve common goals is powerful.
An estimated 10 million Americans, 2 to 4 percent of population, have FM – a common illness involving long-term, body-wide pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory problems and impaired functionality – as a primary diagnosis. Accessible, effective treatments do not exist for the majority of people with fibromyalgia nor chronic pain.
To increase scientific research funding for multidisciplinary treatments for pain and to raise awareness of the challenges people with chronic pain face, the NFCPA launched and sponsored Together Walks across the United States. The organization partnered with experienced Leaders Against Pain and dedicated community leaders to organize, promote and carry out the details of each Together Walk. Their purpose is to increase
- awareness,
- education,
- resources, and
- support for research
of fibromyalgia among the general public, medical communities, legislators, and people affected by FM.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids 2016 were published on March 15 and restrict access to opioid medications at the expense of the lives and increased suffering of people with chronic pain who need these strong pain medications to have a quality of life worth living.
“One hundred million American adults live with the disease of chronic pain, and many of them rely on a combination of therapies to function,” said Jan Chambers, president of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFCPA). “That combination treatment often includes strong pain medications.”
How do you answer a 13-year old’s questions about his hopes for the future after being diagnosed with FM? What happens in the homes of parents with FM who cannot participate in taking care of their family? When will better treatments and a cure for this disabling disorder be found?
Government funding for research into chronic pain treatments is limited and diminishing in the face of new legislation, like the release of the CDC Opioid Guidelines, and is being shifted toward opioid abuse and addiction.. Together Walks are a step toward finding new treatments for chronic pain. The events unite communities to advocate for better access to care, and encourage and fund research that leads to better treatments.
These local events celebrate May 12 Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and September Pain Awareness Month to recognize what patients have overcome, to remember those lost to the illness, and to honor people who have fought or are fighting fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Every voice matters in changing how fibromyalgia and chronic pain are perceived, treated, and researched.
Look for more Together Walks in 2018! Let's spread them across the nation and raise more $10,000 seed funding opportunities.
(To learn more about the 2018 walks and how you can get involved, please visit togetherwalks.org.)