Information and opinions on ChronicPainConnection from Karen Lee Richards http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949 en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/ http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/27619/fibromyalgia Mon May 12 11:06:00 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards In recognition of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Pfizer is providing a charitable donation to four national nonprofit organizations to support their fibromyalgia educational activities and advocacy efforts.  The donation program is part of FibroCenter, a new online community developed and maintained by Pfizer, which is intended to offer information to empower the fibromyalgia community.  For each person who goes to the FibroCenter Web... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/27619/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/27599/fibromyalgia Mon May 12 04:23:09 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards There are two things I dread when I go to the doctor: stepping on the scale and having my blood pressure taken.  My issue with the scale is purely a vanity thing.  I don’t know many people who enjoy having their weight announced so that anyone who happens to be nearby can hear.  But my problem with having my blood pressure taken is a pain issue.  I cringe when the nurse picks up the blood pressure cuff because I know... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/27599/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/27274/veterans-bill Wed May 07 16:25:32 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards Thanks to advanced medical technology, better body armor and rapid evacuation, fewer of our soldiers are dying from their injuries than ever before.  Of course, we’re extremely grateful that lives are being saved.  However, the flip side of the coin is that more veterans now have to live with chronic pain.  To focus attention on pain management and research for veterans, Senators Daniel Akaka and Sherrod Brown introduced the... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/27274/veterans-bill http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/26977/fda-evaluation Mon May 05 04:58:04 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards When OxyContin was first introduced in 1996, it was hailed as a breakthrough treatment for severe chronic pain.  OxyContin, a time-released version of oxycodone, was intended to be swallowed whole.  The painkiller would then be gradually released over a 12-hour period, giving sufferers consistent and steady relief.  Unfortunately, drug abusers quickly discovered that they could crush the tablets and snort or inject them.  The... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/26977/fda-evaluation http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/26274/announced Mon Apr 28 15:40:12 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards Last month we announced the 2008 Migraine and Headache Poetry Contest being held on our sister site MyMigraine Connection.  Since Migraines and headaches are both chronic pain illnesses and so often accompany other chronic pain conditions, we thought some of you might like to enter the contest.  But whether or not you entered and whether or not you experience Migraines or headaches, I think you’ll relate to the winning... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/26274/announced http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/26270/feature Mon Apr 28 15:08:03 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards Have you seen our new Ask a Question feature?  If you have a question related to chronic pain, ask it in the Ask a Question box and you’ll get feedback from other community members and/or experts.  To find your Ask a Question options, click on the purple “Ask” button at the top of most pages on ChronicPainConnection.  When you ask your question, please remember that we cannot diagnose or treat online; nor can we... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/26270/feature http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/25644/medicine Mon Apr 21 13:10:20 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards Last month I woke up with my third cold of the winter season.  This one came with a cough, so I pulled out a full bottle of cough syrup I remembered having in my medicine cabinet.  Imagine my surprise when I saw that it had expired in June of 2005!  I decided it was time to do some spring cleaning of my medicine cabinet.Fortunately, I’ve recently learned some medication storage tips that will prevent me having to throw away... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/25644/medicine http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/25060/pain-bad Mon Apr 14 08:52:00 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards Last week American Idol had their annual Idol Gives Back program.  If you haven’t seen it, they bring dozens of top celebrities together for a two-and-a-half hour live show to raise money for charities in the U.S. and Africa.  Later that night Jimmy Kimmel, on his late-night TV show, was talking about Idol Gives Back.  He said, “This year they estimate they raised $100 million, which will be divided between a variety... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/25060/pain-bad http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/24390/gaining Mon Apr 07 11:14:00 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards A couple of days ago I received a call from a massage therapy student who had one final assignment to complete before her graduation at the end of the month.  The assignment involved interviewing someone with fibromyalgia.  As I answered her questions about types of pain, energy levels, how FM has changed my life, etc., I found myself giving her two-part answers.  First I would tell her how I am doing now; then I would describe... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/24390/gaining http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/24237/needed-today Fri Apr 04 13:40:00 -0400 2008 Karen Lee Richards You may remember my asking you to help our sister site MyMigraineConnection last month by e-mailing your Congressional Representative to support efforts to increase NIH funding for Migraine disease and headache research. Now we’re asking you to contact your Senators in the same way. It’s a very simple thing to do. The process is so automated that all you have to do is fill in a few blanks. There's a spot for you to add a... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/24237/needed-today