Gwen Dotson is no stranger to pain. For the last seven years Dotson, from Humboldt, California, has endured Takayasu's arteritis, a rare autoimmune di

Gwen Dotson is no stranger to pain. For the last seven years Dotson, from Humboldt, California, has endured Takayasu's arteritis, a rare autoimmune disease.

Dr. Tim on alleviating the symptoms of chronic pain.

The disease, which affects the arteries, causes Dotson to experience constant fatigue and generalized aches and painsthroughout her body. The cause is unknown, and though there are treatments to help ameliorate symptoms, there is no known cure.

"Because of my illness I had to stop working, which I had done for 25 years," Dotson said. "I began to question the purpose of my life."

Dotson said she felt extremely isolated because her disease was so rare, and felt people didn't and couldn't understand her, causing her to become even more reclusive.