Welcome!

[matt]

If you’ve just arrived as a Pioneer member this is where it all begins. HealthUnlocked is a social network for health advocates like yourself to start an online movement. It’s about reaching other people and pooling together a mixture of information, support and experience to empower and change the lives of others. Most people with similar health interests also have something unique in their own experience that can help others. Everything here is designed to help you unlock the power of the crowd.

Back in 2007 I was a resident surgeon in a leading UK hospital. Our government was launching a series of changes to the way specialist doctors like myself were being accredited, and 99% of us felt it was a damaging step for the nation’s health, harmful both to us and future generations of patients we’d be treating. Big health institutions weren’t interested, so myself and a handful of doctors got together online. We started bringing more and more doctors into the group through the web. At first many thought we were crazy but quickly we became grassroots advocates for a generation of UK doctors, and in a couple of months we had a movement of 15,000 that provided support, inspiration and information to each other. We organized the biggest medical rally in UK history, an ongoing media campaign and, eventually, a high profile legal action. We got the health reforms radically changed for the better. See the article: bit.ly/R3tCM4

I learnt a lot about the immense power of togetherness, so when I joined forces with Jorge (our CEO) to dream up HealthUnlocked one of the main goals we shared was to make creating an online movement easier for inspired health advocates like you. From my own experience the importance of the group pioneers is the key.

That’s why you being here and reading this today is an important moment. In my experience if you can summon up the persistence to connect with other pioneers, create some activity, and trigger the spirit of a community, there’s no end to what you will go on to achieve together.

This 3 minute TED lecture speaks volumes about it:

youtube.com/watch?v=RXMnDG3...(Not working as expected?)

[Angal62]

Hello my name is Tracey . I have pain all over my body iam at my worst in the morning my neck right arm hands knees and feet my right hand is worse than my left I can't bend my fingers the pain goes all the way up to my shoulder I can't lift my arm much as the pain is intolerable I am waiting to see a rumertolergy doctor it takes me about an hour to get myself together in the mornings . Iam so depressed and scared of what the future holds ,

[Hidden in reply to Angal62]

Hello Tracey, my name is Maureen,

I note that your post was 10 months ago, how are you now healthwise?

By now you would have seen your Consultant & be taking regular medication. Your pain is very similar to mine, luckily I can use my right arm. I take painkillers regularly making me able to function with everyday things.

The worst thing at the moment for me is lack of motivation, I can quite easily just sit back reading my book, or watching tv. When all around me things need attention!! I also have another worry which is not wanting to leave the house, Im quite happy to just stay at home. I know not good.

So anyone out there have the same worries, any tips that have worked for you. As well as coping with constant pain which luckily I have under control at the moment.it would be good to hear from someone else.

Regards.