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After our first event of the year in Los Angeles in May, we traveled to Tampa, Fla., for our second P.H.N. educational event. Attendees heard presentations about PHN symptoms and ways to cope, met others affected by PHN and had an opportunity to create individual quilt squares to tell their story about how PHN has affected their lives. There was even training for some aging professionals about how to give their own P.H.N. event for friends and family affected by shingles and PHN. Read more about the event below.
The second annual PHN Awareness Day is coming up soon! Find out more about the Day and the featured speakers and activities below.
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The American Pain Foundation (APF) has designated September 16 as the second annual Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) Awareness Day, which is part of National Pain Awareness Month.
If you or someone you know is suffering from shingles or after-shingles pain, you are not alone. Every year, approximately 1 million Americans will develop shingles.1 And one out of every five people who have suffered from shingles may go on to develop after-shingles pain.2 For some PHN patients, a gentle breeze or a slight change in temperature can cause excruciating pain.3
To raise awareness of this often debilitating disease on a national level, Christopher Gharibo, M.D., director of pain medicine and assistant professor of anesthesiology at NYU School of Medicine and PHN patient and professional baseball player, LaTroy Hawkins, will be taking part in interviews with television morning shows all over the country via satellite from Dallas, Texas on PHN Awareness Day. LaTroy Hawkins suffered from shingles last year and still experiences PHN pain today. As a PHN Awareness Day spokesperson, Hawkins will share his PHN story and discuss how he manages the PHN pain.
PHN Awareness Day is a component of the Patchwork of Hope NetworkTM, and the campaign has seen several live events throughout the year where attendees heard presentations about PHN symptoms and treatment options, met others affected by PHN and had an opportunity to create individual quilt squares to tell their story about how PHN has affected their lives.
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The Patchwork of Hope NetworkTM (P.H.N.) traveled down south to Tampa, Fla. on June 30 for the second P.H.N. event of 2010. Regional physician, Dennis Patin, M.D., chief of anesthesiology and pain management at the University of Miami Medical Group in Miami, and PHN patient Kathy Sebby drew an audience of more than 100 older adults to the Town ‘N Country Senior Center. Christine Harding of the National Council on Aging (NCOA) acted as emcee for the event and educated local seniors about the resources available through the Patchwork of Hope Network and how to learn more about shingles and PHN. Dr. Patin educated the audience about shingles and PHN and available treatment options, and then Kathy took the stage to share her PHN story.
Attendees also had the opportunity to decorate a total of 75 quilt squares. Members of the Town ‘N Country quilting class, led by Shirley Ballengee, gathered the decorated squares and completed enough additional squares that her class will be able to sew together three separate quilts for the Patchwork of Hope Network.
Following the consumer educational event, about 20 local aging professionals attended a more informal session to learn how to host their own P.H.N. event. In addition to receiving more information from Dr. Patin, Christine and Kathy about how to talk to an older audience about the risks and options, each attendee took home an informational binder and a seminar in a box toolkit to help them hold their own event.
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AfterShingles.com is an educational resource that offers tools and information to
help educate consumers about shingles and after-shingles pain, its impact on people's
lives and steps to help manage this condition.
Through AfterShingles.com, you can also connect with a network of individuals who
have been affected by shingles and PHN. The Patchwork of Hope Network
(P.H.N.) brings together sufferers and supporters through the design of both a virtual
and physical quilt in honor of those impacted by the condition.
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What can I do to reduce postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or after-shingles pain at home?
Given that PHN pain affects every patient differently, pain relief methods will vary too. Please talk with your healthcare professional about other ways to help reduce PHN pain.
How long does PHN pain usually last?
The duration of PHN varies widely. In some patients, it can last for months or even years. However, for many patients, the pain will lessen over time. Furthermore, there are a growing number of PHN pain relief options that are proving to be effective for many patients.3 Talk with your healthcare professional to discuss what relief option might be right for you.
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Take our virtual poll! Do you suffer from pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)? What kind of PHN pain relief do you currently use?
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