Massage Today: You have an incredible story of hope and overcoming incredible challenges. Please share your story and how you went from being in a wheelchair to running in a marathon.

Nicole Hemmenway: I personally have lived with pain since 1994.

Following an injury at 13, I was diagnosed with a neurological and chronic pain disorder called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Having pain changed the entire course of my life. I lost mobility in my right hand and had minimal use of my arm; I depended on high doses of pain medication for years and underwent numerous invasive procedures. When my disease was at its worst, I would be confined to a bed or wheelchair. At 22, doctors wrote me off as being untreatable and incurable.

Over the course of several excruciating years, I was fortunate to find a combination of nonpharmaceutical treatments that worked to manage my pain. I know I am one of the lucky ones who had the support and financial help to access alternative treatments—which very few patients have.

Today, I am 38 years old with full mobility of all my limbs. I am now married with three little boys who are 7, 4, and 18 months old. After searching so hard to find treatments that fit my lifestyle and body, every day is a gift.

I enjoy being as active as I can, eating clean, and embracing the little moments in life. It is now my continued mission, through my work with the U.S. Pain Foundation, to help and inspire other pain warriors, while advocating for access to proper pain care and treatments.

MT: What are some common misconceptions about pain and pain sufferers?

NH: Chronic pain is very frequently overlooked in public conversations. It’s invisible, subjective, and by its very nature, difficult, sometimes impossible, to treat. It’s widely stigmatized and looked down on, and patients are often ashamed to share their experiences.

Many times, people with pain are often written off by others as lazy, or overdramatic—in part because I think it is difficult for the average person

to imagine what it is like to live with unrelenting pain. As a society, we are used to wounds that heal and sicknesses that get better. We also have a culture where we sometimes equate poor health with poor choices, and therefore look down upon people who are sick. But a person who was born with a genetic defect or involved in a car accident didn’t choose that condition. We need to be more empathetic about the challenges of chronic illness, and mindful of the fact that it could happen to anyone.

MT: How has the U.S. Pain Foundation made pain management a quality of life issue?

NH: We work hard to enhance quality of life and improve patient outcomes for the 50 million Americans living with chronic pain through our free programs and services, including educational events, a network of support groups, a print magazine featuring patient stories, retreats for kids with pain and their families, a robust federal and state advocacy program, and more.

Additionally, we advocate at the state and federal level for better access to safer, more effective treatment options. From our perspective, the goals of an appropriate pain management program should be to decrease pain and suffering, improve physical and mental functioning, and to ensure improved quality of life. And they should be both accessible and affordable to patients who would benefit from them.

MT: How has massage therapy helped in your pain management?

NH: Massage therapy has played a significant role in my pain management at various times. Especially early on,

I utilized massage therapy weekly to improve circulation, relax tight muscles, lessen headache, and decrease pain. One time in particular, I was in a very bad state with uncontrollable tremors in my arms. After seeing a neurologist and undergoing multiple tests to rule out a brain tumor or early onset Parkinson’s disease, I visited a cranialsacral massage therapist. Within one appointment, I regained function of my arms. After eight to nine sessions, the tremors dissipated.

MT: How can others utilize massage therapy to help gain control of their pain?

NH: Massage therapy can be an extremely helpful tool for those with pain. Not only can it potentially decrease an individual’s pain, but it also can aid in sleeping better and reducing the anxiety and stress that comes with living with pain. A key point is that different forms of massage may be more beneficial at different times … so people should not be discouraged or give up. Finding the right therapist and the right technique is crucial.