Patient Stories | Chronic Pain Advocacy

High Impact

My Story: CRPS Type 2, Disc Degenerative Disease, Paralysis and Under Medicated

Danielle Lares • CRPS Type 2, Disc Degenerative Disease, Paralysis and Under Medicated

In 2018 I got the flu which turned into double pneumonia and sepsis. My kidneys had shut down and the ambulance was desperate trying to get an active line in. During this time I wasn't coherent. Whe...

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High Impact

My Story: EDS and fibromyalgia

Nance • EDS and fibromyalgia

I'm a caregiver to my 20 year old daughter who has Elher-Danos and undiagnosed fibromyalgia (soon to see a rheumatologist). She lives at a 7-9 out of 10 on the pain scale. Her pain really ramped up l...

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Severe ImpactFeatured

Finding My Voice After Years of Being Dismissed

Sarah M. • Fibromyalgia

For eight years, doctors told me it was. I was a 32-year-old marketing executive who suddenly could not get through a workday without debilitating pain in every joint and muscle in my body. I went to ...

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High Impact

Living with Invisible Pain: A Chronic Migraine Journey

David K. • Chronic Migraine

Twenty-two days a month. That is how often I experience migraine attacks. Not headaches — migraines, with aura, nausea, light sensitivity so severe I have blackout curtains in every room of my house. ...

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Severe ImpactFeatured

Rebuilding Life Around Pain: Finding New Purpose

Elena R. • Endometriosis

I was 16 when the pain started. My mother told me period pain was normal. My school nurse told me to take ibuprofen. My first gynecologist told me I was being dramatic. It took 12 years and four surge...

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Critical ImpactFeatured

From Patient to Advocate: My CRPS Transformation

Marcus T. • CRPS

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome took my career as a carpenter, my independence, and nearly my will to live. The pain in my left hand and arm after a workplace injury spiraled into something no one arou...

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