Chronic Pain Advocate Barby Ingle Is Today’s Honoree

Barby advocates for all of people challenged with a chronic care condition involving chronic pain as well as their family, caregivers, healthcare professionals and public. “One in three people (116 million) in the United States are affected with a condition that causes pain, so it is bound to affect you or someone you know. But until you feel the pain it is difficult to understand all of the challenges it brings on. Whether physical or mental, pain can and will consume you if you allow it to and only the patient can begin the process of healing!”

Barby’s hope is that by sharing her story it will inspire HOPE and motivation to others facing challenges in their life. She has been battling a Neurological condition for almost 10 years now. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is a progress Autoimmune Neurological condition that affects multiple systems in the body and needs to be treated early so that disability does not take over.

Barby knows firsthand how hard it is to continue looking for relief, perfect answers, and then keep coming up against healthcare professionals who blew her off or didn’t believe what she was saying could actually be what she was experiencing. As she searched for a cure, Barby had to become her own best advocate. Even after seeing over 100 healthcare professionals, having major surgeries she didn’t need, complications such as internal bleeding, medication interactions, kidney stones, tumors, and so much more – she did not give up or give in! Barby was tested to her limits and realized they are past the boundaries she placed on herself.

Barby had to become the Chief of Staff of her medical team, and now teaches others how to take control of their healthcare. Barby shares her knowledge of overcoming the challenges that she faces every day. She had to learn the hard way and now passes on her knowledge to give hope and answers to patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Barby speaks out about her journey to stop it from happening to anyone else.

Barby has published books on chronic pain. RSD in Me!, and ReMission Possible are more than one patients story. They are books of hope, inspiration and positivity, even when facing the toughest of times. The books offer practical advice, tips and tricks for better daily living and resolutions to the challenges of living with chronic pain. Barby’s story goes through a nine-year journey with twist and turns through the medical system and encourages the importance of thinking positive even in the worst of times.

Barby is a Chronic Pain Educator for the Power of Pain Foundation, guest speaker for The American Pain Foundation’s Power Over Pain Campaign since 2007 and Motivational speaker. She has been a pain patient since 2002 and began mentoring other patients through The RSDHope Organization in 2006.

In 2007, Barby helped create the Power of Pain Foundation which is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping people affected by chronic pain conditions involving Neuropathy pain by supporting educational programs, funding cutting-edge scientific research and driving change through awareness and advocacy with the goal of eradicating chronic pain. Since then, Barby has lead multiple programs to fight the disease of chronic pain and has raised upwards of $750,000 for the cause.

Prior to her auto accident causing chronic pain and subsequent surgeries, Barby was a business owner, event coordinator and head coach at Washington State University for the entire spirit program. Barby has been a speaker and motivator for 18 years as part of her job as a Collegiate Head Coach, business owner, and now as a volunteer patient advocate. She graduated from the George Mason University in 1994 with a degree in Social Psychology. Ms. Ingle uses her skills from Cheerleading to inspire and motivate patients to be self advocates and offers tips and tools for patients, caretakers, and healthcare professionals.

Barby is a bestselling author of two books; RSD in Me! and ReMission Possible, and is currently working on her next book. She has been featured on Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, Print Ads, Internet Ads, and Television. She was most recently seen on the Dr. Drew Show. Honors include “2012 You Are Our Hero” Award from the Neuropathy Action Foundation, Nominated in 3 categories for the 2011 Wego Health Activist Awards: Best In Show, Paperboy, & Offline Crusader. 2003 who’s who of U.S. Cheerleading coach’s honoree, 2004 Cheer LTD. Coach of the year nominee, 1998 – 2003 Teams ranked nationally in the top 10, coached at the Sun Bowl and two Rose Bowls. Barby has also served as a National speaker 1996-present, Author of the Cheertec Coaches’ Handbook, 1995-2003; six part DVD Series on aspects of cheerleading 2001, RSD in Me! A Patient And Caregivers Guide To Dealing With RSD And Other Chronic Pain Conditions, 2009, ReMission Possible; Yours If You Choose To Accept It, 2011. She is also a contributor to Cheerleader! An American Icon, 2004 and CO-Arthur of The Wisdom of Ingle, 2007.

Anyone wishing to get involved with the Power of Pain Foundation’s goal to raise money for chronic pain conditions involving Neuropathy research can make a donation by by mailing a check or money order to Power of Pain Foundation, 213 Nottingham Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 or making a credit card donation at www.powerofpain.org. Donations will be used to provide funding for programs that impact people living with chronic pain conditions, to fund research towards a cure or treatment, and/or to further our goals to help those living with pain, through education, provide assistance and educational information to the patients and their families coping with these conditions on a daily basis.

Visit Barby Ingle for more information.