Headache and migraine diseases captured attention nationally throughout February thanks to features on ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’s Sunday Morning Show, and PBS’s NewsHour. Members of the INvisible Project were highlighted on all three stations.
On Feb. 25, Dr. William B. Young, a headache specialist at Jefferson Headache Center and contributing writer for the INvisible Project, discussed the reality and severity of millions of Americans who have migraine disease on the Sunday Morning Show.
On Feb. 10 and 11, representatives from the U.S. Pain Foundation joined the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy in Washington, D.C., to participate in the 13th Annual Headache on the Hill. The event brings together patients, caregivers, and health care providers to speak with their representatives on Capitol Hill.
Through a grant from Amgen and Novartis, U.S. Pain sponsored 15 pain warriors from 10 states to participate in the event, and hosted a dinner for 24 current and past INvisible Project participants and volunteers in attendance.
On July 10, U.S. Pain Foundation took its INvisible Project: Migraine Edition displays to Sacramento, CA, for an educational event at the state capitol building. The INvisible Project is a print magazine and traveling display that highlights the stories of real pain warriors. By bringing these stories to state capitols, the hope is to educate lawmakers about the challenges of living with chronic pain. Prior to California, the tour visited Providence, RI; more locations will be announced soon.
U.S. Pain Foundation was busy in June with activities surrounding National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month (MHAM). In collaboration with member organizations of CHAMP (Coalition For Headache & Migraine Patients), awareness of headache diseases was elevated.
U.S. Pain hosted two interactive web events, which can be viewed by following the links:
- “Overcoming a brain in pain: Advice from migraine strategist Lindsay Weitzel, PhD,” and
- “What migraine doctors and patients can learn from one another: A conversation with Abby Chua, DO, and Katie Golden.” (Must register to view)
Ambassadors worked to obtain proclamations from their local governments to recognize June as National Migraine & Head Awareness Month. U.S. Pain also helped promote Shades for Migraine, attended the Danielle Byron Henry Foundation’s “Shine Her Light” event in Salt Lake City, and participated in two of Chronic Migraine Awareness, Inc’s “Fact-A-Day” social media posts, and partnered on the start of their newest program, Triage Kits.
From April 12 to 14, more than 200 people from around the world gathered in San Antonio, TX, for the first-ever RetreatMigraine conference. Produced by CHAMP (the Coalition for Headache And Migraine Patients) the three-day educational event aimed to connect those with migraine disease with information, resources, and most importantly, each other.
A member organization of CHAMP, U.S. Pain Foundation sponsored a dinner and launch party for its latest issue of the INvisible Project. The magazine–the third edition focusing on headache diseases–includes profiles of 10 inspiring individuals who are living with migraine, headache, and cluster diseases. The launch party featured large displays with photos, story summaries, and quotes from each person profiled.
By Jorie Logan-Morris and Jeannette Rotondi
Every year in February, advocates for migraine and headache disease come together in Washington, D.C., for an event known as Headache on the Hill (HOH). HOH is organized by the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) and has been running now for 12 years.
During HOH, advocates of all kinds — migraine and headache patients, caregivers, doctors and specialists, and more — work together to lobby and meet with Congress, presenting important legislation and “asks” related to migraine and headache disease in hopes that lawmakers will support our requests. This in turn helps bring more national awareness to migraine and headache disease and ultimately further supports the millions who suffer all across the country.
By Katie Golden
In Dr. Robert Cowan’s paper “CAM in the Real World: You May Practice Evidence-Based Medicine, But Your Patients Don’t,” he explores the notion that patients with migraine disease often incorporate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their treatment regime, although it is a topic often left out of the discussion between physician and patient.
Some examples of CAM are yoga, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, homeopathy, biofeedback, and natural supplements.