Kevin Has A New Diagnosis, and New Insight Into Applying for Disability

This week Kevin returns to the Major Pain podcast to catch us up on his health journey. The big news is that he was recently diagnosed with Ménière’s disease, adding one more diagnosis to his already long list. He was also finally approved for disability, and he discusses this process Read more…

Living with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, AKA Still’s Disease

While AK’s peers were shopping for prom dresses and applying to college, she spent senior year self-advocating and undergoing hospitalizations. AK had been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at 12 years old after experiencing jaw and ankle pain. Subsequently, the flares became increasingly systemic with daily spiking fevers. AK shares how Read more…

Ali DiGiacomo On Spoonies Being Accused of Using Illness for Likes and Views

A few years ago, Ali DiGiacomo was shocked to discover her face on a Daily Mail article called ‘Addicted to being sad: Teenage girls with invisible illnesses – known as ‘Spoonies’ – post TikToks of themselves crying or in hospital to generate thousands of likes – as experts raise concerns Read more…

Avery’s Acromegaly: “It’s All in Your Head”… but Something Is Actually in My Head!

Avery was gearing up for senior year of college when she began to notice painful changes in her body. Her initial symptoms included difficulty sleeping and intense jaw pain. Avery also began to notice growth in her facial features, hands and feet. She thought these changes could be from another Read more…

Demystifying Functional Neurological Disorder: Sydney’s Story

Sydney Anne Bennett lives with functional neurological disorder (FND), which is a condition where the brain doesn’t communicate properly with the nervous system. Sydney’s symptoms include chronic pain, hallucinations, loss of taste, trouble sleeping, hand paralysis, seizures, ataxia, muscle spasms, fatigue, and difficulty using her legs. Consequently, after a year Read more…

Cianna’s Journey: How Chronic Illness Changed This 19 Year Old’s Life

Cianna has been a dancer her whole life, saying “as soon as I could walk I was dancing.” Over the past few years chronic illness has altered her life’s course, and frustratingly taken her away from dance. While it has been difficult to leave her life’s passion behind, Cianna has Read more…

Kenny Returns to Major Pain With New Diagnoses and a New Outlook

Kenny Alhadeff first appeared on the Major Pain podcast 3 years ago, sharing his experiences living in recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism. This year Kenny will celebrate his 40th year of sobriety. Since first appearing on the show Kenny has experienced the most intense chronic pain of his life, Read more…

LoveWarriorHugs on Living With Five Chronic Illnesses

Jamie is a social media chronic illness advocate under the handle @LoveWarriorHugs, but her advocacy extends beyond social media. She is an epilepsy ambassador with the National Epilepsy Foundation, and she’s also been involved in successfully lobbying to change pain management laws in Illinois. Her passion for advocacy stems from Read more…

Rasheera Dopson on Being Born Almost 5 Months Premature, Causing VATER and Goldenhar Syndromes

Rasheera Dopson, host of the Womanhood & Disability podcast, is an accomplished author, public speaker and advocate spreading her messages of justice, disability empowerment and awareness. She came by this work through her own experience living with two rare syndromes, both caused by her being born about 5 months premature. Read more…

A photo of the three podcast guests who return to update us on their stories in the season 4 premiere.

Season 4 Premiere! Catching Up With Michelle, Bek and Simon

We’re kicking off the fourth season of Major Pain by catching up with previous guests! Michelle and Bek both have new diagnoses that are recontextualizing their journeys, while Simon is feeling completely cured. As Major Pain enters its fourth season, now is a great time to support the show on Read more…