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When I sat down with Jennifer Grey in New York City to talk with her about being the spokesperson for Partners Against Pain, I didn’t ask about Dirty Dancing. It wasn’t on the agenda. Yet it came up because the year the movie was released (1987) coincided with the car accident that left Grey with whiplash damage and chronic pain.
Grey walked me through her post-injury story. She increasingly noticed that her neck had become “the weak link” in her physical health. Discomfort became even more prevalent after Grey gave birth ten years ago. As she began to have “really bad headaches,” she found herself pushing activities she enjoyed “off the table.” The pain made her feel vulnerable. However, as Grey explained, “I don’t like to complain.”
Repeatedly invited to be on Dancing With the Stars, Grey balked, She finally decided to use appearing on the show as “her carrot of motivation.” She connected with a doctor who pinpointed her problem. Her spinal cord was compressed and she needed fusion immediately. During the course of treatment, it was determined that she had a cancerous lump in her thyroid, which was then removed. Her footwork won her the top prize in the eleventh season of Dancing with The Stars.
When Purdue Pharma approached Grey to be the face of their national educational program to inform patients, caregivers, and physicians how to effectively communicate about pain management, Grey enthusiastically jumped onboard. Her motivation stemmed from her learning experience of shifting gears from “the pain is managing me” to “I’m managing the pain.” As Grey underscored, “I got my life back.” .
Stats from the Institute of Medicine show that over 110 million adults in the United States “suffer from chronic pain.” Untreated pain can result in issues ranging from reduced mobility and function to a weakened immune system—as well as depression or anxiety.
Grey is promoting the view that patients do not have to be victims. Partners Against Pain has set up a system of how to establish a “productive dialogue.” It is directed to both sides of the equation—patients and doctors. I was impressed that the material written for the medical community was able to acknowledge that for many doctors, listening and rapport skills need to be improved. To build a robust patient agenda, Partners Against Pain used the results of a national survey to build out their suggestions for how to interact with practitioners at the maximum level. Key strategies include:
•Prepare for your medical appointment. Educate yourself on potential treatment choices and alternative therapies.
•Write down targeted points for discussion.
•Bring a pain diary that can help track frequency and intensity of symptoms.
•If you get nervous about presenting your concerns, practice your conversation with a friend to see if you are getting your points across..
•Bring someone with you to the appointment to function as a second set of ears.
•Once at the doctor’s office, in order to establish the goals of your visit:
•Remain active in the conversation.
•Ask questions if something is not clear.
•Repeat instructions aloud to make sure you have the correct understanding of all directions.
•Find out what follow-up steps to pursue.
•Ask for recommendations for reading material about your condition. •Learn about your prescribed medications.
•If you don’t see any improvement in your condition, ask for a referral to a physician who specializes in pain management..
•Inquire about alternative options such as acupuncture, massage, or yoga.
Accompanying Grey to the interview was Micke A. Brown from the American Pain Foundation. In answer to my question about women frequently being told that their pain is psychologically based, Brown advised, “Don’t be afraid to speak up and speak out.” Grey agreed, adding, “If someone isn’t responsive to you—move on to someone else.”
Grey discussed the additional modalities she has employed including massage, “lots of exercise,” and stretching (“I was doing some stretches for fifteen to twenty minutes before you came in,” she told me.) Grey also spoke about her work with “mindful meditation,” where she breaks down the negative physical sensations, and then separates those feelings from her cognitive thoughts. Using “mental pictures,” Grey described how “self-help talk” could help at the “cellular level,” through a “self-modification” of the pain.
The bottom line for Grey was, “Make a step. Every day take an action for yourself. Break it down. Follow the breadcrumbs. Don’t give up. Do your best. Keep going.” She reflected, “Chronic pain can be very lonely. It can have a shame-based quality.”
Translating her personal journey into viable support and advice for others was clearly satisfying to Grey. Her bottom line was, “I’m super grateful to get this message out to people.”
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment3 Comments
I hope Ms. Grey will be an active spokesperson. First thing though that needs to be done, from my perspective, is changing National Pain Awareness Month to National CHRONIC pain awareness Month. It means nothing as it now stands.
June 30, 2012 - 1:46pmAs a chronic intractable pain patient for over 30 years, and an advocate for women in pain awareness, I am very frustrated by the lack of attention to the issue of those in chronic pain except as potential felons and abusers of narcotic medications. Maybe Ms. Grey can help to change the stereotyped face shown by the media.
Carol Jay Levy, B.A., CH.t
author A PAINED LIFE, a chronic pain journey
Women In Pain Awareness Group
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/111961795481256/
The Pained Life, 30 years, and counting.http://apainedlife.blogspot.com/
accredited to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities member U.N. NGO group, Persons With Disabilities
This Comment
There is really nothing that can be done for chronic low back pain.
October 4, 2011 - 2:46pmArtificial disc replacement--failure: Fusion--a failed technology with a 50/50 or less outcome; Spinal Cord Stimulation-good for refered leg pain, but not good for axial/discogenic back pain; Medications-limited in effectiveness; Alternatives such as massage, acupunure, psychotherapy and so on--Are just too expensive and unaffordable for the average person. There are a dime a dozen spine specialists with multiple publications who still don't truly know how to treat severe chronic back pain and often disagree with each other, showing the lack of definatives treatment modalities and causation. God bless you Jennifer. Your an inspiration. I was so happy when you won DWTS. I wish you continued success....
This Comment
I would very much like to personally thank Jennifer Grey for speaking out and taking action on behalf of the millions of us with hidden/chronic pain. I am a 50 year old mother and wife with RSD/CRPS--I will not go into detail how this disease is destroying my life. My every sentence begins with; I used to... I want to change this to I am... With your help, Jennifer, this may now be possible. Most sincerely submitted, Lesa R. Cunningham, Speedway, Indiana, USA
October 3, 2011 - 2:29pmThis Comment