Today we kick off the sixth season of Major Pain by catching up with previous guests Danni, Courtney, Joan and Kaitlyn.

Danni is a baker who was risking extreme pain every time she would eat, and doctors had no idea why. She returns to the show with a huge update: she finally has a diagnosis! She tells us how a pocket of fluid around her heart and shortness of breath finally triggered doctors to take her seriously, opening a diagnostic pathway that has resulted in treatment and answers. Listen to her original episode here: https://majorpainpodcast.com/every-time-this-baker-eats-she-risks-intense-abdominal-pain/

Courtney used to think of herself as a hot potato patient, being passed from specialist to specialist in search of a diagnosis for her mystery illness. She returns to the show with a new diagnosis of Yao syndrome and new treatment plan, and is even seeing the doctor her disease is named for! Listen to her original episode here: https://majorpainpodcast.com/the-infuriating-contradictions-of-undiagnosed-illness/

Joan lives with a complex and frustrating form of GERD that has prevented her from lying flat for the past 5 years. She returns to the show having recently undergone surgery called toupet fundoplication, aimed at managing her symptoms. She describes the surgery and the outcome, discussing whether she feels it was a worthwhile procedure. Listen to her original episode here: https://majorpainpodcast.com/joan-of-heart-from-pedal-playhouse-on-her-complex-medical-journey/

Kaitlyn originally appeared on the show as a recent college graduate who had been diagnosed with 14 chronic illnesses. She returns with an additional diagnosis and a new outlook on life. Listen to her original episode here: https://majorpainpodcast.com/kaitlyn-tells-us-about-living-with-14-chronic-illnesses/

PODCAST LINKS
WEBSITE: https://majorpainpodcast.com
EMAIL: majorpainpodcast@gmail.com
SUBSCRIBE: https://majorpainpodcast.com/subscribe
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NDoD07WJmICdfdRKq0TyN
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AFFILIATE LINKS
RARE PATIENT VOICE: https://rarepatientvoice.com/MajorPainPodcast
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Justin Goodman is on a mission with his organization Project 55: to educate, equip and empower the 55% of adults with mental health struggles that aren’t getting the care they need. His journey to this mission was a tumultuous one, in which he has overcome addiction, learned to manage Bipolar II, and faced the lifelong challenge of Scheuermann’s disease. Justin is now focused on helping others in crisis, having developed a deep sense of gratitude for the lessons he has learned along the way.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, we sit down with Justin to hear the incredible story of everything he has overcome, and how it inspired the founding of Project 55. As a teenager he developed Scheuermann’s disease, a skeletal disorder characterized by uneven growth of the vertebrae, leading to a forward curvature of the spine known as kyphosis. At first it was assumed he was just having growing pains, but as his disease rapidly progressed it began to restrict every aspect of his life. By the time it was determined he was actually experiencing Scheuermann’s disease he was given two options: manage the pain with opioids, or undergo extreme surgery. He chose prescription pain management. Since this was in the time before narcotics were not closely monitored, he soon developed a dangerous dependence. If not for an intervention from his closest friends, he would not have survived.

Justin now manages the pain from Scheuermann’s disease using a variety of alternative techniques, including conditioning his lower back, mobility work and staying away from inflammatory foods. He has also found relief from a manual therapy called rolfing, in which the rigid fascia around the muscles is ground down to make it malleable. Justin is an avid golfer, and although Scheuermann’s disease initially took him away from the sport, he is now able to participate again due to the success of his disease management. Justin also discusses his journey with Bipolar II, and how mental health struggles inspired him to create Project 55. As a passionate advocate for others in need, Justin has translated his own struggles into a powerful platform for change.

Learn more about Project 55 on their website: https://project55.org/

PODCAST LINKS
WEBSITE: https://majorpainpodcast.com
EMAIL: majorpainpodcast@gmail.com
SUBSCRIBE: https://majorpainpodcast.com/subscribe
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NDoD07WJmICdfdRKq0TyN
APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/major-pain/id1562947550?mt=2&ls=1

SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/majorpainpodcast
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorpainpodcast
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@MajorPainPodcast
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/majorpainpodcast

AFFILIATE LINKS
RARE PATIENT VOICE: https://rarepatientvoice.com/MajorPainPodcast
AMAZON SHOP: https://www.amazon.com/shop/majorpainpodcast
NEURAHEALTH: https://www.neurahealth.co/majorpain

As a baby, Sarah didn’t know that her diagnosis with asthma would be the first in a long list of diagnoses that would eventually grow to over twenty. Today she manages these conditions with the help of her husband Dan and cat Daisy. She juggles her self care with working as a fundraiser for a charity organization and screening films for the South by Southwest film festival. When not working, she finds joyful movement as a ballroom dancer.

In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Jesse talks with Sarah about her health journey, including several illnesses we have never discussed on the show before. The first is exercise induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO), an asthma like condition involving the vocal chords closing, which prevents patients from bringing in air properly during intense physical activity. The second is lichen sclerosus, a skin condition causing discolored and thin skin. Due to the sensitive and personal nature of this condition it can be extremely hard to discuss, making first-hand information scarce. Other topics of discussion include central auditory processing disorder, making it difficult to understand words spoken in a noisy or distracting environment, and managing neurodivergence on top of multiple physical conditions.

Sarah is continuing to work at being joyfully disabled. She hopes to show others that with a little accommodation you can live a full life with chronic illness. She wants others to take the advice she has the most trouble taking herself, to be compassionate to yourself, and know that gratitude is not a competition.

PODCAST LINKS
WEBSITE: https://majorpainpodcast.com
EMAIL: majorpainpodcast@gmail.com
SUBSCRIBE: https://majorpainpodcast.com/subscribe
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NDoD07WJmICdfdRKq0TyN
APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/major-pain/id1562947550?mt=2&ls=1

SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/majorpainpodcast
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorpainpodcast
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@MajorPainPodcast
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/majorpainpodcast

AFFILIATE LINKS
RARE PATIENT VOICE: https://rarepatientvoice.com/MajorPainPodcast
AMAZON SHOP: https://www.amazon.com/shop/majorpainpodcast
NEURAHEALTH: https://www.neurahealth.co/majorpain