The FMS Community Newsletter Archives
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No More Fibromyalgia Pain |
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Fibromyalgia Information |
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Full access to back issues of the FMS Community Newsletter.
Sign up today to get the newsletter delivered right to your mailbox.
Always free, always current.
Note, the higher the number, the more current the newsletter.
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__1.htm
Wednesday, 12/5/2001
What's Inside:
1) Article: Dr. Cheney -Effective Breathing Technique
2) Article: FM Patient Found Relief Through Diet
3) Article: Losing Sleep Over It
4) Research: Estimating Health Needs
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__2.htm
Friday, 12/7/2001
What's Inside:
1) Article : Personal Guidelines for Managing Chronic Illness
2) Article : Finding Meaning in Response to Loss
3) Article : California requires doctors take CME in pain management
4) Wellness: Why should you be optimistic?
5) Wellness: Healing effects of humor
6) Research: Acupuncture and FMS
7) Research: Association of T102C polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene with
pyschiatric status in fibromyalgia syndrome.
8) Research: Substance P: A New Era, a New Role
9) Research: Block Painful Nerve 'Memories'--Medicate Preemptively
10) Books : Chronic Muscle Pain Syndrome - Paul Davidson MD
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__31.htm
Friday, 12/14/2001
What's Inside:
1) Research: Hemodynamic instability in chronic fatigue syndrome
2) Article : FM news and information
3) Research: Levels and Stability of the Alpha Sleep Anomaly
4) Research: Conscious and automatic uses of memory in chronic pain patients.
5) Article : Advice to a New Patient
6) Article : FDA Says Antidepressant Must Carry Warning: Paper
7) Article : Sexual Desire and FMS
8) Research: Pain, Pleasure Take Similar Path in Brain: Study
9) Article : 358 New Medicines for Women
10) Article : Holiday Survival Guide
11) Research: Focus On Osteoporosis
12) Research: Beneficial Effects Of Exercise On Osteoarthritis Wane Over Time
13) Research: Gene May Link Inflammatory Disease Of Spine/Joints, Skin, Eye And
Bowel
14) Research: Getting the FDA Hooked on Ecstasy
15) Research: New Depression And Anxiety Treatment Goals Defined
Fibromyalgia Newsletter # 3 Part B
Friday, 12/14/2001
What's Inside:
16) Research: Overnight Sleep Loss Boosts 'Sleep Hormone'
17) Article : Update FM-program Cypress Bioscience
18) Research: A new take on psychoneuroimmunology
19) Message : A Tombstone for Sherryl
20) Article : Hypothetical
21) Research: Fibromyalgia (Critical Review)
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__41.htm
Friday, 12/21/2001
This week's News Summary
1) Research: Predicting chronic fatigue syndrome and mood disorders after
infection
2) Article : Insomnia
3) Article : Study Rebuts Belief That Support Groups Can Extend Life
4) Article : Dr. Teitelbaum Q & A's
5) Article : Pain, the Disease
6) Research: Magnet Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
7) Article : Magnetic Mattress Pads for Fibromyalgia
8) Article : Mystery Malaise
9) Research: Biomedical Journals Ponder the Failures and Remedies of Peer
Review
10) Research: 3 Antidepressants Equally Effective
11) Research: Prayer Is Good Medicine
12) Article : Safety Fears Over Herbal Remedy
13) Article : J. Teitelbaum - questions & answers (1)
14) Article : Diminishing Fibromyalgia Symptoms with Guaifenesin
15) Article : Coping Through the Holidays
16) Research: Call for Participants: FM Study
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__5.htm
Friday, 01/04/2002
What's Inside:
1) Article: Tai Chi May
Lessen Arthritis Pain
2) Research: New Test for FMS: Algotensiometry
3) Website : The Fully-Automated Fill-in-the-Blanks FOI Letter Generator
4) Website: Do you qualify for free prescription drugs?
5) Press Release: Cypress Files IND to Begin Clinical Testing of Drug Candidate
For Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome
6) Article: Finding a Doctor Who Understands Complementary And Alternative
Medicine
7) Research: Prevalence of Insomnia Symptoms in Patients With Sleep-Disordered
Breathing
8) Article : Living within My Envelope: A How To Story
9) Press Release: Rep. Wolf Asks GAO and HHS to Investigate Oxycontin Marketing
10) Research: Modafinil in Fibromyalgia Treatment
11) Article: Review Offers Lowdown on Who Needs Vitamins
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__6.htm
Friday, 01/11/2002
What's Inside:
1) Article: The Patient Registry at the Fibromyalgia Resource Center
2) Research: Modern Antidepressants Are Created Equal
3) Advocacy: Advocacy Project 2002: Forget Me Knots
4) Website: Memory Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia
5) Website: Help With Your Medications
6) Research: Long-Term follow-up on restless legs syndrome patients treated
with
opioids.
7) Article: Pain, the Disease
8) Research : Quantitative sensory testing in fibromyalgia patients and in
healthy subjects: identification of subgroups
9) Research: Predictions and associations of fatigue syndromes and mood
disorders that occur after infectious mononucleosis.
10) Research: Chronic fatigue and anxiety/depression: a twin study.
11) Research: Neurobehavioral deficits associated with chronic fatigue syndrome
in veterans with Gulf War unexplained illnesses
12) Research: Is pain-related fear a predictor of somatosensory hypervigilance
in chronic low back pain patients?
13) Research: CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS: A Time to Rest: Clock Signal Identified
14) Article: Male Menopause and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
15) Research: Protein that controls bad pain found
16) Article: Heart Attack or Panic?
17) Article: Bruxism and Stress
18) Article: Allergy Cookbooks
19) Article: Writing Ergonomically
20) Research: Periodic Limb Movement in Juvenile Fibromyalgia
21) Website: FibroDoc
22) Website: Site for Men with Fibromyalgia
23) Notice: Winter CFIDS/Fibromyalgia Self-Help Courses Announced
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__7.htm
What's Inside
1) Announcement: Outstanding Website Award for 2002
2) Article: Success Stories," personal accounts of coping and recovery
3) Research: Is pain-related fear a predictor of somatosensory hypervigilance
in chronic low back pain patients?
4) Contest: The Fibromyalgia Community's January Contest!
5) Research: Acetaminophen, aspirin, or Ibuprofen in combination analgesic
products
6) Research: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study of amitriptyline,
nortriptyline and placebo in patients with fibromyalgia. An analysis of outcome
measures
7) Article: Pfizer to Offer Drug Discount to Low-Income Elderly
8) News Release: JCAHO TEAMS WITH AMA AND NCQA ON PAIN MANAGEMENT
9) Research: Future directions in pain management
10) Research: A Biopsychosocial overview of pretreatment screening of patients
with pain
11) News Release: About Herb Kava Kava
12) Central nervous system mechanisms of pain in fibromyalgia and other
musculoskeletal disorders: behavioral and psychologic treatment approaches
13) Research: Myofascial Pain in Athletes
14) Research: Predictions and associations of fatigue syndromes and mood
disorders that occur after infectious mononucleosis
15) Research: Quantitative sensory testing in fibromyalgia patients and in
healthy subjects: identification of subgroups
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__7.htm
Friday, 01/18/2002
What's Inside:
1) Announcement: Outstanding Website Award for 2002
2) Article: Success Stories," personal accounts of coping and recovery
3) Research: Is pain-related fear a predictor of somatosensory hypervigilance
in chronic low back pain patients?
4) Contest: The Fibromyalgia Community's January Contest!
5) Research: Acetaminophen, aspirin, or Ibuprofen in combination analgesic
products
6) Research: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study of amitriptyline,
nortriptyline and placebo in patients with fibromyalgia. An analysis of outcome
measures
7) Article: Pfizer to Offer Drug Discount to Low-Income Elderly
8) News Release: JCAHO TEAMS WITH AMA AND NCQA ON PAIN MANAGEMENT
9) Research: Future directions in pain management
10) Research: A Biopsychosocial overview of pretreatment screening of patients
with pain
11) News Release: About Herb Kava Kava
12) Central nervous system mechanisms of pain in fibromyalgia and other
musculoskeletal disorders: behavioral and psychologic treatment approaches
13) Research: Myofascial Pain in Athletes
14) Research: Predictions and associations of fatigue syndromes and mood
disorders that occur after infectious mononucleosis
15) Research: Quantitative sensory testing in fibromyalgia patients and in
healthy subjects: identification of subgroups
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__8.htm
Friday, 01/26/2002
What's Inside:
1) Website: MIND OVER MATTER
2) Article: Pain, the Disease
3) Research: Exercise in the treatment of chronic pain
4) Research: Modafinil in Fibromyalgia Treatment (Letter )
5) News Release: FDA Approves Frova (Frovatriptan Succinate) for Migraines
6) Release: Jury Out On Single-Dose Morphine For Temporomandibular Joint Pain
7) FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Report: Effective Treatments for Fibromyalgia
8) Article: How do I know if I might have chronic fatigue syndrome?
9) Humor: Health Food Alert Wellness Program
10) Links: Tips for making homes more eco-friendly and allergy proof
11) News Release: FDA Approves New Percocet Strengths With Lower Acetaminophen
Doses
12) Article: Therapy, massage and tailor-made exercise offer respite from the
nagging torment of fibromyalgia
13) Article: Tune In, Zone Out
14) Research: Long-Term follow-up on restless legs syndrome patients treated
with opioids
15) Article: How to safely take medications
16) Announcement: The Fibromyalgia Community's January Contest!
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__9.htm
Friday, 02/01/2002
What's Inside:
1) Article: ACR: Pain Scores Not an Accurate
Reflection of Fibromyalgia Severity
2) Research: Fibromyalgia in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
3) Article: New Guidelines to Help Deal With Doctor-Patient E-Mails
4) Advocacy: Persevere on disability claims
5) Research: MELATONIN FOR CHRONIC WHIPLASH: RANDOMISED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED
TRIAL
6) Research: Migraine Headaches: A Common and Challenging Problem
7) Article: When Drug Side Effects Get Out Of Hand
8) Article: Simple Things You Can Do Today to Control Stress
9) Research: A Review of Multidisciplinary Interventions for Fibromyalgia
Patients: Where Do We Go from Here?
10) Research: Neuroendocrine mechanisms in fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue
11) Announcement: It is time for YOU to pick the winners of the FMS Community
Recipe Contest!
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__10.htm
Friday, 02/08/2002
What's Inside:
1) Research: Are patients with fibromyalgia "hypervigilant"?
2) Website: Power-Switch Newsletter
3) Website: Simple Things You Can Do Today to Control Stress
4) Website: Physician Websites Found to Lack Key Information
5) Article: Hypothalamus Hormones Play Key Role In Chronic Migraine
6) Research: Pain Experience and Learned Helplessness in Women with Primary
Sjögren's Syndrome and Women with Fibromyalgia: A Descriptive and Comparative
Study
7) Research: Injections and surgical therapy in chronic pain.
8) Announcement: Success Stories
9) Article: Fibromyalgia study hopefuls by the hundreds visit Kettering
10) Website: Joanna Lund's Healthy Exchanges cookbooks
11) Article: Winning Your Disability Case with the Help of Co-Workers, Family
Members and Friends
12) News Release: FDA Approves Ultracet (Tramadol/Acetaminophen) For Acute Pain
13) Clinical Trial: Behavioral Insomnia Therapy for Fibromyalgia
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__11.htm
Friday, 02/15/2002
What's Inside:
1) The Manual Tender Point Survey
2) Article: Eating to Deal with Stress May Pack on Pounds
3) Article: Chronic pain is not just pain that lasts a long time...
4) Research: A Reduced Functionality of Gi Proteins as a Possible Cause of
Fibromyalgia
5) Resource: Discount Prescription Medicine Card Offered by Three
Pharmaceutical Companies
6) Research: Treatment of chronic fatigue with neurofeedback and self-hypnosis
7) Article: Say 'No' to Responsibility Overload
8) Article: Anakinra Appears A Promising Therapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis
9) Announcement: Success Stories
10) Article: Understanding Dietary Fibre
11) Article: Who is Protecting the Public Health? Can We Trust the Regulators?
12) Article: Gut Thoughts
13) Research: Relationships Between Authors of Clinical Practice Guidelines and
the Pharmaceutical Industry
14) Website: How Stuff Works
15) Research: Tegaserod Benefits Some Women with Irritable Bowel
16) Press Release: CAA Releases CFIDS Public Service Announcement
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__12.htm
Friday, 03/08/2002
What's Inside:
1) Book Review: Oxymorons: The Myth of the U.S.
Health Care System
2) Article: How to Balance a Job and Chronic Illness
3) Abstract: Tender Point Scores and Their Relations to Signs of Mobility,
Symptoms, and Disability in Female Home Care Personnel and the Prevalence of
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
4) Research: "The effect of amitriptyline (Elavil) on pain intensity and
perception of stress in bruxers."
5) Article: Serum Levels of Interleukin 6 and Stress Related Substances
Indicate Mental Stress Condition in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__13.htm
Friday, 03/17/2002
What's Inside:
1) Announcement: Walk For Awareness Planned
2) How to contact congressional representatives
3) Study: Soy Diet Reduces Pain, Inflammation In Rats
4) Abstract: Combination therapy for shingles pain
5) Abstract: Pain-related worries more difficult to manage
6) Article: Sleep Disorder Diagnosis Can Be Done Effectively at Home
7) Study: Symptoms Of Restless Leg Syndrome Worsen At Rest
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter_14.htm
Sunday, March 23, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Online support group links
2) Article - Accuracy of Online Health Information Is Improving
3) Abstract - Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for fibromyalgia and
musculoskeletal pain in working age adults
4) Resource - Lecture tape now available from NYSN
5) Abstract - The meaning of fatigue and tiredness as narrated by women with
fibromyalgia and healthy women.
6) Notice - Dallas area showing of "I Remember Me"
7) Resource - Exercise Prescription for Fibromyalgia: A Plan for Patients
8) Article - Chronic Cluster Headache May Resolve With Melatonin Treatment
9) Commentary
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter_15.htm
Monday, 04/01/2002
What's Inside
1) Opinion - Use of Mindfulness Meditation for
Fibromyalgia
2) Abstract - A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, flexible-dose
study of fluoxetine in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia.
3) Abstract - Self-administered pain-relieving manoeuvres in primary headaches
4) Article - Rx for Overall Health: Friendship
5) Article - Strength Training May Ease Fibromyalgia Symptoms
6) Abstract - Cannabinoids and pain
7) Abstract - Beyond disability: Perceived participation in people with a
chronic disabling condition.
8) Article - Connection between FMS and bacteriophages
9) Notice - VHA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Medically
Unexplained Symptoms: Chronic Pain and Fatigue
10) Notice - "I Remember Me" to be released on home video
11) Notice - Recall of Gamimune N immune globulin IV solution
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter_16.htm
Monday, April 8, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Abstract - Opioids in non-cancer pain: a life-time sentence?
2) Abstract - Otologic manifestations of Chiari I malformation
3) Abstract - Benefits of Tegaserod for IBS
4) FMS Family Study in California Needs Participants
5) Weather and the pain in fibromyalgia: are they related?
6) Abstract - Treatment of low back pain with a herbal or synthetic
anti-rheumatic
7) Abstract - Serotonergic agents in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome
8) Abstract - Sulfur in human nutrition and applications in medicine
9) Abstract - Exercise program effects on women with fibromyalgia syndrome
10) Abstract - Trigger Points: Diagnosis and Management
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter_17.htm
Friday, April 19, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Notice - Walk For Awareness
2) Article - Intrathecal Calcium Channel Blocker Effective for Severe Chronic
Pain
3) Research - Management of Fibromyalgia: What are the best treatment choices?
4) Abstract - Relationship between body mass index and fibromyalgia features.
5) Abstract - High or Low Intensity Aerobic Fitness Training in Fibromyalgia:
Does It Matter?
6) Research - Long-term follow-up of patients treated for chronic headache with
analgesic overuse.
7) Abstract - Acupuncture and clinical hypnosis for facial and head and neck
pain
8) Article - Lowly Cytokine May Play Role In Controlling Neurotransmitters
9) Article - Fluoxetine Effective In Women With Fibromyalgia
10) Article - First Steps to a Stress Management Plan
11) Article - Poll Indicates Lack of Sleep Affects Mood, Eating Habits
12) Abstract - Trigger points: diagnosis and management.
13) Article - Judge Rules That Bipolar Disorder Is a Physical Illness
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__18.htm
Monday, April 29, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Announcement - Fibromyalgia workshop in
Santa Monica, CA
2) Article - A New Approach to Fibromyalgia?
3) Abstract: Dry eyes and mouth syndrome - a subgroup of patients presenting
with sicca symptoms.
4) Opinion: Wealth Versus Health
5) Article - Weather Affects Stroke Risk
6) Abstract - Subjective Sleep Quality and Depressive Symptoms in Patients with
the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
7) Resource: Weight maintenance and wellness
8) Article - Anxiety Attacks - They're For Real!
9) Gastrointestinal Problems/Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Use Linked
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__19.htm
Friday, May 3, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Resource - Fibromyalgia: It's Not All In
Your Head!
2) Abstract - Efficacy of Low Power Laser Therapy in Fibromyalgia
3) Article - Bush Administration Rolls Back Rules Protecting Private Medical
Records
4) Abstract - Quantitative and qualitative perceptual analysis of cold
dysesthesia and hyperalgesia in fibromyalgia
5) Resource - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Advances in Epidemiologic, Clinical,
and Basic Science Research
6) Abstract - Use of complementary and alternative treatments by individuals
with fibromyalgia syndrome
7) Article - New Guideline for Arthritis Pain Emphasizes Earlier Effective
Treatment
8) Abstract - Dietary fiber intake in patients with myofascial face pain
9) Resource - Information on reactive hypoglycemia
10) Abstract - Randomised trial of acupuncture compared with conventional
massage and "sham" laser acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck
pain
11) Article - FMS sufferer's story
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__20.htm
Wednesday, May 15, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Headache help from Devin Starlanyl, MD
2) Solving the COX Conundrum
3) Chat Transcript: The Role of Intracellular Bacterial and Viral Infection in
Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment
4) Chronic Pain Art Exhibit - Sacramento, CA
5) Sleep organization launches new website
6) "Is holistic healthcare for me?"
7) Tired, aching, ANA-positive: does your patient have lupus or fibromyalgia?
8) Association Found Between Vaccinations, Medications, and Health Problems of
Gulf War Vets
9) Mediators of inflammation and their interaction with sleep: relevance for
chronic fatigue syndrome and related conditions
10) Gender differences in fibromyalgia and other related syndromes
11) A Randomized Controlled Trial of Muscle Strengthening versus Flexibility
Training in Fibromyalgia
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__21.htm
Monday, May 27, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Lehigh Valley Support Group
to show award-winning documentary
2) Discovery Channel to air fibromyalgia information
3) First Steps to a Stress Management Plan
4) "As Needed" Zolpidem and Behavioral Therapy Safely Treats Chronic
Insomnia
5) Dextromethorphan Effective in Select Patients With Painful Diabetic
Neuropathy
6) Factors explaining variance in perceived pain in women with fibromyalgia
7) Massage alters sleep pattern, reducing pain levels
8) Oregon conference focuses on functionality
9) Caring for a relative with chronic fatigue syndrome: difficulties, cognition
and acceptance over time
10) Sex hormonal factors and chronic widespread pain: a population study among
women
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__22.htm
Monday, June 17, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Understanding Your Energy Envelope, Part 2
2) New FMS magazine available
3) FDA Approves Once-Daily Avinza For Chronic, Moderate-To-Severe Pain
4) Botulinum Toxin Type B Promising for Treatment of Refractory Myofascial Pain
5) Depression, A CEO and His Son
6) Ten Tips for Managing Conflict, Tension and Anger
7) Anti-anxiety Medications: From the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health
8) Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome by dietary supplementation with
omega-3 fatty acids - a good idea?
9) Predictors of success of intervention programs for persons with fibromyalgia
10) An open, pilot study to evaluate the potential benefits of coenzyme Q10 combined
with Ginkgo biloba extract
11) Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
12) New test for Lyme disease
13) Cognitive Function & Fibromyalgia
14) NCCAM launches redesigned alternative medicine site
15) Celebrex: Is it safe?
16) Coenzyme Q10 May Stave off Migraine
17) Book: Overcoming the dangers of antidepressants
18) Workplace experiences survey for women with disabilities
19) Cutting-edge Fibromyalgia Conference in Los Angeles
http://fmscommunity.org/nl22.htm
Saturday, July 06, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Discrimination of FM patients from normal
controls using levels of cerebrospinal chemicals
2) Fibromyalgia may be on the increase
3) Fibromyalgia: After the Diagnosis
4) Canaries in the mines: A personal account of MCS
5) Toxic Chemicals Seen Contributing To Increased Childhood Illness
6) Women With Fibromyalgia Have Impaired Growth Hormone Secretion
7) Fibromyalgia pain isn't all in patients' heads, new brain study finds
8) The role of fear of physical movement and activity in chronic fatigue
syndrome
9) Illness experience, depression, and anxiety in chronic fatigue syndrome
10) Self-appraised problem solving and pain-relevant social support as
predictors of the experience of chronic pain
11) Tender Point Injections Revisited
12) An Overview of Fibromyalgia for Newly Diagnosed Patients
13) Rheumatic mimics and selected triggers of fibromyalgia Neuroendocrine
abnormalities in fibromyalgia.
14) Neuroendocrine abnormalities in fibromyalgia
15) Endplate potentials are common to midfiber myofacial trigger points.
16) Neuropharmacologic targets and agents in fibromyalgia.
17) Coping with fibromyalgia. A qualitative study.
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__23.htm
Saturday, July 06, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Discrimination of FM patients from normal
controls using levels of cerebrospinal chemicals
2) Fibromyalgia may be on the increase
3) Fibromyalgia: After the Diagnosis
4) Canaries in the mines: A personal account of MCS
5) Toxic Chemicals Seen Contributing To Increased Childhood Illness
6) Women With Fibromyalgia Have Impaired Growth Hormone Secretion
7) Fibromyalgia pain isn't all in patients' heads, new brain study finds
8) The role of fear of physical movement and activity in chronic fatigue
syndrome
9) Illness experience, depression, and anxiety in chronic fatigue syndrome
10) Self-appraised problem solving and pain-relevant social support as predictors
of the experience of chronic pain
11) Tender Point Injections Revisited
12) An Overview of Fibromyalgia for Newly Diagnosed Patients
13) Rheumatic mimics and selected triggers of fibromyalgia Neuroendocrine
abnormalities in fibromyalgia.
14) Neuroendocrine abnormalities in fibromyalgia
15) Endplate potentials are common to midfiber myofacial trigger points.
16) Neuropharmacologic targets and agents in fibromyalgia.
17) Coping with fibromyalgia. A qualitative study.
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__24.htm
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
What's Inside:
1) *A Summer Seminar* With Susan Levine M.D.
2) Interview with CEO of FMS organization
3) Basic nutrition for FMS survivors
4) Antidepressants in pain management
5) Breast pain: Common but often manageable
6) Management of Fibromyalgia: What Are the Best Treatment Choices?
7) FMS conference planned for WV in September
8) Does fibromyalgia affect the outcomes of local steroid treatment in patients
with carpal tunnel syndrome?
9) Book offers insight into grief process of prolonged illness
10) Top 10 Tips for a Low-Stress Vacation
11) Treating Bacterial Infections Can Help Asthmatics
12) Facts about addiction to pain medication
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__25.htm
Monday, July 22, 2002
What's Inside :
1) Mind-body management of FMS symptoms
2) IBS Resource Center now online
3) New SSDI guide available
4) Nonpharmacologic management strategies in fibromyalgia
5) Does Gender Affect the Opioid Response?
6) Does the label "fibromyalgia" alter health status, function, and
health service utilization?
7) MS Discoveries Edge Closer to Cure
8) An Association of Silicone-gel Breast Implant Rupture and Fibromyalgia
9) UGH! Head Pain Season in Full Bloom
10) Gulf War Syndrome Information
11) How to get your anger under control
12) First step in beating depression is admitting it
13) New Subtype of Cluster Headache Identified
14) Not All Multivitamins Pack the Same Punch
15) WRITE NOW: Maintaining a Creative Spirit While Homebound and Ill
16) Water workouts: A cool way to exercise
17) Nutrition tips for when you lose your appetite
18) Non-dipping in diabetic patients: insights from the siesta
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__26.htm
Monday, August 12, 2002
What's Inside:
1) Call for stories - new fibromyalgia book
2) Fourth annual Common Cause medical conference
3) HHS regulates privacy of medical records
4) "But You Look So Good!" - a campaign for awareness
5) The beauty of fibromyalgia
6) The Politics Of Pain
7) Creating a "new normal" in the face of chronic illness
8) Transitions experienced by women with fibromyalgia
9) Vitamin C Minimizes Response to Psychological Stress
10)Adult growth hormone deficiency in patients with Fibromyalgia
http://fmscommunity.org/fibromyalgia_newsletter__27.htm
Tuesday, August 26, 2002
What's Inside:
1) A call for world awareness
2) Meet advocate Aimee Hall
3) Can Martians and Venusians take the same medications?
4) Individualize your treatment options
5) Strategies for maintaining positive thoughts
6) Do your thoughts influence your sleep?
7) Forget it! Ginkgo supplements don't help memory
8) Gene linked to restless legs syndrome in women
9) The Golden Rules of great sleep
10) The Influence of Age on Fibromyalgia Symptoms
http://fmscommunity.org/nl28.htm
Monday, September 23, 2002
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FMS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER # 70
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July 24, 2005
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2,179 subscribers
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Editors: Mary McKennell and Anne-Marie Vidal
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EDITOR’S CORNER:
I am back at the helm in order to give Anne-Marie a break. My life events have interfered a bit with getting this newsletter out in a timely manner. I developed bronchitis/laryngitis and was down for the count for several days. Just as I was regaining my voice, my 92- year old mother entered into a non-responsive state and I had to make some very fast decisions. I spent my time at her bedside. I have modified part of the eulogy that I did for her celebration of life service to share some thoughts with you.
My mother has always been a very hard working woman and one of my dreams had been to take care of her in her later years. I wanted her to finally have the chance to relax and rediscover herself. I am extremely grateful that my husband, Paul, supported me in this dream. We took her on her first real vacation to Florida in 1994. She was very excited to stick her feet in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.
Getting my mother to relax and enjoy herself was not an easy task. She did not know what that was really all about. I would come at the end of my workday and ask what she had done all day. She would recite all of the household tasks that she had done. I would ask her “But what did you do for yourself today? What did you do that was fun?” She gradually got the idea. When I would come home at night, she would talk about something that she had read or the fact that she took a nap…along with the long list of household tasks she had done for me. When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome it was a relief to find that there was a reason that my mother could work circles around me most of life.
I received a card from a friend of mine with 3 red roses to symbolize the different journeys that I have been on with my mother. The first rose was to symbolize my journey as a child. My mother taught me and laid the foundation for my life by teaching me values. And as her mother had done for her, she is the one who instilled spiritual values in me through her example and what she taught me.
The second journey was as an adult woman. When we are in this part of the journey are parents become our friends and we enjoy their company. The third journey is my journey as a caregiver. My friend reminded me that I was there for her when she needed me. And now that she is at rest to move on with my life and be all that she would want me to be.
My second journey was not quite as long as I would have liked and the third journey a little longer than I would have chosen. Alzheimer’s is called the disease of a thousand deaths because you lose the person slowly and a piece at a time. I have grieved the passing of my mother from my life many times over the last 7-8 years. It is know time to acknowledge that my mother is no longer a physical presence on the earth and to move to a new stage of my grieving.
Alzheimer’s Disease begins slowly. At first, the only symptom may be mild forgetfulness. In this stage, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. They may not be able to solve simple math problems and have difficulty balancing their checkbook. Don’t be nervous if you just suddenly caught a glimpse of yourself in that list of symptoms! There are other things besides Alzheimer’s that can cause those symptoms. But if you do have a loved one who is in their later years please educate yourself about what can be down to slow down the progress of this disease.
I saw these symptoms developing in my mother and it was difficult to accept that she had some serious problems. I am a geriatric social worker and I know intellectually all of the signs and symptoms. My walking partner, who is a geriatrician, told me one morning as we were out walking that she thought my mother had dementia. My response was “Oh aren’t the flowers pretty this time of year.” She said “Well I guess you are not ready to talk about that topic.” I went right back to talking about the plants and flowers that we were walking past.
My mother also knew that something was wrong with her brain. I have seen my mother cry very few times in my life. One of them was the evening that she realized that she could not figure out how to put the soap into the dishwasher. She began to cry and said, “I don’t want to live like this. Who is going to want to be around someone with only half a brain?” My mother only grew sweeter as she grew more demented and was loved by all who encountered her.
I cared for my mother as long as I could in my home. I had to finally face up to the fact that I could not manage this and continue to work. It was a great heartache to me to admit this and to find placement for her. My mother had retreated in her mind back to a very safe time in her life. That time did not include any memories of me.
I became a mourner several years ago and carry a card that says so! This is what it says: “The holder of this card is entitled to mourn freely in their own way and time, without apology or embarrassment. Tears, memories, silence, uncertainty, and strong emotions are allowed and encouraged. Please treat this person with kindness, compassion, and love. This card is valid until no longer needed.”
Mary
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ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Are you a Joy Seeker?
2. How West Nile Virus Works
3. Sustained High Blood Glucose May Damage Brain's Key Memory Center
4. Pregabalin Cuts Pain in Tough-to-Treat Patients With Neuropathic Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndrome
5. Snooze & Lose: The Latest News
6. Veterans of first Gulf War have more chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia
7. Gulf War Veterans’ Health: Medical Evaluation of a U.S. Cohort
8. Inheriting Happiness
9. Fibromyalgia as a Major Market Driver
10. Discovering Your Stress Type
11. Study Questions Value of Acupuncture for Migraines
12. What’s New in the Area of Restless Legs Syndrome?
13. Chronic Pain Anonymous
14. Alternative goes mainstream
15. Cool Off with a High-Protein Snack
16. How to Clean House
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ARE YOU A JOY SEEKER?
R&B musician, Nicole Edwards, 34,
recently released what she says is her last album. First, she
could no longer purse her lips for the flute, then she could no longer sing.
She can still strum a few guitar chords. Living with scleroderma makes it
impossible for her to make music, as she always did.
In the
title
song, Joy Seeker, Edwards sings:
"I've got this life to live, and I will not be bitter,
I don't know what lies ahead,
so I will be a joy seeker."
Some people die at twenty-five and aren't
buried until they are seventy-five."
Benjamin Franklin
Nicole Edwards' story, like any story that involves chronic illness, is about
loss. But, it's also about hope, adaptation and the desire to go on finding the
joy.
That's a tall order. Living with a chronic illness can wear down your spirit so
you focus only on the loss. You can easily become too afraid to make a decision
that includes risk. Even if it might bring happiness.
Last week, after I delivered my seminar, "Smart Talk about your CI in
the Workplace", at the
Scleroderma
Foundation National Conference, Diane (not her real name) approached
me. I thought of the title track of Edwards' album as she told me her story.
After living with scleroderma for 10 years, Diane has just recently made a
tough decision. She is going to apply for disability benefits. She's 53 and has
worked for the same employer for 22 years. She'd always enjoyed work but as her
disabilities increased, she had to reduce her workload and responsibilities.
She's received all the accommodations that are possible at her job, including a
move to a different position with less responsibility.
Her health is worsening and the symptoms becoming more debilitating. The long
hours, travel and commuting leave her too depleted to do anything other than
work. She feels she's marking time and losing her spirit.
Diane wants to spend more time with her family and take part in activities with
her scleroderma support group. She wants to learn about the web and maybe even
travel a little. She thinks that if her disease course continues at it has, she
will be too disabled to enjoy anything by the time she retires.
Applying for disability benefits means a big financial risk and a loss of
stature for Diane. She'd always felt so proud of her career success. Stopping
work has clear drawbacks and she says she wouldn't recommend it to anyone. But
she believes that continuing to work poses even greater hardship for her.
Diane knows about disappointment and loss. She knows what it's like to not
reach all her dreams. She's making a thoughtful decision to take a risk in the
hope that her life will be more fulfilling. Diane, too, is a joy seeker.
CIcoach.com
rosalind@cicoach.com
http://www.cicoach.com
Read the feature article profiling musician, Nicole Edwards
By clicking on the link below
http://www.whitehorsestar.com/auth.php?r=38523
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How West Nile Virus Works
Ever since West Nile Virus arrived in the United States in 1999, it has been treated as a serious, growing threat. This virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is potentially deadly -- but what are your chances of contracting it? Find out how common West Nile Virus is, what its symptoms are and what happens if you get bitten by a carrier.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/west-nile-virus.htm
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Sustained High Blood Glucose May Damage Brain's Key Memory Center
An inability to quickly bring down high levels of sugar in the blood is associated with poor memory and may help explain some of the memory loss that occurs as we age, according to a new study by NYU School of Medicine researchers. The study raises the possibility that exercise and weight loss, which help control blood sugar levels, may be able to reverse some of the memory loss that accompanies aging.
The study, published the first week of February in the online edition of the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to show an association between the size of the hippocampus, a key brain structure for learning and memory, and the ability to control blood sugar levels in the body, according to the researchers.
The study assessed non-diabetic middle-aged and elderly people, some of whom had an impaired ability to use sugar (glucose) effectively. Those with impaired glucose tolerance (a pre-diabetic condition characterized by higher than normal blood sugar levels) had a smaller hippocampus and scored worse on tests for recent memory.
"We have demonstrated that impaired glucose regulation is associated with memory dysfunction and shrinkage of the hippocampus," says Antonio Convit, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director for the Center for Brain Health at the School of Medicine, who led the study. "Our study suggests that this impairment may contribute to the memory deficits that occur as people age, and it raises the intriguing possibility that improving glucose tolerance could reverse some age-associated problems in cognition."
http://www.diabeteslibrary.org/news/printer_friendly.cfm?newsid=176
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|
"Pregabalin Cuts Pain in
Tough-to-Treat Patients With Neuropathic Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndrome:
Presented at AAN" Dr. Siffert
presented findings from the first 15 months of an ongoing open-label trial
that is examining the effectiveness and safety of pregabalin in
treatment-refractory patients with DPN and PHN as well as pain associated
with FMS. |
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/NewsPrint/8525697700573E1885256FE200618310
Snooze & Lose: The Latest News
By Carlin Flora
Imagine… shedding pounds simply by spending more time in never-never-land. Sounds like something out of a late-night infomercial.
But two new studies show a striking connection between amount of sleep and levels of appetite-regulating hormones in the body. The findings suggest that chronic sleep deprivation could be making you fat.
American adults have cut their average nightly sleep time by nearly two hours in the last 40 years. And while we’ve lost sleep, we’ve gained weight: In 1960, only one out of four adults was overweight, and one out of nine was considered obese. Now, two out of three adults are overweight, and nearly one out of three is obese.
Previous research had shown an association between shorter sleep time and higher body mass index, but no one knew why, says Dr. Shahrad Teheri, an endocrinologist at Bristol University, and lead author of one of the two new studies. He and his colleagues used data from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, which has tracked the sleep habits of over 1,000 volunteers for 17 years. They found that those people who slumbered (on average) five hours compared to eight hours each night had a higher body mass index.
And when the researchers collected blood samples from the volunteers, they discovered that the sleep-deprived had higher levels of ghrelin in their blood. Ghrelin is a hormone produced in the stomach that sends out hunger signals to the brain, which then commands you to be interested in food.
At the same time the sleep-deprived had high levels of hunger-stimulating ghrelin, they had lower levels of leptin. Leptin is another appetite-regulating hormone; it’s produced by fat cells and delivers satiation signals to the brain. The particular hormonal ratio of high ghrelin/low leptin was likely encouraging the group to load up on unnecessary calories.
"Before this, people thought obesity was the result of sitting on your butt and stuffing your face," Teheri says. "But it turns out sleep has an influence. It makes sense to me personally, because when I was a sleep-deprived resident, I always had the munchies."
The second study hails from the University of Chicago’s sleep laboratory. It shows that sleep loss has an immediate effect on the body’s levels of ghrelin and leptin. A few nights of insomnia could thus trick your brain into thinking your body needs more food.
In the sleep lab, a small group of young men were forced to function on four hours of sleep a night for six days. The next year, they returned to the lab, but were allowed a full night’s rest for six nights, so that researchers could directly compare their hormone levels and appetite.
During their sleep-deprived week, the men not only showed lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin, but they also reported stronger cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods. Sound familiar?
"While there is a lot of attention on diet and exercise [for weight loss], these two studies underscore the importance of adequate sleep," says Terry Young, co-author of Teheri’s study and professor of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin.
"Unfortunately, people think of sleep as an irresponsible activity. It’s as if they are being macho, and want to prove how busy and important their lives are. I predict someday that attitude will be as socially unacceptable as smoking."
http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=823408&cid=7&code=24044
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Veterans of first Gulf War have more chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia
More than a decade after the first Gulf War in 1991, a detailed comparison of the health of veterans who were deployed to the Persian Gulf region and veterans who served elsewhere has found that the health of the two groups is very similar. However, the study also found that Gulf War veterans are more likely to have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome. The proportion of Gulf War veterans with these two illnesses is very small, according to lead author Seth Eisen, M.D., physician at the St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and professor of medicine and psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-06/wuso-vof060805.php
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Gulf War Veterans' Health: Medical Evaluation of a U.S. Cohort
Gulf War Veterans' Health: Medical Evaluation of a U.S. Cohort
Background: United States military personnel reported various symptoms after deployment to the Persian Gulf during the 1991 Gulf War. However, the symptoms' long-term prevalence and association with deployment remain controversial.
Objective: To assess and compare the prevalence of selected medical conditions in a national cohort of deployed and nondeployed Gulf War veterans who were evaluated by direct medical and teledermatologlc examinations.
Design: A cross-sectional prevalence study performed 10 years after the 1991 Gulf War.
Setting: Veterans were examined at 1 of 16 Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Participants: Deployed (n = 1061) and nondeployed (n = 1128) veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.
Measurements: Primary outcome measures included fibromyalgia, the chronic fatigue syndrome, dermatologiC conditions, dyspepsia, physical health-related quality of life (Short Form-36 [SF36]), hypertension, obstructive lung disease, arthralgias, and peripheral neuropathy.
Results: Of 12 conditions, only 4 conditions were more prevalent among deployed than nondeployed veterans: fibromyalgia (deployed, 2.0%; nondeployed, 1.2%; odds ratio, 2.32 [95% Cl, 1.02 to 5.27]); the chronic fatigue syndrome (deployed, 1.6%; nondeployed 0.1%; odds ratio, 40.6 [Cl, 10.2 to 161]); dermatologie conditions (deployed, 34.6%; nondeployed, 26.8%; odds ratio, 1.38 [Cl, 1.06 to 1.80]), and dyspepsia (deployed, 9.1%; nondeployed, 6.0%; odds ratio, 1.87 [Cl, 1.16 to 2.99]). The mean ' physical component summary score of the SF-36 for deployed and nondeployed veterans was 49.3 and 50.8, respectively.
Further information on this study can be found at:
http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=155092
Inheriting Happiness
We all want to live happily ever after, but some scientists believe that genetics determine just how happy we're going to be.
Research has shown that people with higher levels of activity in certain areas of the left side of the brain tend to experience more positive emotions and optimism on a continual basis. Those with less activity in those areas may feel less satisfied or less content. Though we all endure personal highs and lows, we eventually return to our own natural happiness set point.
Because this personal set point of happiness can determine up to half of our mood and temperament, it's up to us to make sure the other half is filled with as much joy and delight as possible.
Try some of these strategies to beat stress and bring more happiness into your life:
· Keeping your emotions bottled up can make an unpleasant situation even more stressful. If you are angry, hurt, or disappointed, say so.
· Taking on new projects can be empowering and boost self-esteem. Try a new hobby, join a new organization, or set a new goal.
· Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep will all help keep your spirits lifted and give you the energy to overcome stressful situations.
· We've all been in situations where it's difficult to turn down a request from a friend or colleague. But taking on too much just to please others will leave you anxious and overwhelmed. Practice a polite but firm "no."
· Many of us forget to appreciate the little victories that happen on a daily basis. Try keeping a gratitude journal to recognize and reflect on the positive aspects of your life.
· Numerous studies have shown that laughter decreases stress hormones in the body. Schedule regular lunches with a friend who always gives you a chuckle, or take in the latest comedy at the movies.
FIBROMYALGIA AS A MAJOR MARKET DRIVER
|
Decision Resources, a research and advisory firm focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that improved awareness of fibromyalgia among both physicians and patients will be a major market driver over the next 10 years.
Currently, less than 20% of fibromyalgia
sufferers receive an accurate diagnosis. |
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Discovering Your Stress Type
From Richard Earle, Ph.D.
By Richard Earle, Ph.D.
Richard Earle, Ph.D. is Managing Director of the Canadian Institute of Stress and the Hans Selye Foundation in Toronto, Canada.
Because People Are Different
Are you a Drifter, a Speed Freak, or perhaps a Loner when it comes to handling stress? Actually there are six so-called StressTypes. Soon you’ll know which you are. And, that’s important. Having your personalized prescription for handling stress – not a one-size-fits-all plan – is a key to keeping stress where you want it - energizing your lifestyle, not draining it.
And, best of all, my advice is based in the 24 years’ on-going research I originated with Dr. Hans Selye, known internationally as “the father of the stress field”.
In 1980, Dr. Selye invited me to do post-doctoral studies with him. We decided to focus on two research questions he knew we both shared:
1. Do any of the much touted stress management techniques actually work? and
2. Since people are quite different in how they become vulnerable to stress build-up, do different people need different techniques?
The answer to both questions was a scientifically solid yes. First, we discovered there are five basic, proven stress control skills which should, in the proper personalized mix, be in everyone’s wellness toolkit. In descending order of their overall power, these vital skills are:
1. Clarifying your personal values and daily satisfiers
2. Being able to relax at will, anywhere, any time
3. Developing rewarding relationships
4. High-performance nutrition
5. Essential exercise.
Answering our second question, we found that many people who started with the wrong skill actually increased their stress. For example, many in the Worry Wart StressType found that our nutritional guidelines just gave them more “food for worry”. Their most successful prescription actually started with cognitive relaxation methods followed by skills to clarify personal values and goals. These two interventions accounted for well over 70% of their stress control progress. Only later were they prepared to beef up their resilience under stress by applying our high performance nutrition advice. Similarly, trying to teach Speed Freaks how to relax too early in our program led a number to drop out of skills training. The very thought of sometimes slowing down was acutely anxiety provoking for them. Where you start is vitally important!
http://stress.about.com/cs/inthenews/a/ucstresstypes_p.htm
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Study Questions Value of Acupuncture for Migraines
TUESDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Migraine headache sufferers who use acupuncture get no more pain relief than those who undergo a sham treatment.
But they do get relief. That is the result of a randomized, multi-center trial, one of the largest and most rigorous studies yet to examine acupuncture's effectiveness for migraine, the study's German authors report.
To read this article click on the link below:
http://www.healthcentral.com/newsdetail/408/525507.html
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What’s New in the Area of Restless Legs Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common but frequently misdiagnosed neurologic condition characterized by unpleasant sensations deep inside the legs that occur at rest and worsen at bedtime. Paresthesias are accompanied by an irresistible urge to move the legs, which can temporarily relieve the symptoms. RLS may affect as many as 12 million people in the United States. Medscape's RLS Resource Center is a collection of the latest medical news and clinical information about RLS diagnosis and treatment throughout the course of this often misunderstood condition.
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Chronic Pain Anonymous
Powerlessness and Unmanageability of Living with Pain
In the course of life we face many challenges with potential negative effects that can limit how we live our life. We often feel we have no control of these random actions, events or health issues. It makes us feel as though we have no control over how God, a higher power, or fate may deal us an illness or injury. What we need to know is that we do have control over how we act in response to events, either initially, or in the hours, days and years afterward. A firm belief that we can actually choose how we respond to life’s challenges is the essence of the first step in any twelve step program.
3. We admitted we were powerless over pain--that our lives had become unmanageable.
Many times people have said they believe it is wrong to admit you are powerless over your pain. You are giving it too much power, they say. Or, “I will never admit I am powerless over my pain…I’m going to beat this demon if it is the last thing I do.” They may be fearful if they admit they are powerless they will have surrendered to the pain and given up completely. They would feel resigned to a life that isn’t worth living. They believe that by the act of acknowledging the powerful extent of their pain or illness they give it control over their lives.
We as a society have made the connection that “admitting we are powerless” is akin to the act of resignation. Many believe by just plain giving up and letting the chips of life fall where they may is ending the “fight or will to win.” Nothing is further from the truth.
In this act of admitting we are powerless over our pain we are not giving up. We are accepting the fact that our chronic pain exists and that it has had an enormous effect on our lives. Despite countless attempts, we haven’t found anything with in the conventional or alternative practices of medicine that has “cured” our condition. Often medical interventions have not helped at all, and for some of us surgeries, pain medicine and other well-intentioned treatments have even made things worse.
Another more important point is that we are giving ourselves a point of reference from which we can properly judge our future course of action. What do we mean by this? Let’s use this analogy. Let’s say you want to save enough money so you can travel around the world and when you return still have a nest egg to use to start over. In order to properly set up your goals to achieve this wonderful dream you need to know many things:
· How much you are earning now
· How much you have set aside
· How much more you will need to earn to save the money you require
· How much it will cost for your trip
· How much money you want set aside upon your return
That’s a lot of stuff you need to know before you can even think about turning your dream into reality.
This is absolutely no different than you sitting here today wanting to know how you are going to live your life when you have a chronic condition that modern medicine has not been able to cure. You may be sitting or lying about today in awful pain. You want it to stop! You want to have some semblance of the life you used to have. You are feeling very much a victim. This is not right. Why did God do this to me? Why is he punishing me so? What did I do wrong?
You feel as though you are in an awful state. You are all alone in this fight. Nobody knows how you feel. You feel all alone. We can go on and on and on with detailing the awful condition we are facing. To make the matter even worse, we may be dealing with pain that is invisible to the casual observer.
When living with chronic pain we often look okay. We may not look like someone who is living with a disability. Living with a disability, rather than existing with a disability, is one of the main goals of most CPA members.
Now by admitting to ourselves that we are powerless over our pain or disease or illness we are giving ourselves a starting point from which to start recovering our life. One of the definitions of recovery is to “recover what was once lost”. We are giving ourselves the starting point for how much money we have, how much we are making now, how much we will need to make the trip a reality and how much we want to have left upon our return. Now with this information we can set our goals and know each week how we are progressing and how much more we have to do to make this wonderful dream a reality. By admitting to ourselves that we are powerless over our pain we are setting the stake in the ground as the starting point from which we embark upon our recovery journey. Now we can take ownership of our healing fro m this point forward. If we don’t make this admission it makes the task to repair our lives almost impossible. It means one of two things.
· We won’t admit that chronic pain is a problem
· We think it is someone else’s responsibility to fix, cure or take care of us
If we do make this admission we can begin to take responsibility for our own lives.
Now let’s move on to the second part of this step…”that our lives had become unmanageable.”
We hear frequently from people that “my life isn’t unmanageable all the time.” “I make do…” (on and on and on)
What we are admitting here is that we have a before and an after. We know how our life used to be before the illness, surgery, accident, etc. We know that now our life is different. We have to make concessions, often major concessions, that we would never have considered as remotely possible.
· We can’t lift anything over ten pounds
· We can’t sit for more that 30 minutes (or stand or lay down or for some , all three)
· We can’t walk for more that 20 minutes
· We can’t sleep through the night without waking every few hours
· We can’t work a full 40 hours a week
· We can’t concentrate long enough to hold down a job
· We can’t guarantee that we will be able to keep an appointment because of how we feel
· I can’t, I can’t, and I can’t!
Our lists can go on and on. If you have some of these challenges, we ask you to examine your life to see if it is indeed unmanageable.
Here are some of the ways our lives have been negatively affected by some of the above challenges.
· We often withdraw from others because our pain is so great
· We withdraw from our friends because we can’t go out and shop or dance or sit in the theater like we used to
· We no longer make the commitment to make the 9:30 service at church because we don’t know how we will feel
· We loose contact from family or friends
· We easily loose our patience
· We are cross or angry even with those who love us and try to comfort us
· We may “look normal” to others who doubt our condition and express their belief that we are “faking it”
· We are unable to hold down a full time job
· We become jealous of friends who able to travel while we physically can’t make the trip
· Our bills mount up because we are not able to earn enough money to support ourselves
· We spend all our time and money going to doctors, physical therapy, or other health practitioners and do not have the energy to do the basic chores to support ourselves (clean house, do laundry, grocery shop, etc.)
All of these are incidents of unmanageability in our lives. All these conditions are examples of living a life that we are unable to manage and that the pain or illness is actually dictating whether we do certain things and/or how we do certain things. By making these simple admissions, we are being truthful to ourselves and to those we love. We are setting a foundation for future action. The pain is still there, but we are giving ourselves more freedom from the pain because we are no longer trying to fight it. When we fight it we lose because we expend our effort trying to fight this never ending battle, leaving us no energy left to live our lives. When we admit to its existence and stop fighting, we can focus on living and recovering the things that we like about life and living.
Chronic Pain Anonymous
PO Box 41, Riderwood, MD 21139
Chronicpainanonymous.org
© Copyright 2005 Chronic Pain Anonymous (CPA).
Alternative goes mainstream
By Joann Loviglio
ASSOCIATED PRES
June 10, 2005
PHILADELPHIA -- Once largely dismissed as a
leftover fad from the Age of Aquarius,acupuncture, herbal remedies and other
forms of alternative medicine are finding their way into curriculums at
traditional medical schools -- most recently the University of Pennsylvania.
Doctors at Penn are working with Tai Sophia Institute, an alternative medicine
school in Maryland, on a program to teach medical students about herbal
therapies, meditation and other approaches that are increasingly popular with
the public but largely exist outside the realm of mainstream medicine. It will
start in August.
"We're not going to turn great surgeons into acupuncturists or herbalists;
that's not the idea," said Robert Duggan, co-founder of Tai Sophia, in
Columbia. "The goal is that Penn medical school graduates will be highly
able to speak with patients about how to guide these things into their overall
care."
To read this article in its entirety click on the link below:
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Cool Off with a High-Protein Snack
Most familiar with the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are aware that Dr. Paul Cheney M.D., Ph.D. recommends supplementing the diet with Whey Protein Isolate. Thanks to one company, you can now cool off while you enhance your diet.
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/a/178811.htm?nl=1
*****************************************************************
And to close with a word of humor:
HOW TO CLEAN THE HOUSE
1. Open a new file in your PC.
2. Name it "Housework."
3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN
4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN
5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete Housework
permanently?"
6. Answer calmly, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly...
7. Feel better?
Works for me !!!
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FMS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER # 71
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August 31, 2005
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2,181 subscribers
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Editors: Mary McKennell and Anne-Marie Vidal
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EDITOR'S APOLOGY:
Please excuse the tardiness of this newsletter. I have been recovering
from one of those painful computer crashes. You know the kind I mean,
where you realize that you have not sufficiently backed up your files and make
promises to God that you will never be this foolish again, as long as He
miraculously restores your files. My faith has been challenged in this
process of restoration and God and I are still discussing the recovery of some
of my files. 
EDITOR'S CORNER:
I have been thinking about the concept of hope lately. My thinking was
inspired by reading a great book called The Anatomy of Hope; How People Prevail
in the Face of Illness. I bought the book because of the
(career) work I do in the end of life arena. The first part of the
book talks about the difficulty that doctors have with giving bad news and the
total lack of training they receive in how to deliver information about a poor
prognosis. And then the author goes into his journey of learning how to
talk to patients about the reality of their disease and its outcome. The
author relates his own experience as a chronic pain patient and what he learned
from it. The book concludes with a section on the biology of hope.
For a full book review check out the website. I wanted to highlight a couple
of thoughts about hope that I think relates to coping with long term (not
necessarily terminal) illness.
I think that one of the reasons that our doctors have such a difficult time
with our myriad of symptoms is that they are dealing with something that they
cannot fix. The inability to fix an illness makes most doctors
uncomfortable. The author makes a point about how a person with an
illness develops hope because of the belief that the doctor has some idea about
what can be done to alleviate the symptoms of a disease, if not eradicate it
altogether. These two points are key in why we with these chronic,
long-term illnesses feel without hope at times. We lose faith in our
doctor's ability and medicine's power to come up with an answer for us and our
hope takes a major nosedive.
Hope can arrive only when we recognize that there are real options and choices
that we can make. Hope flourishes only when you believe that what you do
can make a difference. Developing hope requires a belief that you can
have some control over your circumstances. You do not have to be entirely
at the mercy of forces outside yourself. We have to continue to educate
ourselves about what our options are.
In my support groups or in counseling someone one on one I emphasize the
concept of hope. I think that there is always hope that we can feel
better than what we presently do. It may not be a change in our physical
condition. The change may take place in our emotional outlook, the depth
of our spirituality or in how we are mentally handling the challenges of living
and thriving with an illness. Hope helps to move us towards a place where
healing can occur in one of these areas.
The biology of hope is a fascinating topic to read about. There are
actual physical changes that can occur when a person has hope. Belief and
expectation can block pain by releasing those wonderful endorphins that can
control pain. The whole purpose of this newsletter is to help people find
hope for improving their help in some form or fashion. So let us continue
to support one another in our quest for hope in a better tomorrow.
*******************************************************************
ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Attention Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Patients: Invisible
Illness Week is a Time to Thrive!
2. Beyond Tired
3. Blood Testing Links Common Foods and IBS
4. Mystery Illnesses Linked to Gluten Intolerance
5. What is Peripeheral Neuropathy?
6. Myers Cocktail
7. Gentle Pain Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and More
8. Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Headaches
9. Neuropsychology of migraine: present status and future directions
10. Parkinson's Drug May Help Fibromyalgia Patients
11. Your personal food pyramid
12. Fibromyalgia after motor vehicle collision: evidence and implications.
13. Sleep Disorders: Fact or Fiction?
14. Chronic pain in persons with neuromuscular disease.
15. Appealing Health Insurance Denials
16. Cognitive behaviour group therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a non-randomised
waiting list controlled study.
17. Gray matter volume reduction in the chronic fatigue syndrome.
18. Don't Let It Feel Like You Are Working on the Chain Gang
*******************************************************************
Attention Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Patients: Invisible Illness
Week is a Time to Thrive!
Nearly 1 in 2 Americans has a chronic condition, and despite what we may
assume, 60% of those who live with daily illness or pain are between the ages
of 18 and 64. The majority of chronic illness is invisible, including the
millions of people who currently live with cancer and the millions who suffer
the side effects of cancer treatment.
September 12-18, 2005 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week.
The theme is "Choose to Thrive, Not Just Survive!" It is a major
public awareness campaign sponsored by Rest Ministries, an organization that
offers a supportive environment for those who live with chronic illness or
pain.
"Living with an illness that is invisible to those around us can often
have a more devastating affect on our emotional health than the physical
pain," explains Lisa Copen, 36, founder of Rest Ministries who lives with
rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. "Each day we must choose to thrive,
to do something out of the ordinary, or make a new friend. It's easy to get in
the habit of living a life of survival."
Copen is the author of a new book, Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a
Chronically Ill Friend. "Part of our campaign is to encourage people to
'care enough to be informed," says Copen. "Just because someone isn't
using a wheelchair doesn't mean that she doesn't have a disability. Friends and
family of those with chronic illness care a great deal about what their loved ones
are going through, but oftentimes the invisibility of the illness sets up an
environment for misunderstandings and even doubt about the validity of the
illness. We hope to increase awareness of how many people 'look great' but are
hurting deeply."
"The feeling of knowing that one's illness and pain is acknowledged can
have a great impact on how a person copes with living with illness," says
Copen. "We hope that by recognizing people with illness rarely feel as
good as they look, they will begin to feel better understood, leading them to a
more invigorating life!"
*******************************************************************
"Beyond Tired" by Thea Marie Rood
Let's face it: Modern American life can be exhausting. Our datebooks are
crammed with commitments, lists of errands, to-do lists. And if you've got
kids, you're doubling-or even tripling-the whammy, as you drive that minivan on
an endless round of swim meets, dance performances and piano lessons.
As a result, most of us spend an inordinate amount of time grousing about our
energy levels. We might even be in a slight competition with our spouses, for
example: "God, I'm tired." "Oh, yeah? Well, I'm tireder."
And with tiredness comes a host of other nebulous symptoms: neck and shoulder
pain, stomach upset, headaches and-somewhat ironically-bad sleep. You're not
really dying, you presume, but sure feel like you've been hit by a truck. At
what point, you think, do I stop kvetching and see the doctor about this stuff?
Medical Attention
It's safe to say that there is a lot of controversy surrounding the two most
common fatigue disorders-chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, both of
which usually include symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. But one thing
experts agree on: It's probably not in your best interest to diagnose these on
your own. "It's important to rule out other conditions," says Steven
Orkand, M.D., chief of rheumatology for Kaiser Permanente. For example, he
says, you can feel achy and tired because of thyroid problems, rheumatoid
arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Simple fatigue can also be caused by
mononucleosis, depression, sleep apnea and acute infections-to name but a few.
And more serious things that can affect your gut are inflammatory bowel
diseases-like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease-or even colon cancer.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, you say, cancer?! And indeed, many people with these types of
nebulous disorders initially arrive panic-stricken in a doctor's office,
fearing the worst. "These cases are complicated because often patients are
worried about cancer," says Walt Trudeau, M.D., clinical professor of
medicine at UC Davis. "Also, they end up receiving Herculean work-ups,
because there are so many diseases that can cause [these symptoms]. There are a
lot of things to rule out."
This article continues at:
http://www.sacmag.com/article3.shtm
Blood Testing Links Common Foods and IBS
Researchers using comparison trials determined that irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS) patients have elevated food-specific IgG4 antibodies to common foods such
as wheat, beef, pork, lamb, and soya bean. These findings are published in the
July issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
The results suggest that food hypersensitivities play a role in the
pathophysiology of IBS and the observations made are consistent for three
subgroups of IBS tested (diarrhea, constipation and alternators). No
significant difference was observed in skin prick testing or IgE antibody
titers to these food antigens in IBS patients.
"Symptoms from the irritable bowel syndrome can compromise the quality of
life," states corresponding author Dr. Devinder Kumar of St. George's
Hospital in London. "With this simple test, we have scientifically shown
that these symptoms may be due to the body's response to what we eat in our
daily diet. It opens up a new avenue for the management for this large and
complex group of patients."
Current research shows that the prevalence of food hypersensitivities in the
general population is estimated at about 5%, and up to 65% of IBS patients
attribute their symptoms to food allergies. Since this study has been
conducted, the researchers have now performed a diet exclusion study based on
the findings of the food hypersensitivity test and "preliminary results
are very encouraging."
This study is published in the July issue of The American Journal of
Gastroenterology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the article contact
medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.
Devinder Kumar, PhD, FRCS is Professor of Gastro-Intestinal Surgery at St.
George's Hospital Medical School in London. Dr. Kumar can be reached for
questions and interviews at dkumar@sgul.ac.uk.
Mystery Illnesses Linked to Gluten Intolerance
ImmuneSupport.com
12-06-2004 By Newt Briggs
The food pyramid is a three-sided polygon of lies. First, since it is almost
exclusively presented in two dimensions, it is not technically a pyramid but a
triangle. Second--and far more importantly, according to nutrition expert and
author Danna Korn--the so-called food pyramid puts an abnormal emphasis on the
consumption of wheat and wheat products, a diet that couldn't be less adapted
to the human digestive system. Wheat, she insists, is the devil's food--even
more than the delightful chocolate cake of the same name.
Korn's campaign against wheat began 14 years ago when her son was diagnosed
with celiac disease--a genetic disorder characterized by the inability to
digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. At the time, celiac
disease was considered a rare pediatric disorder that was limited to
gastrointestinal symptoms, but during the last decade, it has been recognized
as the most common genetic disease in the world. Right now, it is estimated
that celiac disease effects one in 100 people--"most of whom have no idea
why they feel so terrible," says Korn.
The disease actually goes back 11,000 years to Mesopotamia and the banks of the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers. There, humans evolved from hunter-gatherers to
farmers and introduced gluten-based grains into the food supply. The human
body--accustomed to a steady diet of foraged nuts, berries and meat--did not
take readily to the change.
"That's really only yesterday, evolutionarily speaking," Korn says.
"Our bodies still look at wheat like a toxin and try to fight it off. No
human fully digests wheat. Even if you don't have a gluten sensitivity or
celiac disease, your body does not completely digest wheat."
Symptoms of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease include fatigue, headaches,
joint pain, depression, irritability and gastro-intestinal irregularities. As a
result, they're often mistaken for other serious disorders, including irritable
bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. "So these
people are told, `Sorry, you've got fibromyalgia or you've got chronic fatigue
syndrome, there's nothing we can do for you. Take these pain pills and go
away."
The only way to diagnose celiac disease is a series of blood tests, and the
only way to overcome it is to give up gluten cold turkey. "You go
gluten-free, and your health will be fully restored," says Korn.
Unfortunately, the list of food items containing gluten reads like a catalog of
scrumptiousness: "bread, pasta, pizza, cookies, cake, bagels and
beer." And just because a bread is white doesn't mean it's gluten-free.
All breads are made of wheat flour.
"We've perpetuated the myth that wheat is good for you and it truly is not,"
she says. "There's a little bit of protein in wheat. Other than that,
though, wheat offers very little in the way of nutrition. Whole wheat is a
whole grain and that's good for you, but you can get whole grains from so many
other sources that won't have a toxic effect on your body."
Source and Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury
©2005 Pro Health, Inc.
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/print.cfm?ID=6108
What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, which
transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the
body.
More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with
its own characteristic set of symptoms, pattern of development, and prognosis.
Impaired function and symptoms depend on the type of nerves -- motor, sensory,
or autonomic -- that are damaged. Some people may experience temporary
numbness, tingling, and pricking sensations, sensitivity to touch, or muscle
weakness. Others may suffer more extreme symptoms, including burning pain
(especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland
dysfunction. Peripheral neuropathy may be either inherited or acquired. Causes
of acquired peripheral neuropathy include physical injury (trauma) to a nerve,
tumors, toxins, autoimmune responses, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and
vascular and metabolic disorders. Acquired peripheral neuropathies are caused
by systemic disease, trauma from external agents, or infections or autoimmune
disorders affecting nerve tissue. Inherited forms of peripheral neuropathy are
caused by inborn mistakes in the genetic code or by new genetic mutations.
Is there any treatment?
No medical treatments exist that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy.
However, there are therapies for many other forms. In general, adopting healthy
habits -- such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins,
following a physician-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet,
correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption
-- can reduce the physical and emotional effects of peripheral neuropathy.
Systemic diseases frequently require more complex treatments.
What is the prognosis?
In acute neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, symptoms appear
suddenly, progress rapidly, and resolve slowly as damaged nerves heal. In
chronic forms, symptoms begin subtly and progress slowly. Some people may have
periods of relief followed by relapse. Others may reach a plateau stage where
symptoms stay the same for many months or years. Some chronic neuropathies
worsen over time, but very few forms prove fatal unless complicated by other
diseases. Occasionally the neuropathy is a symptom of another disorder.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/peripheralneuropathy_pr.htm
Myers Cocktail
Hundreds of physicians around the U.S. use this therapy, which is largely
unknown and not much written about. The Myers Cocktail is named for the late
John Myers, M.D., a Maryland physician who used intravenous injections of
nutrients to treat his patients. Currently, the nutrient cocktail has been
popularized by Alan Gaby, M.D., president of the American Holistic Medical
Association and a physician who writes a lot about nutritional factors in
medicine.
The idea of the Myers Cocktail is that many illnesses and conditions are
associated with digestive disturbances such as bloating, maldigestion and food
sensitivities and that people with such conditions may not absorb many of the
nutrients needed to return them to good health. Also, many diseases cause the
body to use nutrients at a faster rate, or to require higher amounts for proper
healing. When nutrients are injected intravenously, the digestion is bypassed.
Furthermore, the levels in the bloodstream are temporarily increased so that
the nutrients are "coaxed" into the cells, and frequently into the
mitochondria where they are active. This temporary boost frequently
"kick-starts" the cells, so that energy is produced more efficiently
in them.
Many chronic conditions respond to a series of Myers Cocktails. In my experience,
they are useful in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic
depression, where patients feel an energy boost lasting days or weeks. In the
case of fibromyalgia, decreased pain can be observed. In other chronic
conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis, there is
electron microscope evidence that the gut "leaks" nutrients, and the
injections help get necessary nutrients into the cells. Chronic asthma and
other lung disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic allergic problems can
respond with more energy and less symptoms. Patients who get sick constantly
with infections may find an increased immune response, with less susceptibility
to in acute situations such as viral illnesses.
To read more about this go to:
http://www.wholehealthne.com/html/myers__cocktail_.html
Gentle Pain Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and More
ImmuneSupport.com
06-29-2005
By Melissa Stout
CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
ASHEVILLE - Myofascial release and acupuncture are getting results as more
people seek relief from chronic and acute pain.
"Most physical therapy is doing what I call rehab," said Richard
Fowler, physical therapist and owner of the Gentle Pain Release Center.
"Very few are attending to the pain."
These procedures are getting results for acute and chronic conditions such as
back, shoulder and neck pain, fibromyalgia, headaches including migraines and
many others when a lot of other treatments aren't.
The treatments are virtually painless and usually quite relaxing with patients
feeling results within a few sessions.
The power of touch
Following an injury, Becky Parks had tried two or three types of therapy and
massage to treat her "frozen" shoulder, but nothing would ease the
pain or restore the freedom of movement until she went to see Fowler.
"It wasn't anything like anyone else had done," Parks said.
"It's not a perfect shoulder, but it's very livable."
MFR uses gentle pressures, stretches and long holds, two minutes or longer,
that achieve releases and a loosening and softening of very tight and painful
tissues. This process is repeated until the area is fully relaxed, resulting in
decreased pain and eventually restored motion.
"I find the tissues that are tight and hold them with gentle pressure.
Physiologically, it's more like a melting - holding pressure on it until it
lets go," Fowler said.
Fowler has been a physical therapist for 34 years, has studied gentle pain release
methods for 15 years and has been practicing them for eight years. The other
four licensed therapists at his two clinics have also had similar training.
"We're helping people in ways that's giving them pretty lasting
results," Fowler said. "It doesn't make sense to me to hurt people
who are already in pain."
After treating Parks, Fowler invited her to work for him at the Gentle Pain
Release Center.
"The proof is in the pudding," Parks said. "Our stories are
pretty typical stories. Working for (Fowler) has nothing to do with it. He
needed someone that knew it worked. There are some things that he can't fix,
but he can make it livable."
Each hands-on session lasts about one hour. "It's a very slow, very gentle
process and it works," Parks said. "It's just a new paradigm."
MFR was developed and currently taught by John Barnes, nationally renowned
physical therapist.
"Most people that come to us have been to lots of other places and tried
lots of other things," Parks said. "People call it magic hands."
The Gentle Pain Release Center also encourages exercise and believes in getting
people moving after the pain is under control. Fowler will be teaching people
how to treat themselves at home and at work.
Fowler "wants people to learn how to take care of themselves," Parks
said. "It's not just working on somebody; it's helping someone understand
what they're doing."
The Gentle Pain Release Center asked patients to scale their improvement on a
scale of zero to 100 percent. They responded with a 71 percent improvement on
the average in 11 visits. "That's pretty phenomenal results," Fowler
said.
"There's nothing more rewarding than helping people. Someone telling you
'You've given me my life back,'" Fowler said.
This article continues at:
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/6527/searchtext/myofascial/
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Headaches
Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Headache is defined as pain in the head that is located above the eyes or the
ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck. Headache,
like chest pain or dizziness, has many causes. There are two types of
headaches: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are not
associated with (caused by) other diseases. Examples of primary headaches are
migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. Secondary
headaches are caused by associated diseases such as brain tumors, strokes,
meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhages, caffeine withdrawal, or discontinuation
of analgesics. In rare occasions, headaches may signal heart attacks.
Establishing the diagnosis of the headache, arriving at effective treatment(s)
for the headache, and taking measures to prevent or reduce headache episodes
will require cooperation between you and your doctor. Following are MedicineNet
suggestions on how to work with your doctor in diagnosing and managing your
headaches.
How Can I Help My Doctor?
Pay attention to your symptom(s) so you can describe your condition as
accurately as possible:
1. What are your headache location, duration, severity (worst ever headache?),
and character (dull, sharp, throbbing, etc.)?
2. What brings them on (for example, certain foods, stress, bright light,
fasting, or sleep disturbances)?
3. What aggravates them (exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity)?
4. What relieves them?
5. How long have you had these headaches? Have you had these headaches since
childhood?
6. How frequently do you get headaches? Do they occur on weekdays? Weekends?
7. Are headaches related to menstruation?
8. Do other family members have similar headaches?
9. Are headaches often preceded by warning symptoms such as fatigue, yawning,
sleepiness, or euphoria?
10. Are your headaches associated with visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting,
pallor, cold hands and feet, seizures, weakness or unusual sensations of the
arm or leg, unsteady gait, slurred speech, or fever?
11. Has there been a recent head trauma or a fall?
Prepare a list of all your medications, medical conditions, and surgeries.
1. Include all prescription and nonprescription medications, supplements,
vitamins, herbs, and minerals. You might bring them with you to show your
doctor. This will help answer any questions your doctor may have about your
medications and dosages.
2. List prior and current medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood
pressure, heart attacks, or cancers.
3. List prior surgeries (appendectomy, hysterectomy, knee replacement, etc.),
procedures (colonoscopy, mammography, upper GI x-rays, etc.), and
hospitalizations. Bring any hospitalization records and procedure reports in
your possession.
10 Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor
1. What do you think is causing my headaches?
2. Is there more than one condition (disease) that could be causing my
headaches?
3. What tests will you do to diagnose my headaches?
4. How accurate are the tests?
5. How safe are the tests?
6. What is the likely course of my condition? What is the long-term prognosis?
7. What are my treatment options? How effective is each treatment option? What
are the benefits versus the risks of each treatment option?
8. If my symptoms worsen, what should I do on my own? When should I contact
you?
9. Are you aware of each of the medications that I am taking? Can they
adversely interact with the medications you are prescribing for me?
10. Should we monitor for side effects of the medications that you are
prescribing or for their interactions with other medications I am taking?
How About Follow-up Care?
Arriving at an accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment often takes time and
may require repeated visits and tests. Be patient and communicate with your
doctor. Here are some suggestions:
. Do not stop taking prescribed medications on your own. If your prescription
runs out, ask your doctor whether you should obtain a refill.
. If the prescribed treatment is not helping you, or is causing side effects,
inform your doctor right away. He/she may have to rethink the diagnosis and/or
change the treatment.
. If the doctor cannot offer you a firm diagnosis or help you with your
symptoms despite repeated visits, it is OK to ask for another opinion. Most
doctors will be glad to help their patients solicit second opinions or
specialty consultations.
. Always ask your doctor about your test results. Never assume that everything
must be fine if you do not hear from the doctor's office.
. Inform your doctor if you are using alternative medicine or non-prescription
remedies, because some of these remedies may interact with your prescribed
medications.
. Educate yourself with credible and authoritative medical information.
Increasing your own knowledge about the characteristics of your particular
condition, your medications, and their side effects can benefit you, your
family, and your doctor. Information about your condition may be provided by your
doctor. You can also find valuable information on the Internet. Be certain to
look for credible Web sites.
*****************************************************************
Neuropsychology of migraine: present status and future directions.
O'Bryant SE, Marcus DA, Rains JC, Penzien DB.
Mental Health Service Line (COS6), New Orleans VA Medical Center, 1601 Perdido
St., New Orleans, LA 70112-1262, USA. s_o_bryant@hotmail.com
Migraine is recognized as a primarily neural condition. Changes in neural
physiology have been consistently identified in migraineurs. Numerous studies
are available that evaluate physical and functional differences between
migraineurs and headache-free controls. The most prominent neuroimaging
findings reported in migraine sufferers have been white matter changes.
However, physical changes on neuroimaging have not been clearly correlated with
functional impairment in migraineurs. The current literature addressing the
neuropsychologic consequences of migraine has been far from conclusive, and
reports of cognitive testing in adult migraineurs and controls has yielded
inconsistent results. Neuropsychologic testing suggests that there may be some
subtle but possibly significant changes in cognition that occur both during and
between migraine episodes. A finding emerging with some consistency is that
migraine patients with aura experience more neuropsychologic deficits than
migraine patients without aura. The few studies that assess nonmigraine headache
suggest that physical changes may not be unique to migraine, although
neuropsychologic changes do appear to be limited to migraineurs. An examination
of the unmet needs and priorities for future research addressing this important
topic is provided.
PMID: 15938669 [PubMed - in process]
Expert Rev Neurother. 2005 May;5(3):363-70.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=pubmed
************************************************************
Parkinson's Drug May Help Fibromyalgia Patients
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Fibromyalgia is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and
fatigue disorder. While the cause for the condition is unknown and medications
used to treat it have had limited success, a new drug commonly used to treat
Parkinson's disease may provide relief for patients with fibromyalgia.
Recently, researchers from Pacific Rheumatology Associates in Renton,
Washington set out to investigate whether a drug called dopamine receptor
agoinist pramipexole was safe and effective in treating fibromyalgia.
The study was a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving
60 patients with fibromyalgia. The pramipexole group noted a significant decrease
in pain compared to the placebo group. At the end of the study, at least a 50
percent decrease in pain was achieved by 42 percent of the pramipexole group
compared with 14 percent of the placebo group. Overall, 82 percent of patients
taking pramipexole noted some improvement in pain, compared with 57 percent of
the placebo group.
The researchers recommended further investigation of the drug to determine its
long-term risks and benefits.
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=11776
************************************************************
Your personal food pyramid
You may be familiar with the traditional USDA Food Pyramid, which gives
guidance on what makes a healthy diet. Now these guidelines have been updated
as a concept called 'MyPyramid' and nutritionist Dr Irene Berman-Levine shares
her thoughts on the update, in a new article. As she says, the Government has
recognized that the 'one size fits all' approach to nutrition is outdated and
in 'MyPyramid' - as the name suggests - the food guidelines are tailored to the
individual.
If you go to the 'MyPyramid' website, you're asked to input your age, sex and
activity level and then you'll be told how many calories you need a day and how
much you should eat in terms of grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy and
meat/beans. There's useful information on food choices you can make within the
main groups and on how much a 'serving' consists of. Did you realize, for
instance, that a standard bagel is four servings of bread - not one? Dr Irene
also approves the new emphasis on foods that help fight chronic disease. She is
keen to know your reaction to 'MyPyramid' so do check out her website to give
your feedback. And, if you don't already, why not subscribe to her newsletter
'Dr Irene's Nutrition Tidbits' where this article first appeared?
To read this article, go to the 'Public' area and select 'Nutrition' from the
Health Centers. Then open the article entitled: 'A Food Pyramid Just for You'
Fibromyalgia after motor vehicle collision: evidence and implications.
McLean SA, Williams DA, Clauw DJ.
Department of Emergency Medicine and The Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research
Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
samclean@umich.edu
OBJECTIVE: Assess currently available evidence regarding the ability of a motor
vehicle collision (MVC) to trigger the development of fibromyalgia (FM).
METHODS: Consensus standards developed by the American College of Rheumatology
Environmental Disease Study Group were used to assess the ability of an MVC to
trigger FM. RESULTS: Increasing evidence suggests that FM and related disorders
are characterized by abnormalities in central nervous system function related
to sensory processing, autonomic regulation, and neuroendocrine function. MVC
trauma appears capable of triggering FM, but generally not through direct
biomechanical injury. Instead, the evidence suggests that MVC trauma can act as
a "stressor," which in concert with other factors, such as an
individual's biologic vulnerability, psychosocial factors, cultural factors,
and so on, may result in the development of chronic widespread pain and other
somatic symptoms. MVC trauma is only one of many stressors which can trigger
such disorders, and the environment within which the stressor is experienced
(biological and psychosocial) may largely determine whether there is an adverse
physiologic result or not. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence that MVC trauma may
trigger FM meets established criteria for determining causality, and has a
number of important implications, both for patient care, and for research into
the pathophysiology and treatment of these disorders.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2005 Jun;6(2):97-104.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=pubmed
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Sleep Disorders: Fact or Fiction?
How much do you know about sleep disorders? Review these statements and learn
which are true and which are not.
Health problems such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression have no
relation to the amount and quality of a person's sleep.
Fiction: More and more scientific studies are showing correlations between poor
quality sleep and/or insufficient sleep with a variety of diseases, including
hypertension, diabetes and depression. For example, insufficient sleep can
impair the body's ability to use insulin, which can lead to the onset of
diabetes. In addition, insufficient sleep affects growth hormone secretion that
is linked to obesity. As the amount of hormone secretion decreases the chance
of weight gain increases.
The older you get, the fewer hours of sleep you need.
Fiction: Sleep experts recommend a total sleep time of seven to nine hours of
sleep for the average adult. Sleep patterns change as people age, but the
amount of sleep they generally need does not. Older people may wake more
frequently through the night and may actually get less nighttime sleep, but
their need for sleep is no less than that of younger adults.
Snoring is common and can be harmful.
Fact: Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that is associated
with other medical problems such as cardiovascular disease. Sleep apnea is
characterized by episodes of reduced or no airflow throughout the night. People
with sleep apnea may remember waking up frequently during the night gasping for
breath.
You can "cheat" on the amount of sleep you get.
Fiction: Sleep experts say that most adults need between seven and nine hours
of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety.
Teens need more sleep than adults.
Fact: Teens need at least 8.5 - 9.25 hours of sleep each night, compared to an
average of seven to nine hours each night for most adults. The internal
biological clocks of teenagers can keep them awake later in the evening and can
interfere with waking up in the morning.
Insomnia is characterized only by difficulty falling asleep.
Fiction: There are four symptoms usually associated with insomnia:
. Difficulty falling asleep
. Waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep
. Frequent awakenings
. Waking up feeling unrefreshed
Daytime sleepiness means a person is not getting enough sleep.
Fiction: While excessive daytime sleepiness often occurs if you don't get
enough sleep, it can also occur even after a good night's sleep. Such
sleepiness can be a sign of an underlying medical condition or sleep disorder
such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea.
During sleep, your brain rests.
Fiction: The body rests during sleep. Despite this fact, the brain remains
active, gets recharged, and still controls many body functions including breathing.
When we sleep, we typically drift between two basic sleep states, Rapid Eye
Movement (REM) sleep and Non-REM (NREM) sleep.
If you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep you
should get out of bed and do something.
Fact: Waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to
sleep is a symptom of insomnia. Thinking of something relaxing may help to
induce sleep. However, most experts agree that if you do not fall back to sleep
within 15-20 minutes, you should get out of bed. You should go to another room
and engage in a relaxing activity such as listening to music or reading. Don't
watch the clock. Return to bed only when you feel tired.
Reviewed by The Sleep Medicine Center at The Cleveland Clinic.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52548
Chronic pain in persons with neuromuscular disease.
Jensen MP, Abresch RT, Carter GT, McDonald CM.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of
Medicine, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195-6490, USA. mjensen@u-washington.edu
OBJECTIVE: To examine the nature and scope of pain in persons with neuromuscular
disorder (NMD). DESIGN: Survey study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation
research programs. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with NMD (N=193). INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain presence or absence, pain severity,
pain quality (Neuropathic Pain Scale), pain interference (Brief Pain
Inventory), pain site, quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item
Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]), and pain treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-three
percent of the sample reported pain, with 27% of these reporting that this pain
was severe (> or =7 on a 0-10 scale), on average. "Deep,"
"tiring," "sharp," and "dull" were the words used
most frequently to describe NMD pain. Patients with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis and myotonic muscular dystrophies reported the greatest pain
interference, and patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth the least, among all NMD
diagnoses. The most frequent pain site, overall, was back (49%), followed by
leg (47%), shoulder (43%), neck (40%), buttock and hip(s) (37%), feet (36%),
arm(s) (36%), and hand(s) (35%). The study participants reported significantly
greater dysfunction than subjects in the SF-36 normative sample (persons
without health problems) on a number of the SF-36 scales. However, we found no
significant differences between the study participants and the US norms on the
SF-36 role-emotional or mental health scales. A number of pain treatments were
used by the study sample, but no treatment appeared to be effective for all
participants, and some of the treatments reported as most effective (eg,
chiropractic care) were used by very few participants. CONCLUSIONS: Pain is a
common problem among patients with NMDs. There are many similarities, but also
some important differences, between NMD diagnostic groups on the nature and
scope of pain and its impact. More research is needed to identify and test
effective treatments for NMD-related pain.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Jun;86(6):1155-63.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=pubmed
************************************************************
Appealing Health Insurance Denials
by Heidi Frey
Getting your medical expenses covered by your health plan can be frustrating,
but a little knowledge can go a long way.
The Basics
You can start by checking the following on your health plan:
. Do you need a referral from your primary care physician in order to see a
specialist?
. Does the plan require prior authorization for a planned surgery or hospital
stay?
. Do you have to select a physician from a network for the charges to be fully
cored?
. What does your plan cover?
. What does it limit or exclude?
Don't Be Stopped By Denials
If your health plan refuses to pay for treatment, you can and should consider
appealing if:
. The treatment isn't a covered benefit, but you think the health plan should
make an exception for you, or
. You have support from your physician that the treatment is "medically
necessary," or
. The treatment is deemed by the insurance company to be experimental or
investigational.
Call the company that issued the denial, armed with a file of your medical and
insurance information, including your benefit plan and summary.
A customer service representative can't overturn your denial, so ask to speak
with a supervisor.
Making a Formal Appeal
Every managed care organization is required by law to have an appeal process.
Although an appeal process isn't perfect, it's much less of a financial and
emotional burden than litigation. And your contract with the health plan may
prohibit you from filing a lawsuit before filing an appeal.
When formally appealing:
. First, read the appeal process guidelines in your policy. Familiarize
yourself with timeline requirements.
. Put your complaint in writing, including:
. Your health problems and treatment history
. How you have exhausted all other reasonable alternatives
. Physician recommendations
. Why you are an ideal candidate
. What will happen if treatment is not approved
. Support letters from your physicians
. Quotes from the benefit plan if it contains helpful language
. Medical records that support your position.
. Enlist your doctor's help. Your doctor willing to advocate for you.
. Track relevant dates to ensure that your complaint is moving forward
expeditiously.
. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone.
. Keep a record of all communications, including the date and time of your
conversation, the full name and title of the person with whom you spoke, and a
summary of what was discussed.
Getting Help
Your state Department of Insurance (DOI) has a wealth of information, including
your rights regarding health insurance, the appeals process, whom to contact
regarding an appeal and a general timeline for an appeal.
You should be able to locate your state's DOI in the White Pages' state
government section under "Insurance" or "Regulatory
Agencies." Your state government's home page should have a link to the
DOI.
If you have questions regarding the mechanics of the appeals process:
. If you're in a self-insured plan, which means that your employer has direct
responsibility for medical costs, you should contact someone in your employer's
human resources department for more information.
. If you're in a Medicaid managed care plan, you may have special rights in the
appeal process and you should contact the State Ombudsman or Medicaid customer
service.
. If you're in a commercial plan, which means that the managed care
organization has direct responsibility for medical costs, the appeals process
is outlined in your policy and follows state laws.
What's Next
If the cost of the denial is enough to offset legal fees, it may be best for
you to speak with an attorney who has experience with health care coverage and
benefit denials.
Heidi Frey founded the Patient Advocacy Coalition in Denver, Colorado.
*******************************************************************
Editor's Note:
I found this next article to be irritating, but included it for the education
component of what it is out there. The day I read it was on one of those
heavy fatigue days when getting from one side of the room to the other.
No amount of CBT would benefit me on one of these days! And I am
stating this as a licensed clinical social worker!
Cognitive behaviour group therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a
non-randomised waiting list controlled study.
Bazelmans E, Prins JB, Lulofs R, van der Meer JW, Bleijenberg G; The
Netherlands Fatigue Research Group Nijmegen.
Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen,
The Netherlands. E.Bazelmans@cukz.umcn.nl
BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that individual cognitive behaviour
therapy is an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The aim
of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive
behaviour group therapy (CBGT) in an unselected group of CFS patients.
Additionally, pretreatment characteristics of CFS patients who improve after
CBGT were explored. METHODS: In a non-randomised waiting list controlled
design, 31 patients were allocated to CBGT and 36 to the waiting list
condition. CBGT consisted of 12 two-hour sessions during 6 months. Main outcome
measures were fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength) and functional impairment
(Sickness Impact Profile). RESULTS: A moderate effect on fatigue in favour of
CBGT was found. For functional impairment, the effect was opposite to what was
expected. Patients who improved after CBGT had less complaints at baseline
compared to patients who did not improve. CONCLUSIONS: An explanation for the
moderate effect might be that during CBGT, rest and relaxation were too much
emphasised. Furthermore, an unselected group of CFS patients and therapists
inexperienced in CB(G)T for CFS participated. Suggestions to improve CBGT for
future research are given. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.
PMID: 15947511 [PubMed - in process]
Psychother Psychosom. 2005;74(4):218-24.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=pubmed
************************************************************
Gray matter volume reduction in the chronic fatigue syndrome.
de Lange FP, Kalkman JS, Bleijenberg G, Hagoort P, van der Meer JW, Toni
I.
F.C. Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud
University Nijmegen, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
floris.delange@fcdonders.ru.nl
The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling disorder of unknown etiology.
The symptomatology of CFS (central fatigue, impaired concentration, attention
and memory) suggests that this disorder could be related to alterations at the
level of the central nervous system. In this study, we have used an automated
and unbiased morphometric technique to test whether CFS patients display
structural cerebral abnormalities. We mapped structural cerebral morphology and
volume in two cohorts of CFS patients (in total 28 patients) and healthy
controls (in total 28 controls) from high-resolution structural magnetic
resonance images, using voxel-based morphometry. Additionally, we recorded
physical activity levels to explore the relation between severity of CFS
symptoms and cerebral abnormalities. We observed significant reductions in
global gray matter volume in both cohorts of CFS patients, as compared to
matched control participants. Moreover, the decline in gray matter volume was
linked to the reduction in physical activity, a core aspect of CFS. These
findings suggest that the central nervous system plays a key role in the
pathophysiology of CFS and point to a new objective and quantitative tool for
clinical diagnosis of this disabling disorder.
PMID: 15955487 [PubMed - in process]
Neuroimage. 2005 Jul 1;26(3):777-81. Epub 2005 Apr 7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=pubmed
Don't Let It Feel Like You're
"WORKING ON A CHAIN GANG"
________________________________________
The phrase implies that only mad dogs and Englishmen are dumb enough to go out
in the hot, midday sun. Since I'm neither, in these "dog days of
summer", I walk our dogs early and late in the day to avoid the heat. In
winter, I wait until midday, so the ice on the road can melt and the air
doesn't leave my fingertips rock hard. Relatively easy accommodations, I
figure. What do you think about this? I'd like to know.
My friend, Pat, a runner for 30 years, has been walking with me. Always
healthy, she's been feeling knocked out when she runs in the heat and then
sweats all day. It's menopause, said her gynecologist.
Ten years ago, she would have run anyway. Now, she's wise enough to realize
that the bad effects aren't worth the running "high". For Pat, this
is a frustrating but temporary adjustment. She'll return to her normal routine
once the weather cools.
There it is: People who are "relatively" healthy (e.g., don't live
with a chronic illness) face many of the same issues as those of us who live
with chronic illness (CI). It's a question of degree. Everything is exaggerated
when you live with a disabling CI (including the need to be flexible).
Why? Because your ability to get things done waxes and wanes as your symptoms
change suddenly, frequently and unpredictably. Responding to these changes
becomes part of the fabric of your life when you live with CI.
This can become a real problem in the workplace. It's difficult to be flexible
when there are numerous expectations to meet and others relying on you. It's
easy to fall into the trap of pushing yourself even harder just to keep up.
In my experience, people living with CI are even more willing than others to
push their limits and wear themselves out. They worry that their disabling
symptoms will prevent them from leading satisfying and fruitful lives. They
worry that others are aware of their limitations and will think less of them.
Too often, people living with CI ignore their experience and push past their
mounting difficulties. Does it make sense to do double duty just to prove that
you can? If you're already running on empty when you shift into first gear,
working is only going to become an increasing strain.
The pace leaves you completely drained and unable to do anything other than
work. Your life feels completely unbalanced. It's hard to see any alternative,
other than not working at all.
It's not uncommon to regard working 24/7 as a badge of honor. It's not,
however, a manageable, long term lifestyle, even for healthy people. When you
live with CI, you simply can't afford this behavior.
This doesn't mean that work is not an option. But it will only continue to be a
viable one if you are in a position to choose to walk, rather than run, and
still get the job done.
Living with CI offers you the opportunity to carefully plan for the inevitable
changes in your body, consider your options thoughtfully and make decisions
about where and how you will continue to stay in the workplace.
CIcoach.com
30 Colbert Road
West Newton, MA 02465-2907
617 969 1930
fax 617.969.5647
rosalind@cicoach.com
http://www.cicoach.com
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