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The TMJ Association is excited to be part of the Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women, an advocacy campaign fighting to end discrimination against and improve care for women suffering from neglected and dismissed chronic pain conditions. The Campaign members are volunteer leaders from the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America, Endometriosis Association, National Vulvodynia Association, and The TMJ Association.
The launch of the campaign took place on May 19th in Washington D.C. The event was held in cooperation with the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues at the Capitol Visitor Center. There was standing room only, with representatives from 35 House and Senate offices, leaders of women's organizations and health organizations and reporters. Click here to view the entire launch event video/photos.
"The costs to patients go beyond dollars," said Terrie Cowley, President, The TMJ Association. "Patients can lose their dreams and hopes of careers, of a family, of a quality life and even life itself. This is why it is so important that cost effective investments in research be made, and that a campaign is created to educate health care professionals and promote public awareness of these conditions." (Terrie's presentation can be viewed on YouTube or a downloaded (PDF document).
The Campaign’s report documents that up to 50 million American women suffer from one or more neglected and dismissed chronic pain conditions, such as: chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular disorders, and vulvodynia.
Many patients face neglect, dismissal and discrimination as they are shuffled from doctor to doctor, inappropriately treated, left without answers, and suffering needlessly. It typically takes months to years and multiple consultations to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The failure to effectively diagnose and treat these conditions adds as much as $80 billion a year in direct and indirect costs to America's annual health care bill.
Despite the staggering personal and financial toll, our federal research investment is severely shortchanged, averaging just $1.33 for every affected woman in 2009. An aggressive set of reforms is needed to address this major health care problem. In addition to saving billions in wasteful health care costs, these reforms would greatly improve the quality of health care and lives for millions of American women.
The afternoon of May 19th, leaders from the CFIDS Association of America, Endometriosis Association, National Vulvodynia Association, and The TMJ Association met with staff of House and Senate leaders and key Committees. The response to the campaign's goals and recommendations was enthusiastically positive.
The launch was just the beginning of our campaign to address the needs of women suffering from overlapping pain conditions:
- Make Cost Effective Investments in Research
- Educate Health Care Professionals
- Expand Public Awareness
We cannot do this without your help! We'll continue to keep you abreast of campaign activities and let you know how you can be involved in the Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women.
Additional Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women articles:
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