CT Woman Battles Chronic Pain: Local Health System’s Approach

# Connecticut Woman Finds Relief Through Groundbreaking Hartford HealthCare Migraine Study

For decades, people in Connecticut dealing with migraines have faced pain that disrupts both their work and home lives. Deanna Gorman, one of those residents, found real relief after joining a workplace migraine study run by Hartford HealthCare and Pfizer.

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This research tries to figure out how migraines affect folks at work and aims to offer better treatment for thousands of employees all over the state.

A Lifetime of Pain Finally Addressed

Deanna Gorman started getting brutal migraines at just 12 years old. She dealt with pain, nausea, and exhaustion so intense it sometimes felt endless.

Like so many others in Connecticut, she just put up with it, thinking it was something she’d always have to live with.

Transformative Treatment Results

After meeting with Dr. Brian Grosberg through the Hartford HealthCare migraine initiative, things changed. They adjusted her medication, and suddenly, her migraines dropped from three or four terrible episodes each month to just one mild one over three months.

“The difference has been life-changing,” Gorman says. These days, she’s actually more productive at work and can enjoy her life in New Haven again.

Connecticut’s Pioneering Workplace Migraine Research

This study covers about 44,000 Hartford HealthCare employees and contract workers. The research stretches across places like Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwich, and other Connecticut cities.

It’s easily one of the biggest workplace migraine studies ever done in the U.S.

Understanding the Widespread Impact

Migraines hit nearly 16% of Americans. Women, in particular, seem to bear the brunt during their busiest years.

In Stamford and Waterbury, local doctors have noticed the same thing—many people keep quiet about their migraines because of the stigma.

Some numbers from the research are pretty eye-opening:

Employees with migraines lose more than 10 days of productivity each year

70% of people with migraines don’t tell their employers

Getting diagnosed and treated often takes way too long

Migraines lead to both missed work and working while sick

Creating a Supportive Workplace Environment

Hartford HealthCare wants to do more than just treat migraines. They’re working to change how workplaces deal with the condition.

Across locations from Greenwich to Danbury, they’re rolling out education and resources for every employee—not just those with migraines.

Reducing Stigma Through Education

One big step is teaching managers and coworkers that migraines are a real neurological condition, not just a bad headache. That’s already making it easier for people to talk about their migraines and get help.

“When colleagues understand that migraine is a neurological condition with genetic components, not simply a reaction to stress or an excuse to avoid work, the entire workplace dynamic improves,” says Dr. Grosberg, who leads the initiative.

Setting a National Model for Workplace Wellness

The Hartford HealthCare and Pfizer collaboration wants to create a model that other companies can actually use. They’re tracking how their approach affects productivity, employee wellness, and healthcare costs.

This study gives employers real data to think about if they’re considering similar programs. Results from the Connecticut research will be shared widely with healthcare systems and employers nationwide.

Maybe this will help improve life for millions of Americans who deal with migraines. For folks in Middletown and nearby who get migraine symptoms, here’s the takeaway: there are good treatment options out there.

It’s encouraging to see more employers waking up to how important it is to support people with this condition.

Here is the source article for this story: A CT woman has known ‘white-hot’ pain for decades. Here is what a health system is doing about it.

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