1.
NPR.org: Pain patients and doctors worry the CDC’s new opioid guidelines may be damaging (Audio, 4 minutes)
From the summary: “Patients with chronic pain and doctors have long raised concerns about the CDC’s opioid prescribing guidelines. The agency has drafted a new version, but some worry it doesn’t protect patients enough.”
2.
HealthRising.org: The pain gender gap | Women and men really are from different planets when it comes to pain
From the article: “With men and women pretty evenly split in the population at large, women make up about 70% of chronic pain sufferers – suggesting they are more than twice as likely to come down with a chronic pain disorder than men. Despite experiencing more pain, women tend to be less effectively treated for pain.”
3.
TownsendLetter.com: Effective treatment of pain and sleep in fibromyalgia – A comprehensive clinical approach
There are a lot of great nuggets in this article from Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum regarding how to decrease fibromyalgia pain and improve sleep quality. Worth the click!

4.
IBHealthAndLifestyle.com: 20 healthy food swaps for any dietary requirement
In this post, IBHealthAndLifestyle.com shares 20 healthy food and drink swaps for any allergy and dietary need – gluten free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, nut free, refined sugar free, paleo, whole 30, etc. – to make cooking/baking recipes easier.
5.
RedKiteMeditations.com: Brain retraining | Creating new emotional habits to support healing chronic illness
From the article: “I think it’s important to note that these aren’t ‘positive thinking’ techniques. They are about true mindfulness and creating genuine, positive feeling. Practicing brain retraining doesn’t mean you become some kind of inhuman fake new-age monster who only ever admits to feeling amazing. You still feel every emotion on the spectrum. The difference is not allowing your brain to spiral into sticky habits of negativity – finding your way back to flow and change.”
Important: The CDC needs to hear from us!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) is seeking public comment on its revised opioid prescribing guideline through April 11. Please click the link at the end of the article linked below to submit comments. (The article gives an overview of the revised guideline for those who want to learn more.)
Pain News Network: Revised CDC opioid guideline gives doctors more flexibility
It’s extremely important for the chronic pain community to submit comments so we’re heard during this process.
Free natural back pain remedies ebook…
365DailyHealth.com is offering a free ebook entitled, “Natural Back Pain Remedies: Discover the Top 10 Natural, 100% Safe and Easy Remedies for Instant Back Pain Relief.”
FYI: I haven’t read the book, so I don’t know if the information is useful or not.
Warrior of the Week…
This week’s featured fibromyalgia warrior is Peyton, a Detroit-based artist who shares her pain through her songs.
Detroit artist Peyton copes with chronic illness through music
(The sections below contain affiliate links.)
Coming up … The Fibro Summit…
HealthMeans.com and Dr. Rodger Murphree are partnering again this year to bring us the Fibro Summit! The summit will be free and online on May 16-22 with an encore weekend (where you have a second chance to watch any presentations you missed) scheduled for May 28-29.
As in previous years, HealthMeans is offering several different registration gifts. I’ve listed all of them below. Just click on the link for the gift that you’d like to receive, and that will take you to a registration page.
Treating and Beating Adrenal Fatigue Special eReport
Good Gut Health Remedies eBook
Let’s “Talk” About FIBROMYALGIA eBook
Fibromyalgia and Deep Restorative Sleep Special eReport
During the summit, you’ll have 24 hours to view each day’s presentations for free, but if you’d like to watch at your leisure, you can purchase the summit starting at $69.
FYI: This discounted price usually increases a day or so after the summit begins.
Product of the Week…
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to try various TENS units in both home and physical therapy settings. Personally, I’ve never experienced dramatic results with TENS, but I know A LOT of you have, so this week’s featured product is an affordable TENS unit that has around 30 four- and five-star reviews from actual fibro warriors (plus thousands of other positive reviews for chronic pain)!
The Product of the Week is the Belifu Dual Channel TENS EMS Unit 24 Modes Muscle Stimulator for Pain Relief Therapy, Electronic Pulse Massager Muscle Massager, one of the most highly rated TENS units on Amazon!
Haven’t heard of TENS? Read this: How a TENS unit could help with fibromyalgia pain
Migraine device sale…
The Cefaly, a device clinically proven to reduce and prevent migraines, is on sale for 20% off through April 10. Plus, save an additional 15% off when you use the code CEFALY15 at checkout.
FYI: This is the best sale I’ve seen this year for the Cefaly.
Read more: What is Cefaly and how does it work?
Read more: How well did Cefaly perform in clinical trials?

Hi Donna, Thank you for these very informative posts! All are excellent and specifically the sound bite about the new CDC guidelines. I’ve been reading the new draft and hope for the best for our Chronic Pain Community.
I hope you are doing well and I’m looking forward to your next update with your new home.
As always, you are a strong woman and an amazing Warrior! I’m so proud of and grateful for you, ever since I first became known of you on the National Pain Report.:) I still miss that forum!
Sending blessings, love and strength always. Maureen
Thanks for this informative post here!