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TMJA Joins Forces with Five Non-Profits to Help Millions of
Patients Suffering from Coexisting Medical Conditions
In an effort to help millions of Americans suffering from multiple
 chronic medical
conditions, six independent nonprofit organizations have come together to form
the Overlapping Conditions Alliance. The new Alliance will promote research
into the underlying connection(s) between coexisting conditions. As part of
this effort, the Alliance has launched an informational web site - www.OverlappingConditions.org.
Millions
of Americans suffer from one or more of these chronic disorders: chronic fatigue
syndrome, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome),
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), temporomandibular joint and muscle
disorders (TMJ) and vulvodynia. Health care providers receive limited
training on these conditions, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and inappropriate
treatment for millions of patients.
Studies indicate these
conditions often 'overlap'. Much more research is needed to understand the
connection(s) and develop more effective treatments. All of these conditions
cause enormous physical and emotional distress for sufferers and their
families. In addition, they cost the US billions of dollars each year in
medical costs and lost productivity.
The mission of the Overlapping
Conditions Alliance is to change this situation by advancing the scientific,
medical, and policy needs of individuals afflicted with multiple chronic
conditions. The Alliance is composed of six independent nonprofit patient
advocacy organizations: the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome
Association of America, Endometriosis Association, Interstitial Cystitis
Association, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders,
National Vulvodynia Association, and The TMJ Association.
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