Tuesday-Newsday #130

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! There are three Featured Blog Posts this week: “Surviving the Holidays When You’re in Pain,” "Feeling Grinch-y? What you can do when merry and bright wears thin," and “It’s time for ChronicBabe Bingo! BONUS: Free goodies!” 

Let Me Know: If you’d like me to watch for articles on your pain condition, just drop me a note in the comments section below. 

WARNING:  My goal is to provide the most up-to-date news I can, which you can then take to your personal doctor and debate the merits of before you try it. I do not endorse any of the docs, treatments, info, and meds in anything I post nor can I guarantee they are all effective, especially not for everyone. As is the case with any health info, ALWAYS get your doctor's opinion first!

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*OBAMACARE / ACA - WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR

       Note from me: Doctors have been testifying before a Congressional Committee over the past week about how Obamacare will affect them and their patients, and saying what they think should be done to protect us. One of the doctors who testified is a neurologist who treats MS patients. His full testimony can be read HERE and I urge you to do so! This is too important to ignore and just hope that it will all come out okay. 

       What the neurologist basically talks about is how patients with complex conditions like Multiple Sclerosis in many cases not be able to get access to care and treatments they need, medications for many will be unaffordable, and many top doctors/hospitals will be squeezed out, creating a smaller pool of specialists for those who need them most. One statement he makes is, “Simply having an insurance card that does not guarantee access to providers nor medications is useless.” 

       My own personal pain physician agrees. I’m starting to get really frightened about the future of medical care for you and me. I found a few interviews and articles online from a couple of different sources so you can hear what doctors are saying:

Private pain management doctors warn of Obamacare impact 

The 'Damage' to Come: Congress Gets an Earful from Doctors 

Click on the activated link over each doctors’ name in the article and you can read their entire testimony (and I highly recommend that you do so!)

Physicians' testimony to Congress gives grim prognosis for ObamaCare

Hospitals and Doctors: Blindsided, Bewildered, and Beleagured

One doctor gives his opinion: “Dear lawmakers: Why aren’t doctors involved in health care reform?”

How to fix Obamacare: Listen to doctors

70 percent of California doctors plan to boycott Obamacare exchanges

One county health care services director warns, “Enrollment doesn’t mean access... There aren’t enough primary care physicians, period."

*MEDICATION NEWS

FDA approves first generic versions of Cymbalta

Attorney Generals Want FDA to Review Zohydro Approval

Neurontin ‘Snake Oil’ Lawsuit Upheld

Ketamine 'should be upgraded to Class B'; U.K. government advisers say new evidence shows "severe and disabling" bladder damage from frequent use

Morphine Kills The Pain, Not The Patient

Medication Safety - An Eye-Opening Display: 67,000 Children Treated Yearly for Accidental Medication Poisoning 

One pharmaceutical company to stop paying doctors to promote its drugs

The Doctor Will See You Now — On Your Cellphone

*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Picturing pain could help unlock its mysteries and lead to better treatments

Neuropathy May Signal Lupus

Is Your Doctor Ignoring Your Pain? Here's how to make sure you're heard loud and clear

St. Jude to test chronic pain control without the tingling

Men With Pelvic Pain Find a Path to Treatment Blocked by a Gynecology Board

Woman receives $4.7 million federal settlement for chronic pain (CRPS) from improperly administered flu shot

Acupuncture Unlocks Frozen Shoulder Pain - New Research

*LUPUS

Epratuzumab decreased corticosteroid use and increased quality of life in lupus patients

Putting Lupus in Permanent Remission: Scientists have successfully tested a nontoxic therapy that suppresses Lupus in blood samples of people with the autoimmune disease

Headaches Accompanying Lupus Often Not Disease-Related; Nor are they linked to medical treatment, researchers say

Biomarker Linked to Poor Outcomes in Pregnant Lupus Patients

Study Shows How Social Media Engages People With Chronic Diseases

*ARTHRITIS - ALL TYPES

A new self-injection device developed to ease the pain of arthritis

Shortage of Rheumatologists Growing Worse

RA Research: Joint Protection Study Seeking Patients

Is a Statin Drug in Your Near Future? New guidelines could put millions more people on these cholesterol-lowering medications

Differentiating Bone Pain and Joint Pain: What Arthritis Patients Should Know

Foul-Smelling Gas Shows Health Benefits in Reducing Joint Swelling

Backed by Science: 9 Supplements for Arthritis Symptoms

The Ultimate Arthritis-Friendly Shoe Guide: Shoes shouldn’t hurt! Find out which styles can help ease your arthritis foot pain

Free Online Workshop sponsored by Arthritis Foundation and NCOA can help you better manage your Arthritis

This interactive online workshop that will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage your arthritis. Read more about and sign up by clicking HERE

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Surviving the Holidays When You’re in Pain

by Ken Taylor at Power of Pain Foundation

Feeling Grinch-y? What you can do when merry and bright wears thin
by Dr. Laurie at Creaky Joints

It’s time for ChronicBabe Bingo! BONUS: Free goodies!

by Jenni Prokopy at Chronic Babe