Where Does Tampa Hurt? New Community Pain Map Aims to Find Out

Where does Tampa hurt? That's the question Tampa pain-management physician Dr. Myrdalis Díaz-Ramírez is asking residents this September as part of "Where Does Tampa Hurt?", a new virtual community pain map launching for Pain Awareness Month.

The interactive initiative invites Tampa-area residents to anonymously identify where they experience chronic pain by marking the area on a human figure. As more people participate, the results will create a visual snapshot of where Tampa hurts.

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"Pain can be incredibly isolating because you can't always see it," Díaz-Ramírez says. "We wanted to give people a way to show us where they hurt and, hopefully, remind them that they're not alone."

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans and can interfere with mobility, independence, work and everyday life. But Díaz-Ramírez says numbers alone don't always capture what it means to live with pain.

The map is not intended to diagnose the cause of someone's pain. Instead, it is designed to start a community conversation.

"People can live with pain for years without really talking about it," Díaz-Ramírez says. "Sometimes we accept it as part of getting older or something we simply have to push through. I want people to know that pain deserves a conversation."

Putting Pain Awareness on the Map

Díaz-Ramírezis a double board-certified physician in anesthesiology and pain medicine and founder of DR²SPINE Regenerative Medicine in Tampa. She has spent more than 25 years treating patients with chronic pain.

As part of the initiative, DR²SPINE has requested that the City of Tampa recognize September 2026 as Pain Awareness Month. The proposed proclamation highlights the impact chronic pain can have on mobility, independence, daily life and overall well-being and encourages Tampa residents to learn more about pain and available treatment options.

"People deserve to understand their pain and the options available to them," Díaz-Ramírez says. "There isn't one answer that is right for every patient. The first step is understanding what you're experiencing and asking questions."

A Community Conversation on Sept. 25

On Sept. 25, Díaz-Ramírez will host a free virtual community discussion centered on the results of the "Where Does Tampa Hurt?" map and advances in pain care. The event is intended to raise awareness about chronic pain and encourage education and conversation about treatment options.

"Pain is personal, but it is also something millions of us share," Díaz-Ramírez says. "If we can get Tampa talking about it, we've already taken an important first step."