Meet Tom Bowen

Tom Bowen is a chronic pain advocate, educator, author, and founder of Chronic Pain Champions. His work combines lived experience with lessons learned through pain rehabilitation and years of learning about modern pain science.

“If my experience and work can help even one person feel a little less alone or a little more hopeful, then sharing what I've learned along my journey and what has helped me is worthwhile.”

— Tom Bowen

MY STORY

My journey began in 2009 with neuropathic pain after surgery.

Like many people living with chronic pain, I know what it's like to wonder if life will ever feel normal again. 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.

I struggled to adjust. I was overwhelmed, frustrated, and determined to find a cause and cure. The symptoms affected my life, my family, my friends, my job, and my activities.

I tried countless medications and supplements, saw specialist after specialist, traveled six hours for one surgery, and even flew across the country hoping another procedure would finally be the answer. Like many people with chronic pain, I kept believing the next treatment would be the one that gave me my life back.

Three years into my journey, I attended the three-week outpatient program at the Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC), one of the few interdisciplinary outpatient pain rehabilitation programs in the country.

There, I learned something that completely changed my perspective: my pain was real, but it didn't necessarily mean my body was being harmed.

Instead of continuing to chase a medical fix, I learned evidence-informed strategies that helped calm my nervous system, regain confidence, and begin living again.

WHEN PAIN TOOK OVER AGAIN

I was doing better after attending 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 my life 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.

THE RESET

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 and educator.

Do I still have pain? Yes. But it no longer controls my life.

LIVING WELL WITH PAIN

Most days, pain is simply background noise rather than the center of my attention. Some days are tougher than others, but I remind myself that ups and downs are normal and use self-management strategies such as pacing, self-compassion, and cognitive restructuring.

My goal is to move forward and not let tough times define me.

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 pain educator and author.

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 and the other accompanying symptoms are in the backseat.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Advocacy & Education

Founder, Chronic Pain Champions
Chronic pain advocate and educator
Published writer on chronic pain and pain neuroscience
Speaker for healthcare organizations and patient groups

Healthcare Collaboration

Patient Partner, Compass SHARP Program
Member, United States Association for the Study of Pain Patient Involvement Task Force
Patient partner in interdisciplinary healthcare initiatives
Contributor to patient education and pain-management initiatives

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

Lived Experience

More than 15 years of living with chronic pain have provided hard-won experience with pain, treatment, setbacks, rehabilitation, and self-management.

Pain Rehabilitation

More than 300 hours of formal pain rehabilitation training through the Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center and Mayo Clinic Fibromyalgia Program.

Support & Community

More than five years leading a chronic pain support group and helping people connect, learn, and encourage one another.

Continuing Learning

Countless hours spent researching chronic pain, pain neuroscience, self-management, rehabilitation, and related topics.

LEARN MORE

About Chronic Pain Champions

Learn more about the mission behind Chronic Pain Champions and the approach used throughout the site.

ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN CHAMPIONS →

Published Work

Explore articles, interviews, and other work by Tom Bowen about chronic pain and pain education.

VIEW PUBLISHED WORK →

Tom's Book

Explore Tom's book, which expands on the ideas and strategies discussed throughout Chronic Pain Champions.

LEARN ABOUT THE BOOK →

Connect

Have a question, comment, or something you'd like to share with Tom or Chronic Pain Champions? We'd be glad to hear from you.

GET IN TOUCH →

The pain is still part of my life. It just isn't the driver anymore. My hope is that sharing what I've learned can help someone else find a little more understanding, confidence, and freedom in their own journey.

CHRONIC PAIN CHAMPIONS, LLC, AND THIS WEBSITE DO NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
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