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ASAP Blog: Communication and Information for the SM and CM Community
Finding a Cure
Written by: Patricia Maxwell on February 3, 2012
If people will donate a million plus to fund building a new gym, why can't we get them to make a similar donation to find a cure?
Pain
Written by: Patricia Maxwell on January 20, 2012
The internet is inundated with information about pain and treatments. After more than twenty years of working for ASAP and talking to hundreds of individual dealing with a variety of levels and types of pain, I have come to the conclusion that pain treatment must be individualized. What works for one person does not always work for another.
Find a pain specialist who really listens to you. Let them know what you have tried, what works and what doesn’t. Keeping a journal will help; over time we tend to forget treatments that did not work. Some treatments seem to work at first but the effects are not lasting. The important thing is not to give up and assume you have to live with the pain.
First Step in Potential Treatment
Written by: Patricia Maxwell on January 19, 2012
Researchers from the University of Central Florida have created cells that protect nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The cells were developed from umbilical cord blood stem cells and could have applications the treatment of spinal cord injury and other nervous system diseases. Published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience zeenews.com
GINA
Written by: Patricia Maxwell on January 12, 2012
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is a federal law that protects individuals from genetic discrimination (i.e. being treated unfairly because of differences in their DNA that increase their risk for disease). Enacted in 2008, GINA protects from genetic discrimination in insurance and employment.
Prescription Drug Cards
Written by: Patricia Maxwell on January 11, 2012
How do you know if a prescription discount card is legitimate? The truth is that some programs are scams and will offer little, if anything, but headaches.
Before signing up for any kind of discount program - prescription discount card or similar – it is wise to read the fine print. Many prescription discount cards are not affiliated with insurance companies, drug companies, pharmacies or retail establishments. If that is the case, one should always wonder why the company is making the offer. Often those companies sell the information to third parties, such as telemarketers. In exchange, the savings programs they offer may save the consumer only 5% or 10% on prescription drugs. With the high cost of medication every bit of money saving helps, but is it worth the annoyance.
Look for a prescription discount card that is affiliated with related companies. Many can be printed online and most are free of charge. Make it worth your while to subscribe and try to provide as little personal information as possible during the sign up process.