Stop chasing a cause and cure
About this site
Chronic Pain Champions is an information/resource/support hub based on my experience to help people living with chronic pain, their families, and friends, as well as healthcare professionals. The focus is on a biopsychosocial approach to understanding pain, accepting pain, adjusting to pain, and adapting to pain to live a more functional and fulfilling life.
Are you tired of bouncing around between healthcare providers, Facebook groups, and Google websites trying to find a magical medical answer to chronic pain?
What if someone told you -- there is no answer — at least, for right now?
They could be right.
Going to more doctors, getting more testing, and going through more treatments out of fear of the pain or a desire to fix it can worsen the pain experience.
There is a time to accept the pain and learn to live with it. Controlling it, rather than allowing it to control you.
Are you tired of bouncing around between healthcare providers, Facebook groups, and Google websites trying to find a magical medical answer to chronic pain?
What if someone told you -- there is no answer — at least, for right now?
They could be right.
Going to more doctors, getting more testing, and going through more treatments out of fear of the pain or a desire to fix it can worsen the pain experience.
There is a time to accept the pain and learn to live with it. Controlling it, rather than allowing it to control you.
About me
Hello, I'm Tom Bowen.
My journey with chronic pain started in January 2009 after surgery left me with nerve pain.
When I first experienced symptoms, I had a tough time adjusting to them and became distressed. I let the pain and distress control me instead of taking control. They affected my life, my family, my friends, my job, and my activities. No different than others facing the same challenges.
After many unsuccessful attempts to make the pain stop, including all sorts of medicines, injections, and other interventions, including risky denervation surgery, I attended the 3-week outpatient Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC) in the fall of 2012 at the recommendation of my doctor.
I was doing better after the Mayo PRC program, self-managing the pain until a fall in 2013 brought an onslaught of new symptoms, including a 24/7 headache, neuropathy in my extremities, random widespread pain, and a whistle in my ear that made my original nerve pain worse. It seemed like all the tools I learned at the PRC couldn't help me, and I jumped back on the pain merry-go-round, doctor shopping for causes and cures for the new symptoms – letting the pain control me instead of me controlling it.
After numerous failed medical attempts to stop the pain or even manage it, I gave up hope, questioning what life was going to be like with the pain and if I wanted to live it.
That changed in 2018 when I decided I needed a reset after the pain led me to quit the job I loved and file for disability because I was unable to work due to the stress of working. I returned to the PRC for a second stint in the fall of 2018.
Being at the PRC a second time was like flipping a switch. It all came back to me. I was able to begin changing the way I was thinking about the pain, feeling about the pain, and behaving about the pain. I was also able to find a new purpose and a source of distraction for the pain by serving as a pain advocate/educator.
Through pain rehabilitation, I've been able to routinely stop the use of medicines for the pain, including opioids, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxers, amphetamines, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and over-the-counter analgesics, as well as other passive interventions like supplements and periodic injections.
Do I still experience pain?
Of course I do. But the chronic pain is often unnoticeable or drifts in the background as an uncomfortable noise.
I don't focus on the pain or worry about it because I know it means no harm.
I'm more than the pain. The pain and other conditions don't define me. Instead, I'm defined by who I am and what I do. I'm a husband, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a mentor, a past coworker, a writer, and a clown.
Have I stopped hoping for a miracle solution for pain? No. There are always advancements. I'm just not actively seeking a cause and cure. Instead, I focus my time on living well despite the pain.
I'm driving the car. Pain is in the backseat.
Listen to my story in this interview and learn more about my pain training and advocacy work.
My journey with chronic pain started in January 2009 after surgery left me with nerve pain.
When I first experienced symptoms, I had a tough time adjusting to them and became distressed. I let the pain and distress control me instead of taking control. They affected my life, my family, my friends, my job, and my activities. No different than others facing the same challenges.
After many unsuccessful attempts to make the pain stop, including all sorts of medicines, injections, and other interventions, including risky denervation surgery, I attended the 3-week outpatient Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC) in the fall of 2012 at the recommendation of my doctor.
I was doing better after the Mayo PRC program, self-managing the pain until a fall in 2013 brought an onslaught of new symptoms, including a 24/7 headache, neuropathy in my extremities, random widespread pain, and a whistle in my ear that made my original nerve pain worse. It seemed like all the tools I learned at the PRC couldn't help me, and I jumped back on the pain merry-go-round, doctor shopping for causes and cures for the new symptoms – letting the pain control me instead of me controlling it.
After numerous failed medical attempts to stop the pain or even manage it, I gave up hope, questioning what life was going to be like with the pain and if I wanted to live it.
That changed in 2018 when I decided I needed a reset after the pain led me to quit the job I loved and file for disability because I was unable to work due to the stress of working. I returned to the PRC for a second stint in the fall of 2018.
Being at the PRC a second time was like flipping a switch. It all came back to me. I was able to begin changing the way I was thinking about the pain, feeling about the pain, and behaving about the pain. I was also able to find a new purpose and a source of distraction for the pain by serving as a pain advocate/educator.
Through pain rehabilitation, I've been able to routinely stop the use of medicines for the pain, including opioids, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxers, amphetamines, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and over-the-counter analgesics, as well as other passive interventions like supplements and periodic injections.
Do I still experience pain?
Of course I do. But the chronic pain is often unnoticeable or drifts in the background as an uncomfortable noise.
I don't focus on the pain or worry about it because I know it means no harm.
I'm more than the pain. The pain and other conditions don't define me. Instead, I'm defined by who I am and what I do. I'm a husband, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a mentor, a past coworker, a writer, and a clown.
Have I stopped hoping for a miracle solution for pain? No. There are always advancements. I'm just not actively seeking a cause and cure. Instead, I focus my time on living well despite the pain.
I'm driving the car. Pain is in the backseat.
Listen to my story in this interview and learn more about my pain training and advocacy work.
CHRONIC PAIN CHAMPIONS, LLC AND THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
All information is for educational purposes only. Use at your own risk.
By accessing/using this website and any related pages/information/products/services, you agree to the terms and conditions.
PLEASE SEE THE DISCLAIMER PAGE TO LEARN MORE.
© 2025 Chronic Pain Champions, LLC
All rights reserved.
For personal, non-commercial use.
All information is for educational purposes only. Use at your own risk.
By accessing/using this website and any related pages/information/products/services, you agree to the terms and conditions.
PLEASE SEE THE DISCLAIMER PAGE TO LEARN MORE.
© 2025 Chronic Pain Champions, LLC
All rights reserved.
For personal, non-commercial use.