Country Legend Naomi Judd Joins 'Partners Against Pain'

Nashville, TN (Top40 Charts/ Purdue Pharma) - Singer, songwriter, and patient advocate Naomi Judd is speaking up for those struggling with chronic pain - a devastating condition that affects more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Judd is lending her voice to the national education program Partners Against Pain (www.partnersagainstpain.com) to raise awareness about the urgent need to address untreated and undertreated pain in America.

As a former nurse, Judd knows that chronic pain can wreak havoc on a person's mind, body and spirit. In her personal life, she has seen how it affected a close friend who suffered excruciating pain from terminal pancreatic cancer.

"Pain robs people of their lives. It can interfere with everyday activities that most of us take for granted, like going to work, driving a car, or even hugging your children," says Judd. "That's why I'm speaking out - pain can and should be treated."

Even though it affects an estimated 76 million people and is the most common reason people seek medical care, pain is often misunderstood by patients and healthcare professionals alike.

"If pain isn't diagnosed and treated adequately, it can lead to complications such as reduced function and mobility, a weakened immune system, as well as anxiety and depression," says Gerald Q. Greenfield, MD, president of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Pain Management, a professional organization dedicated to promoting an integrative approach to pain management.

PartnersAgainstPain.com offers a wide array of information and resources to help people with pain, their caregivers and healthcare professionals better understand and manage the condition. The site has information about various pain conditions including arthritis and cancer, as well as pain assessment and measurement tools, and links to pain education and advocacy groups.