Jennifer Grey Promotes Effective Communication About Pain

(NewsUSA) - Movie icon, dancing star, and patient advocate Jennifer Grey is one of the millions of Americans who has lived with chronic pain. According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain conditions. Grey's journey with this complex medical condition began more than ten years ago, and it has impacted her personal life and career.

Now she is sharing her experience to inspire others to become "communication experts" about pain. Grey understands how important open and honest dialogue is to developing an individualized treatment plan with your healthcare professional.

Grey has joined forces with Partners Against Pain to launch a national initiative called A Hands On Approach for Pain Management. The goal of the program is to empower pain patients and healthcare professionals with practical information and tools to communicate more effectively with each other.

"Pain is part of life, but suffering doesn't have to be," says Grey. "No one should suffer in silence. I want people to know that communicating about pain is an important first step to identifying the best treatment options for you."

To get the most out of a medical appointment, Grey suggests preparing in advance by following the "Three R's": Research, Record and Rehearse:

* Research and learn all you can about chronic pain so you'll know what to ask during your next medical appointment. Be sure to write down your questions and take them with you.

* Record how you're feeling day-to-day in a pain journal. Write down what your symptoms are, their severity, and any steps you're taking to relieve pain.

* Rehearse with a loved one or caregiver to organize your thoughts and key points to communicate to your healthcare professional.

To learn more about A

Hands On Approach for Pain Management, please visit Partners Against Pain ( http://www.partnersagainstpain.com/). The web site offers practical information and tools to help improve the way patients and healthcare professionals share information about pain, including a downloadable pain journal; guides with tips for getting the most out of each medical appointment; and a video feature with Jennifer Grey on communicating effectively about pain.

"Article By: NewsUSA"