Fifty percent of people with chronic pain also have depression, pain management experts say. And more than 75 percent of patients with depression report pain-related symptoms (such as headaches, stomach pain, neck and back pain), according to the World Health Organization. The pain/depression connection raises a lot of questions for some people who experience both:… Continue reading The “chicken-and-egg” relationship between pain and depression
Tag: pain
“My experience as a patient and son helps me”: PatientsLikeMe software engineer Alex’s backstory
Meet Alex Bromley, a PatientsLikeMe software engineer who’s living with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and whose mother has fibromyalgia. He recently shared some insight on his and his mom’s conditions, his experiences as both a PatientsLikeMe employee and member and what he enjoys outside of work. What first drew you to working at PatientsLikeMe? Can… Continue reading “My experience as a patient and son helps me”: PatientsLikeMe software engineer Alex’s backstory
Chris Hannah, founder of CHSG, talks cluster headaches, clinical trials and more
In the beginning of June, we posted about National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month, and today, we’re continuing the conversation with Chris Hannah, the founder of Cluster Headache Support Group (CHSG). He recently sat down for a PatientsLikeMe blog interview, and he spoke at length about everything related to cluster headaches. Below, read what he… Continue reading Chris Hannah, founder of CHSG, talks cluster headaches, clinical trials and more
Migraine: More than just a headache
June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, but isn’t a migraine just a bad headache? Nope. People like Cindy McCain (wife of Senator John McCain) and 36 million Americans living with migraines will tell you otherwise. And this month, those 36 million are raising awareness and dispelling the stigma around migraines. Headaches can have… Continue reading Migraine: More than just a headache
Arthritis Awareness 101
You may have heard that arthritis affects the joints, but did you know that it’s an umbrella term used to describe over 100 medical conditions and diseases (known as rheumatic diseases)?1 Conditions that fall underneath forms of “arthritis” include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia. And the symptoms can vary depending on the type of arthritis and the person… Continue reading Arthritis Awareness 101
PatientsLikeMe member Tam builds first-ever ‘by patients, for patients’ health measure on the Open Research Exchange
Back in March last year, we shared on the blog about a new grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that would help support two patient-led projects on our Open Research Exchange (ORE) , a platform that brings patients and researchers together to develop the most effective tools for measuring disease. We were overwhelmed by… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe member Tam builds first-ever ‘by patients, for patients’ health measure on the Open Research Exchange
Seeing [MS]: The invisible symptoms – pain
“I’m burnt alive every day.” That’s how Stephen Papadopoulos, an Australian living with multiple sclerosis (MS), describes the level of pain he experiences on a daily basis. Pain is the second of nine symptoms portrayed in the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia’s (MSA) Seeing [MS] awareness campaign, and Stephen details his experience in the video… Continue reading Seeing [MS]: The invisible symptoms – pain
“In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Tam writes about (your) life with MS
If you were living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and someone said to you, “Well I get tired too, but I don’t go lay down in bed all day,” how would you respond? Invisible symptoms like pain and fatigue are hard to describe to someone who doesn’t get it or isn’t living with MS. But to… Continue reading “In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Tam writes about (your) life with MS
Spreading the word for arthritis
Lupus? Check. Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS? Check. ALS, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, mental health, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression? Check! There’s been a ton of awareness going on in May, but there’s still one more theme to go – National Arthritis Awareness Month. This month, the Arthritis Foundation (AF) is encouraging us all to spread the word to… Continue reading Spreading the word for arthritis
Making fibromyalgia visible this May
The National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association (NfmCPA) is recognizing Fibromyalgia Awareness Month with an awesome theme – “C.A.R.E. & Make Fibromyalgia Visible.” C.A.R.E. stands for Contribute, Advocate, participate in Research, and Educate others about fibromyalgia, and that’s exactly what’s going on throughout May. Fibromyalgia (commonly shortened to “fibro”) causes widespread body pain or aching muscles – myalgia –… Continue reading Making fibromyalgia visible this May