Our December Story of the Month is especially poignant and heartbreaking as Althea Hudzinski's story is told by her sister, Dionetta. Althea was a young mother of three when she developed severe pelvic pain which quickly became debilitating. Frantic for help, a chain of doctors labeled her a "neurotic, anxious, pre-menopausal, drug-seeking woman." By the time Althea checked herself out of a psych ward, she was dying from the colon cancer her doctors missed. In the words of Dionetta, a "needless tragedy."

A fine post-Summit article is running on the National Pain Report featuring our keynote speaker, Dr. Bob Twillman. Executive Director of the Academy of Integrative Pain Management, Dr. Twillman shares how integrative care will be the preferred model for pain care in the future - and  how it will lessen the burden of opioids as the primary therapy. He also highlights the NIH's National Pain Strategy and the importance of pain patient's stories being heard.

Cynthia Toussaint travels to London this week to represent the USA in a global CRPS focus group. These meetings aim to give pain management industry a thorough understanding of the CRPS patient experience with a keen eye on similarities and differences around the world.  For Grace is proud to be a part of this effort, one that will ultimately improve the lives of all who suffer with this potentially devastating disease.