Major Pain

When Cammie and Evan's two boys were 1 and 2 years old, Cammie was diagnosed with CREST disease. CREST, also known as limited scleroderma, is an intensely painful rheumatic condition with a wide variety of symptoms that progressively affect the entire body. Cammie was told if she did everything right she may have 8 to10 good years left. 9 years later she is still determinedly living her life.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Cammie and Evan share what their lives have been like since Cammie's diagnosis. They talk about the impact of this disease on their relationship, and how they've raised their boys with the knowledge that their mom won't be around forever. They also share the medications and coping mechanisms that have been helpful, all of which were difficult to come by since this disease is so poorly understood.

Three years ago Andi Alhadeff was stricken with a sudden influx of intrusive thoughts, a condition often associated with OCD, along with extreme anxiety and nausea. Blood tests showed elevated prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Further testing revealed that Andi had a pituitary adenoma (or prolactinoma), a type of tumor that sits on the pituitary gland and can affect hormone production.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Andi discusses the diagnosis and subsequent treatment she has received for her prolactinoma. Over the past three years she has taken great strides in managing her symptoms and mental outlook, regaining control in the face of a frightening diagnosis. She shares her experience with prescription drugs and supplements aimed at lowering her prolactin, which ranged in both effectiveness and the severity of side effects. She also discusses the occurrence of mental health challenges faced as a result of her hormone imbalance, including bouts of depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts.

Justin Balch has lived many lives, having been derailed several times by chronic pain and health issues. While studying as a saxophone performer he developed a mystery pain that forced him to put down his instrument permanently. He adjusted course and became a professional audio engineer, until a barotrauma caused tinnitus (constant ringing noise) and he could no longer rely on his ears. After several more career course corrections, he finds himself struggling with mysterious symptoms likely caused by long-haul Covid.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast Justin shares his many paths taken, and the roadblocks he has encountered along the way. Through it all he has maintained a positive attitude and outlook, constantly grateful for what he has instead of dwelling on what he has left behind. He shares his experience with alternative medicines, in place of a traditional medical system that continually offered little help. He also discusses creating a support group for men in a society that discourages sharing their pain.

Like millions of other Americans, Mya suffers from a disabling undiagnosed disease. She experiences constant pain, brain fog, and requires a wheelchair to be mobile. But she is also a viral TikTok sensation, known for her joyous attitude, dance moves and social activism on behalf of the disabled community.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Mya shares what it was like at 19 years old when her mystery illness first became disabling, and how she shifted her mental framework to allow for a positive outlook. She describes how TikTok comments drove her to activism, and the many ways in which her mysterious disease has affected her life.

Find Mya on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@immarollwithit

This episode features a brief discussion of attempted suicide. If you are suffering and in need of help, call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

This week we are launching a Patreon campaign to cover the costs of producing this podcast, and help the show's creator Jesse Mercury earn a living wage while dealing with chronic illness. Sign up at https://www.patreon.com/majorpainpodcast

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a rare form of muscular dystrophy that causes damage to peripheral nerves. It manifests in a variety of ways depending on the individual, but generally causes degenerative muscle weakness and atrophy in the arms and legs. For Brandon Sullivan, it has manifested in having to walk painfully on the outside of his left foot and a loss of motor control.

This week on the Major Pain podcast, we sit down with Brandon to discuss his CMT. He talks about the neurological presentation of his disease, from being diagnosed in his teens to current symptoms in his late 30s. He discusses a surgery he received early in his diagnosis that actually made things worse, and looks to the future of bracing options. He also shares the mindset he has developed to maintain a positive outlook in the face of a degenerative disease.

Like millions of others in the US, Yael lives with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). As is often the case, Yael experienced the effects of this disorder from an early age, her reality being that of constant worry and intruding thoughts of disaster. It was not until receiving her GAD diagnosis in her 20s that she realized the degree to which she was consumed by anxiety.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Yael shares her experience living with generalized anxiety disorder and the tools she has used to navigate through it. From medication to therapy to developing her knowledge of self, Yael shares the many ways she has been able to shift her perspective and lead a happier, healthier life.

This episodes features a brief discussion of sexual abuse in the context of past trauma. If you or someone you know needs support, call the national sexual assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or find resources online at https://www.rainn.org

Kenny Alhadeff is the chairman of Elttaes Enterprises, the Alhadeff Family Charitable Fund and a Broadway producer. He is also a drug addict and alcoholic, who has been successfully living in recovery for 36 years.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Kenny shares the story of learning to live in recovery and the tools he uses to successfully do so. As a regular speaker at AA meetings, he knows first hand the value of supporting each other through the recovery process. In a way, this podcast episode is a portable AA meeting you can take in your pocket. Kenny discusses how addiction is a disease, offers insight for those who are struggling, and shares personal stories of his life in recovery.

As a child, Derek Strachan became interested in the workings of the human body after a doctor's misdiagnosis almost cost him his leg. That passion to understand health and wellness led him to become a chiropractor, a practice in which trained specialists use their hands or special tools to adjust their patients bodies. The goal of chiropractic care is to keep your body in proper alignment and help the nervous system communicate with itself. In the right hands, it can be a powerful tool to help with chronic pain.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Dr. Derek shares the harrowing story that pushed him towards becoming a chiropractor, describes the methods and tools he uses to help his patients, and the ways in which chiropractic care can be applied to manage or alleviate pain.

Find Dr. Derek's current chiropractic practice at https://www.fineandwell.ca/

Like many living in the Pacific Northwest, pediatric nurse Cara Pierson suffers from seasonal affective disorder, a type of seasonal depression that coincides with the winter months each year. As the science around mental health continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly clear just how much we don't understand about the mind, mood and environmental interactions. As with many poorly understood health conditions, seasonal depression is often brushed off as being "all in your head" or somehow the fault of the sufferer. This outdated attitude leaves many to suffer alone.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Cara shares what it's like to prepare for her yearly slide into depression, her frustrations with the way our healthcare system approaches mental health, and the cognitive framing she has developed to cope.

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Like many living in the Pacific Northwest, pediatric nurse Cara Pierson suffers from seasonal affective disorder, a type of seasonal depression that coincides with the winter months each year. As the science around mental health continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly clear just how much we don’t understand about the […]