Research Shows: Vibration Training Has Numerous Health Benefits

Whole body vibration training (WBV), is something most people haven’t heard of. WBV is a form of physical training, that allows you to exercise while on a vibration platform.  Recent research shows that the benefits of WBV are numerous for all ages (*denotes important benefits to seniors):

1. *Improve cardiorespiratory fitness. 1,6
2. *Improve muscle strength. 1,2,5
3. *Increase muscle mass. 2
4. May help reduce falls. 3
5. May help reduce fractures. 3
6. *Is more effective than walking to improve hip bone mineral density (BMD). 4
7. *Is more effective than walking to improve balance. 4
8. Increase metabolic response (higher rate of energy/calorie burning). 7
9. Increases muscular power. 8
10. Increases muscle activity. 8

In our clinic we use whole body vibration to speed the healing of our patients, and to reduce some of the risks associated with seniors becoming frail.

We are proud to offer cutting edge technology to the Greater Hickory and Western North Carolina area.

If you are suffering with pain, our treatment may be able to help you.  Dr. Shook is available for complimentary phone consultations to see if you could benefit from our care.  If you would like to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions, just give us a call at (828) 324-0800, or email Dr. Shook at drshook@alliancechiropracticcenter.com.

1. Bogaerts AC, Delecluse C, Claessens AL, Troosters T, Boonen S, Verschueren SM. Effects of whole body vibration training on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in older individuals (a 1-year randomised controlled trial). Age Ageing. 2009 Jul;38(4):448-54.
2. Bogaerts A, Delecluse C, Claessens AL, Coudyzer W, Boonen S, Verschueren SM.  Impact of whole-body vibration training versus fitness training on muscle strength and muscle mass in older men: a 1-year randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2007 Jun;62(6):630-5
3. Verschueren SM, Roelants M, Delecluse C, Swinnen S, Vanderschueren D, Boonen S.  Effect of 6-month whole body vibration training on hip density, muscle strength, and postural control in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Bone Miner Res. 2004 Mar;19(3):352-9. Epub 2003 Dec 22.
4. Gusi N, Raimundo A, Leal A.  Low-frequency vibratory exercise reduces the risk of bone fracture more than walking: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006 Nov 30;7:92.
5. Delecluse C, Roelants M, Verschueren S. Strength increase after whole-body vibration compared with resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Jun;35(6):1033-41.
6. Cochrane DJ, Sartor F, Winwood K, Stannard SR, Narici MV, Rittweger J. A comparison of the physiologic effects of acute whole-body vibration exercise in young and older people. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 May;89(5):815-21.
7. Maikala RV, King S, Bhambhani YN.  Acute physiological responses in healthy men during whole-body vibration.Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2006 Feb;79(2):103-14.
8. Rittweger J, Ehrig J, Just K, Mutschelknauss M, Kirsch KA, Felsenberg D.  Oxygen uptake in whole-body vibration exercise: influence of vibration frequency, amplitude, and external load.  Int J Sports Med. 2002 Aug;23(6):428-32.

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Who, Really, Defines An Illness?

12/25/09

We are on a much awaited for vacation in Aruba. I traveled with about 25 different medications in my wash kit. Some of whom I don’t remember why they were prescribed to me but I keep them as if they were a talisman.  I am taking the same medications here for my Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an auto immune disease, and a variety of other symptoms, fibromyalgia, a torn ligament, excruciating back spasms from having to wear the dreaded but classic “black boot”of the podiatric and orthopedic world for many months.

Back home, lying in my bed, day after day, I was always tired, achey and filled with pain.  I admit that the plane ride itself was exceedingly painful but I am off that plane now; and I feel ever so fine.

My Dr. a guru in NYC was considering prescribing me (self ) injectable medication, at a much higher dosage than the pill form I still take.   I had been considering it. I had been pondering how much is too much? Wondering if  I was at the half way point for feeling good, by HIS standards, if that wasn’t good enough.  But, what about MY standards? What about my level of pain and misery and feeling , always, like a patient and feeling good enough.

What about the mind/body experience? What happened after I dragged my worn out body, aching foot and excruciating back pain and came here?  I was minus the snow and ice, minus the bedroom I had been living in for almost two years and feeling very sorry for myself. I was determined that this vacation, “if we should be so blessed” would be the start of a new beginning for me. Despite the cane that came crashing on my head during the flight and injuring my eye, this was starting anew.

It was. It is.  So, who really defines what an illness is, a Dr. or the patient?  On the journal I keep for my Dr. at home, 1 being in really bad shape and 10 being something “I can never achieve” at home I am a solid 5, maybe 4.  The same symptoms and diagnosis in a beautiful new environment for a few sun-filled days and I am an 8 if not 9.  Do we look at things differently if we are in a different environment, or do we look at ourselves differently? If there is something beautiful to see does that help beautify the mind and body?  I feel good here, I feel warm here, I feel  something that I haven’t felt in over 2 years; I feel alive. And hopeful.

dedicated to Phylor who makes me think, and wonder.

[Via http://hibernationnow.wordpress.com]

The Year of the Perfect Christmas

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (II Corinthians 9:15 NIV)

I have always loved the children’s book The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston. It is the true story of a mother and her daughter, Ruthie, trying to survive in Appalachia while the father fought in WWI.

They were responsible for providing the Christmas tree for their church that year, and Ruthie was to be the angel in the Christmas play. There seemed no way to provide a tree, a costume, and presents, yet the mother persevered and sacrificed.

The summer before, Ruthie and her father had chosen the perfect tree to be used for the church Christmas program. With the father gone to war, Ruthie and her mother took their sled out late at night. They chopped down the tree and brought it back to the church. Into the early morning hours, the mother cut up her wedding dress to make a Christmas doll and angel costume for Ruthie. A happy ending came when the father returned home for Christmas.

I find some similarities between this story and my life. Holidays are very difficult when dealing with chronic pain and illness. I don’t see how I can possibly do everything, and of course I can’t. I don’t have the abilities I had before, but God shows me ways to be creative with what I possess. Perhaps I cannot buy all the gifts or do all the cooking that I would like, but whatever I give are offerings of love. If I do what I can with a thankful attitude, how much more enjoyable it will be.

Just as the father came home in the story, so on Christmas Eve we celebrate the coming of our Lord to earth for us – the real meaning of Christmas. By God’s grace, this year can be our year of the perfect Christmas – perhaps not perfect by our old standards, but perfect by His, if we keep focused on what is truly important.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to make the most of what You’ve given me this season, not dwelling on my limitations. Remind me that Your birth makes my Christmas perfect. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bronlynn Spindler is a wife and mother of three grown daughters and lives in Fredericksburg, VA. God’s grace and strength give her the ability to deal with chronic back pain, depression, headaches, and fibromyalgia. You may view her blog of devotionals at http://www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com and contact her at spindler@….

[Via http://chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com]

Ashley's Journey to Wellness: Entry #3 - Being a "Patient" Patient - It's a Full-Time Job! - Ashley Boynes, Community Development Director, WPA Chapter

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009:

So, it’s been almost 2 weeks since my first set of Remicade infusions, and about 3 weeks since starting Methotrexate. I know that the Methotrexate is slow-acting, but from the way people talked, I thought that Remicade would give me some signs of improvement rather quickly. It hasn’t.

In fact, yesterday I had one of my “bad” days. Both my RA *and* Celiac symptoms were a-flarin’ away. Today I’m feeling slightly better, and to me any improvement is good. But, I’m finding myself actually looking forward to Monday’s Remicade treatments. (Is this what my life has come to? Haha.)

I guess patience IS a virtue as I’d mentioned in my previous Journey to Wellness entry. If you live with chronic illness, you almost have to develop patience, for there is often no other option.

Being chronically ill really IS a full-time job in and of itself!

For example, today I had an 11:10 appointment to get bloodwork done. I sat in the waiting room for almost an hour before getting taken. While I was waiting, I pondered how much of my life had been spent in doctor’s offices, hospitals, or waiting rooms, particularly in the past year. It made my brain hurt to think about it! It also was rather depressing!

I’ve now found ways to occupy myself in waiting rooms. Books, magazines, and sometimes even my laptop. The best thing I’ve purchased for myself in the last year or so has been my BlackBerry. Thanks to that little handy-dandy device, I can text, tweet, email, and even get work done while sitting in the dreaded waiting rooms!

That is, when my hands and fingers are cooperation. Yesterday, I actually had to call off work because I couldn’t type. My hands were in such pain, and so stiff, that I just couldn’t bear it. No typing, no texting, no Twittering, or Facebooking….let’s just say that my day consisted of napping and watching deliciously bad television! I was bummed out because I also had wanted to write out Christmas cards last night but obviously could not do that, either! Oh, well.

I suppose I can’t say that the meds aren’t helping yet at all. First of all, the Methotrexate and Remicade are pretty new, still! And while I’ve seen no noticeable improvement from the daily Prednisone I’ve been on for about 7 months, I have been having 2 or 3 “good” or at least “OK” days per week, which, in my mind, is good. This past weekend, I had a few good days in a row – yay! Unfortunately, I think yesterday was my “crash” day that I’d talked about in Entry #2.  It seems that these crash days are unavoidable and the more that I talk to others with autoimmune illness, it seems that I am not alone!

So it’s all a waiting game. I’m on the waiting list to be seen at the Mayo Clinic. I’m waiting for my meds to work, waiting to feel better. Waiting until after the holidays to try a new (almost-vegan!) diet.

Oh, and possibly waiting for a full KNEE replacement?!? Yes, you read that correctly. I’m 26 years old but saw Dr. Ortho last week, and it seems that my options for my right knee problems are: keep on getting steroid shots in the knee (which is a “band aid” of sorts and will not correct the structural/mechanical problems of my knee) or, get a full replacement, which, he doesn’t want to do but is the only other option. He claims that the disease in my knee is far too progressed to do a “simple” arthroscopic surgery and that no orthopedic surgeon would do one on my knee. A synovectomy may be an option but there are so many issues going on in my knee that it might not fix the main problems which are locking and pain. I got a Cortisone shot on Thursday but it left me in extreme pain the entire night and into the next day. Saturday, it was back to its old tricks and locked up 4 times in one day! So, we’ll see. I’m going to seek out a second opinion after the holidays (I guess he’ll be named Dr. Ortho the Second) and take – you guessed it – a “wait and see” approach to that, too!

Sometimes I feel like I’m walking (limping?) in place, on a treadmill that is neverending but never really going anywhere. My calendar fills up with doctors appointments and has lessened in social engagements. This morning, I got blood tests and labwork done; tomorrow I get a field vision test to look at a bull’s eye effect that I have on my macula and to again rule out multiple sclerosis. (The macular halo effect that I have is called bull’s eye maculopathy and is probably from past arthritis meds such as Prednisone. However, my rheumatologist is puzzled that it has never reversed itself or improved since being taken off this medication 5 years ago.) Next week I go for Remicade infusions and rheumatologist appointment. I see my gastroautoimmune doctor and naturopathic in January, and, hopefully, Dr. Ortho II.

When will all of this time and effort (not to mention money!) put into feeling better actually make me feel better?

Who knows! The important thing, I think, is that I’m trying  to stay positive, I’m trying everything from the most expensive high-end drugs to the most simple natural and homeopathic remedies, and am exhausting every avenue. I’m always super on-top of my health, and always have been. My primary care doctor, (we’ll call him Dr. PCP, I guess, to be nice) basically told me in so many words during the summer of 2008 that I was a hypochondriac. Well, wasn’t he taken aback when I told him during the next visit that I had Celiac Disease, and a couple visits after that, that the Celiac (that he would have never caught on his own, since I took it upon myself to go to an endocrinologist who diagnosed me initially) led to other complications and was not responding to the gluten-free diet and that I possibly had fibromyalgia AND my rheumatoid arthritis still never went into remission? My point here is that it’s all worth the effort. Stay on top of your own health and wellness, for when it comes to health, I think you can never be too careful. Sometimes, you just know things that doctors may not be able to see. So stay proactive and positive, and keep the faith! Try, try again – it’s the only way anything can ever get accomplished!

So I wanted to leave you all with another (short) story before I end Entry #3 in my Journey to Wellness. I sit here  at work with my hands shaking from meds, back and hips in pain, legs feeling like they are on fire, head hurting, and nauseous, but still with a SMILE on my face as I share this story with you! This past Saturday was our Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5K in Pittsburgh. After the race was a Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Session & Family Day holiday party at the Carnegie Science Center. My lovely coworker Allison who organized the event asked me to speak at the parents’ awareness session to share my story of growing up with JRA and to intro the doctor who was the main speaker. I happily obliged.

I was strangely nervous beforehand but I got up on that stage and shared my story. I talked about the social struggles of being a young person with chronic disease, how my physical ailments cut my softball and cheerleading careers short, but how it allowed me to open up to my love of writing. I spoke about the importance of taking care of yourself and having a great support system to lean on, etc. After the event, I was approached by a mother and daughter. The girl was 17 and recently diagnosed with Myositis, a rheumatic disease much like Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was struggling with insecurities from facial puffiness due to Prednisone, hair thinning from Methotrexate, and feeling like an outcast during her senior year of high school. I could relate on many levels. Her mother thanked me with tears in her eyes as we swapped stories. I had 3 others sets of parents stop me after the event to thank me for speaking. One man called me a “hero” and an “inspiration” and one other gentleman said my speech made him want to become an advocate here at the Arthritis Foundation for his daughter’s sake. I went home that day in the best mood I’ve been in, in a long time! It was truly so very rewarding that by sharing my experiences – both positive and negative – could encourage/help/touch others so very much. It made me feel better, and it gave me some strange sense of security and hope. Maybe I learned the same message I was sending them, which was that when dealing with arthritis and other autoimmune illnesses that “you are not alone!”

It was one step on my “Journey to Wellness” that I will never forget!

With that, I’ll say goodbye and leave you all with a quote that I’m going to try to begin to live by: “Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.” ♥

Thanks for reading and for joining me on my Journey to Wellness. I will surely keep you all posted and will continue updating my progress! I wish you all the best of luck in YOUR own personal journeys, too! Please share YOUR thoughts and feedback! Any thoughts on total joint replacement for young adults? How long did it take YOU for your meds to start working? Anyone else get tremors/shakiness from their medications? Do you ever find it hard to be a “patient” patient? Any advice to others who are struggling to write out holiday cards this season? I’d love to hear all of your thoughts and feedback! Please, share your stories! Comments welcomed & encouraged – post on here or drop me an email!

Take Care & Be Well,

-Ashley Boynes

Community Development Director

Western Pennsylvania Chapter

voted, “Best Blogger in Pittsburgh!”

Click here for Entry # 1 in Ashley’s Journey to Wellness

Click here for Entry #2 in Ashley’s Journey to Wellness

And don’t forget to read/comment on our other recent Rheum for Wellness blog posts on mind-body healing & positivity, how to give to the AFWPA this holiday season, and more!

[Via http://arthritisfoundationwpa.wordpress.com]

Highs and Lows of the Holidays....

I hate to say this but I will anyway…. it seems like I paid dearly for that good day on Thanksgiving…lol… I was still very worn out and then the rain set in and I didn’t think it was ever going to stop! But what’s new huh? This is the way life goes when you have a chronic illness like Fibromyalgia. Only now with the rush of the holidays here it seems much worse. I thought I had it all worked out at least in my own mind. No I’m not going to put up any Christmas “stuff”  when it is such a major pain and my kids are grown pretty much…… my youngest will be heading to basics at Fort Jackson SC in Jan…..and I’ll be doing Christmas dinner the same way we did Thanksgiving. I’m not doing the all out gift giving and shopping…… not that I could go out in that mess anyway….but not even doing that much online….. money is just too tight right now. I wasn’t even feeling bad about this…… until talking with a few not too close “friends” who stop by to “check in on me” to see how I’m doing and if I need anything and before ya know it I was starting to rethink or defend my stand. I keep telling myself not to listen to people who don’t understand what it is like to live my life. Comments like …. “It must be nice to sit back and have everyone else handle everything for you and not cook for your family anymore.” { Thanksgiving dinner was bought at Piccadilly Restaurant… turkey and all the trimmings and not expensive!} ”Wow that must be very expensive. I don’t know how you can afford something like that or is someone else taking care of that for your too?” Followed by a nice smile. “Don’t you feel bad about not making your house more of a welcoming festive holiday home for your family?” Oh and a real good one that has a way of getting to me is “You know honey when I am feeling my worst is when I know I MUST make myself get up and try even harder and then I know I’ll be showing just how much I care about everyone more than myself and that’s important. A good mom never puts herself and her own wants and needs over her families!” and the “Come on and just try harder…. you just have to push yourself and you will then be proud of yourself.”  At that point I just start to hope and pray one of them doesn’t  get started on “Oh, have you tried that new drug? They say it will cure you or at least make it so you can do everything like new again. Isn’t that great? Have you started taking it yet…. you need to call your doctor and tell him about it…. It’s on the TV all the time.” …… Lord knows if I could get a good enough grip with my hands and could move fast enough I would strangle them!……sick slightly evil giggles…..yes I think I could see that picture….oh yeah…Oh sorry…lol…my fibro fog makes it very easy to wonder down some dark roads……. grin…..Needless to say I was feeling pretty good and after this took a nose dive into a dark and depressed mood…. I would have thought by now these people would have had a better understanding of my health but no seems not….. will they ever? Who knows what is then being said  about me. Slowly I start talking to myself….. and yes this is a GOOD thing…lol…since what I am saying is those people are wrong and I’m doing the best I can and the people who really count aren’t complaining….. and my mood lefts and now I have started playing Christmas music and look around and see not one thing Christmas like….. and start to rethink not putting up Christmas stuff….. but darn it I hurt! So I asked my youngest about it and he said why not just put a few things over the fire-place {it is right across from my bed!} and a string of lights over my patio doors that are next to my bed?  Not too hard and since it’s mostly just me and Christmas dinner will be on and around my bed like at Thanksgiving that should be just right. OK that will work and now to just keep thinking the right way. The holidays can be a very stressful time filled with highs and lows and it can be so easy to fall into that trap of feeling pressured by everyone else that is stressing out and they want you to stress out too and if not then you are lazy or weak and aren’t a good person. I hope I can keep my head up and not down ……. and when those “friends” stop by that what to start down that road I can tune them out ….. even if it is only by putting my fingers in my ears and saying “nanananananana…..I can’t hear you….nanananana”…. of course doing this in my head and not out loud…… well not unless they get really rude….. then maybe I will try it out loud!….lol…..if ya need a good laugh during the holidays just stop and picture doing that out loud…… giggle…. and peace be with you until our paths cross again…… Lila

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE READING THIS POST AND YOU ARE NOT ON THE WEB SITE “LILA LOST IN THE FIBRO FOG…..” THEN WHAT YOU ARE READING HAS BEEN  STOLEN AND IS BEING USED WITHOUT MY AUTHORITY AND I HOPE YOU WILL COME TO MY WEB SITE BLOG AT WORDPRESS  http://www.lilabyrdakabirdladybyday.wordpress.com

[Via http://lilabyrdakabirdladybyday.wordpress.com]

PASS THE SPUDS PLEASE

I have this memory as a young girl sitting between two of my uncles and I began to sneeze as I inhaled the large amounts of pepper they both sprinkled onto their pile of mashed potatoes that covered at least one third of their plates and stacked quite high.  Whether we were dining with the relatives or dining as a family, most nights Mom peeled and boiled a large pot of potatoes.  I never really thought about how many potatoes my aunts and my Mom cooked almost every day.  We just took for granted that the  pile high potatoes in a very large serving bowl was a basic staple that accompanied our roast beef or roast chicken.  I do recall hearing the story of how Mom and Dad had to monitor how many potatoes my older sister ate when she was little since all of the starch was causing her to sweat too much!  But it wasn’t until my future brother-in-law had dinner with us and he was stunned by how many potatoes were in the bowl and even more stunned by how many potatoes we consumed that I realized that not everyone enjoyed their potatoes as much as us!

Sadly, my  childhood memories of eating  mashed potatoes that are fluffy with lots of milk and butter and asking for more with the comment, “Pass the spuds please” has increased my outrage that this vegetable is now being tampered with by pesticides.

The Environmental Working Group is only one research study that confirms that potatoes are one of the Top Ten vegetables that have the most number of pesticides.  This Group says that 81% of the potatoes sampled had detectable pesticides and most of them had at least 18.  Other studies even go further and believe that outside of coffee, potatoes have even more pesticides than that!

Recently, I sent an e-mail to the provincial potatoes grower’s association asking them if Alberta uses as many pesticides as the United States since so much of the research comes from there.

Below is his response:

The PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency), a division of Health Canada legislates what crop protection products can be used on all crops in Canada. Health Canada dictates what the acceptable residue levels are in every crop to ensure the safety of the consumer.  Potatoes are regularly tested for residue levels to ensure that they are within the acceptable levels.  Health Canada would not allow one crop to have higher residue level tolerance than another. This does not mean that one cannot be higher than the other but still be within acceptable safe levels.

I cannot comment on whether potatoes have the highest residue levels of any food however I can tell you that residues, if there are any at all, are well within Health Canada limits for safe food.  I can tell you that Alberta potatoes have the lowest pesticide use of anywhere else in North America which would translate to lower residue levels.  It should also be noted that not all crop protection products result in residues in the food component of the crop.

The Potato Industry in North America is highly regulated and monitored.  The CanadaGAP on-farm-food-safety program has a component specific to potatoes to ensure their safe production and handling.  The consumer should not have any concerns as to the safety of the potatoes they buy from reputable sources.

I hope this alleviates your concerns.

I felt some reassurance that Alberta uses less pesticides, but I also felt that I was being reassured without any real facts except that whatever pesticides are being used are being supported by the government!  That government sanctioning is  to make me feel better?  It is interesting that the government has deemed that this amount of pesticides is perfectly acceptable without telling us how much is not acceptable.  In other words, how many potatoes can we eat before they do become dangerous?  Or when I combine this vegetable with other vegetables that are high in pesticides, at what point does that become dangerous?

My concerns continued to increase after my husband spoke to someone who does business with a local potato grower and shared that the “worst” pesticide is the one that is sprayed over the tops.  Apparently, consumers don’t want to purchase potatoes too large and by killing the green tops, the growth of the potatoes slow down and yet are still able to remain in the ground.

I am annoyed that I have to spend so much money on a small bag of organic potatoes to help my body to heal.  I am even more annoyed that other people whom I love very much cannot even consider purchasing organic potatoes due to the higher cost. I am outraged that the sweet memories of sharing a meal that included a staple we assumed was not only tasty but nutritious has now been corrupted with pesticides. No sir, my concerns have NOT been alleviated!

[Via http://gaylejervis.wordpress.com]

Heard Through the Grapevine: Test kit for XMRV to be available from Reno-based VIP Dx

From the  FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton

Courtesy of ProHealth

Copyright © 2009 ProHealth, Inc.

 

 

Rumor on the ProHealth Message Boards has it that Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) in Reno, Nevada (www.redlabsusa.com), will soon make available a test kit for the XMRV virus – the retrovirus which most of the world knows by now is thought to be a biomarker for a large proportion of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients.

 

According to the buzz, ME/CFS patients and their physicians will be able to order VIP Dx kits as soon as pricing is established – and that was due to be Friday, Oct 16, according to a ProHealth ME/CFS Message Board user who has already arranged to receive a kit when they become available for shipment. According to her, “They send it to you by FedEx and you have to have a Dr. sign off and take it to a lab. [VIP Dx] pays for it to be sent back.”

 

This cannot  be offered in Europe. As of Oct 14, a Co-Cure listserv poster reported that Marguerite Ross, Director of Marketing & Client Relations at VIP Dx, indicated to him “we cannot offer the test in Europe because of the time difference and temperature changes the sample would experience,[which would render it]unsuitable for analysis.” In the same communication, she stated “the test will be available in the USA in about 3-4 weeks as it is undergoing final validation and licensing.”

 

According to the initial news on the VIP Dx test – posted Oct 9 on the CFS Warrior blog (http://cfswarrior.blogspot.com), there is “a PCR test for the XMRV virus itself. Another test kit recommended by Dr. Paul Cheney is the NKCP & LYEA test… If you want to be tested call the lab at 775-351-1890 and they will ship out a kit to you. Your doctor has to sign off, then take it to a local lab to get the test done and then it gets shipped overnight back to VIP Labs. It takes about two weeks to get the results. The woman I spoke to was very nice. They are swamped with calls but expected it.”

 

VIP Dx is the new name of the former REDLABS USA, launched years ago with the assistance of Belgium-based ME/CFS researcher Dr. Kenny De Meirleir, who has no financial interest in the venture. It was named after De Meirleir’s own R.E.D. Laboratories, a biotechnology company in Belgium focused on “developing clinical diagnostic tests and therapies for chronic immune diseases.” VIP Dx is located geographically near the Whittemore-Peterson Institute, which is part of the University of Nevada, Reno. VIP’s medical director – Dr. Vincent Lombardi, PhD – was recently hired from the UN-Reno School of Medicine, and reportedly played a role in the WPI testing.

 

Test Availability from Whittemore-Peterson?

 

Meanwhile, according to the XMRV FAQ at the WPI website, “The WPI has developed a blood test for the detection of XMRV. The test is currently undergoing clinical evaluation and validation. We hope to have a clinical test available to the public within the year.”

 

 

NEWS FROM  http://www.redlabsusa.com/  states:

 

LATEST NEWS: XMRV TESTING

Dr. Vincent Lombardi, the primary investigator and first author on a paper that appeared in the 8 October 2009 issue of “Science”, is the Director of Operations for the licensing and development of the XAND test assays used by VIP Dx for the detection of XMRV. To read this landmark publication, “Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome“, please go to (www.sciencemag.org). We are pleased to announce that VIP Dx has licensed this technology allowing us to offer the most accurate and sensitive testing available for XAND (XMRV associated neuro-immune disease).

VIP Dx 5625 Fox Avenue, Suite 369  Reno, NV 89506  Phone: (775) 351-1890  Fax: (775) 682-851 E-mail: info@vipdx.com 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PST)

Press Releases

October 23, 2009, Reno, Nevada

It is with great pleasure that Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) announces the introduction of its family of diagnostic tests for the Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-like Virus for XMRV associated neurological disease (XAND).

XMRV is a gamma retrovirus and replicates in dividing cells. Low-level latent infections are best detected in activated, dividing cells; to activate a latent virus takes additional cell culture. Productive infections are more easily detected without special treatment of the specimen.

Each XAND specimen must have an XAND acceptance code on the test requisition. The XAND acceptance code is assigned by our staff and will arrive on the test requisition in your specimen kit. Specimens sent without the appropriate acceptance code may result in the delay or inability to perform the diagnostic test. The diagnostic tests available for XAND* are as follows:

XAND by PCR for XMRV active infection: Test Code XAND ($400)

XAND1 by virus culture for XMRV latent infection: Test Code XND1 ($500)

XAND2 by PCR for XMRV active infection and virus culture for latent infection: Test Code XND2 ($650)

We are accepting XAND tests on Tuesdays and Fridays only due to the incubation period required for proper analysis. Therefore, you must have your blood drawn on Monday or Thursday and ship immediately back to us by priority overnight FedEx for receipt by us on Tuesday or Friday.

For XAND testing you must use the coded test requisition provided with your kit. Refer to the updated specimen guidelines in the right column of the test requisition for proper blood draw.

No special preparation is required for specimens; ship specimens at ambient (room) temperature. Specimens must be received within 24 hours for proper analysis. Collection and shipping instructions are included in each kit along with all required specimen tubes. The return clinical envelope and overnight airbill are also included.

To order you test kit, please e-mail your full name, address and telephone number toinfo@vipdx.com. There is a 4-6 week back order. VIP Dx is committed to having everyone tested who wants to be tested. Please accept our sincere apology for any delays. We thank you for your support and patience.

Please visit our website at www.vipdx.com for more information on VIP Dx and our tests.

Please visit Whittemore Peterson Institute for FAQ on the XMRV virus at www.wpinstitute.org.  On behalf of the VIP Dx team, we thank you for your continued support.

* The XAND tests were developed and their performance characteristics were determined and validated by VIP Dx. These tests have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diagnostic purposes. Medical expertise is required for XAND test interpretation.

 

….ends…..

 

 

[Via http://jeannehambleton77.wordpress.com]

MRI

Headed in for an MRI of my spine this afternoon. The pain specialist I saw a few weeks ago ordered it to see if the fibromyalgia is really just nerve damage due to spine changes from Marfan. Don’t get me started on the grief it took to get this scheduled, but for once it wasn’t the insurance company’s fault! Go figure!

Anyway, I just got off the phone with the scheduler and she said it will be sometime in JANUARY before I can get my next appointment, to even DISCUSS medication or physical therapy/acupuncture (which I’d prefer). My initial appointment was 4 weeks ago.

So…the pain clinic only lets you see them for 6 months, but the first HALF of that is spent waiting, which means I get maybe two visits after starting treatment to see the specialist. Seriously?!

I think I’m going to go cry in a hot shower now, then try to think up a Plan B.

Ouchies

My days and nights are all mixed up. I went to bed about 6 this morning and woke up at noon because someone was at my door. Then soon after, my health aide came to help. Not long after she left, the mechanic drove my van here and I drove him back to his shop. Next…to the food shelf. Two guys from my church were there and they followed me home and brought my food in for me!

Mary Lou found me outside, then Beth and Luc came to visit. It was dark out by the time I got to sit down at the computer and try to catch up with things.

This is a new one….not only are my knees swollen, but the side bumps from the inside of my knees swelled up bigger than I have ever seen them. When I walk, they bump together. Owies! Creepy skin and arthritis pain together My neck does not hold up right and the hump on my back is extra swollen and sore. My neck lymphs are swollen, my tongue is swollen. My shoulders are AWFUL!

I have a couple of lab slips for blood tests. The doc is doing CRP and SED rate since I asked him to. He misunderstood WHY I wanted them and wrote it was for myasthenia gravis. It’s for MCTD….mixed connective tissue disease. I think he forgot I have that. My guess is the results will be wicked high. Ouch. IVIg….I long for your healing swirl of plasma!

wanda would cane smack your ass for this...

Here we are, less than a week away from Thanksgiving…and what do I have to be thankful for???

I guess the answers are: my mom, Pedro and my fuzzy family of 5 (3 cats, 2 small dogs.)

What about the rest of my family?? Like my “father” Michael Sawczuk and “uncle” Dan Sawczuk…they hate me because of some unknown reason. I guess my “dad” hates that I was depressed all the time…so he decided it was in his best interest to do away with me making me more depressed than ever. Then he must of told the rest of the family some sort of exaggerated stoner version of the actual truth.

You don’t love me anymore. You hated to be around me. You & Sue Tessler thought it was was a good idea to call the cops on your daughter on Christmas 5 years ago, because I wouldn’t leave until you told me you would be my dad again. You felt all that was something appropriate to tell and do to your daughter who has battled an auto-immune system disorder and mental illness ever since I was 12?? What kind of sick, evil fuck are you??? I bet it takes at least 4 Old Styles now to numb that kind of guilt.

MICHAEL SAWCZUK, I WAS SICK…I AM SICK…I NEEDED YOU…I NEED YOU…AND WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU???

So now I’m sicker. The luck I have. I’m seeing an Otolaryngologist/ Oncologist now. I’m more scared than I’ve been in a long time. Biopsy is scheduled for early next week. I hope it’s not…as Grandma used to say, “the big C.” But it’s something. It’s at least 5 somethings, in my neck that are not supposed to be there. I’ve been so tired, and so sick…but assumed it was my Fibromyalgia. I myself am blown away that I have to deal with more doctors, hospitals, tests, needles, machines, appointments, medications….it’s so overwhelming, that I have moments where I almost hope life is finally done with me.

So, I will have another test this week, and one next week…and there will be nobody to call and wish me good luck, or ask me how things went. I’m not worth it. I wish I knew why.

I’m very, very scared and feel so all alone!!! I thought family was supposed to love you the most during these hard times. Not mine.

It’s just me and my wonderful, amazing mom. And I can’t even begin to explain how much it breaks my heart that she has to deal with my sick, sad ass all on her own. It’s not fair to her or us. None of this is fair!!

:::I’m soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SAD, HURT & ANGRY!!!:::

BRING ON THE SELF-PITY

Self Pity

I never saw a wild thing

sorry for itself.

A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough

without ever having felt sorry for itself.

D. H. Lawrence

In the movie G.I. Jane, the Master Chief Officer shouted D. H. Lawrence’s poem to the trainees while they were performing various grueling exercises.  This same Officer ends up giving G.I. Jane a copy of this poem with a medal of honor since she saved his life.  Initially, I agreed with this kind of commendation.  In fact, as I sat there discouraged by another setback, I thought how I needed to be mentally stronger and that there can be no place for self-pity.    I even reflected on my good fortune that during this long drawn out illness  my optimistic personality has protected me from falling into a lot of self-pity. And yet, I found myself   wondering if there were actually some benefits to self-pity.

There are many strong condemning quotes such as the one from Helen Keller: “Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world.” And it seems that the famous writer D.H. Lawrence wants his readers to aspire to be more like this small bird who never ”felt sorry for itself”.  Consider this picture:  There is a small bird who is slowly freezing to death, who takes no action to protect itself, who is living fully in that moment and not considering tomorrow, and who finally falls off the bough of the tree to its death.  Is that a picture of how you want to be? Do you want to be like this bird that not only had no self pity but no emotions whatsoever?  Do you want to live in the moment so completely that you don’t consider whether there is something proactive you could do to change your circumstance?  Do you want to lose your mortality and never question whether you have any regrets, whether you have anything to be sorry about?  This bird did not pity itself because it had no aspirations to be anything more than what he was.

If someone surrenders to self-pity, it is because that person is aware that her life is being diminished by some circumstance or by some personality flaw.  Experiencing  self-pity suggests she knows she has so much potential that is not being realized and she wants so much more in her life.  Certainly self-pity can be dangerous just as Elizabeth Eliot claims: “Self pity is  . . a sinkhole from which no rescuing hand can drag you because you have chosen to sink.” On the other hand, how often have you heard people say that “they got so low there was no where else to go but up?”  Often, during an intense self-pitying phase, that person may look up and say, “Enough.”  It is at that moment when the pain of staying the same is greater than making a change – that’s when  the negative hold of self-pity is broken and something positive from those deep human emotions emerge. What we often miss here is that sinking into a deep self-pitying hold may be the necessary impetus for effective change.   It is in that hole that we have the possibility of becoming a noble creature that the frozen bird could never become by creating something meaningful and significant out of our circumstances.   D. H. Lawrence suffered most of his life and finally died in his early 40’s.  He must have experienced first hand the highs and lows that accompany chronic illness.  Perhaps, he wasn’t edifying that frozen bird, nor suggesting that humans should become more like that frozen bird.  Rather, he may have been revealing the complexities of self-pity especially the  redeeming aspects of our human nature that we would have to give up in order to live the life of a bird.  And perhaps the title is more ironic since the bird is to be pitied since it can’t experience even the “worst” of emotions:  self – pity!!

DON'T PANIC DURING A SETBACK

“He’s exhausted. His muscles ache beyond belief and his body is chilled to the bone. His heart is pumping a mile a minute after having just maneuvered through an obstacle course that would challenge the most agile men. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, having read articles about “the quiet professionals,” and listened to stories about “the toughest military training in the world” from guys who had gone through the training before him. He tells himself he can make it, over and over again. This Sailor wants to be a U.S. Navy SEAL.”

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that Greg and I watched G.I. Jane last night.  I am even more embarrassed to confess my anger and resentment as I watched Demi Moore show off her physical prowess with one armed push ups and sit ups with her feet hanging from a bar so that her body could be completely suspended.  I had barely recovered from the weekend’s faux pas of going into Save-On Foods with Greg and then Tuesday I started the treatment to pull out more mercury.  The accompanying pain and debilitating fatigue that just settled in during the afternoon was overwhelming and disappointing.

Then gradually as I watched this movie, I realized I was observing some nuggets of wisdom for my plight!  As her character was going through a grueling training process to become a Navy Seal, Demi Moore was blindfolded and water was continually poured over her face and into her mouth to mimic the sensation of drowning.  The trainer told her that panic was what usually debilitated soldiers during this kind of torture.  The idea was that she was to learn how not to panic during such circumstances.

I understood what he was talking about.  There are times when I am bombarded with symptoms and yet my mental and emotional resolve are strong enough to neuturalize any sense of panic that I may not reach my goal of health.  Other times -like yesterday,  I sink deeply into the abyss of discouragement and just want to surrender to the illness so that I don’t have to be continually disappointed by setbacks.  However, yesterday as I   wrote words of panic that I may never become well, I concluded with these words:

“And yet, oddly, through the tears and the grief, there is still a smoldering hope that says, “Don’t give up.”  I serve the God of the impossible and for all I know tomorrow may be the beginning of a breakthrough.  Tomorrow more mercury may be pulled from my body – enough to improve some of my symptoms.  Enough to raise debilitating fatigue, enough to clear the mental fog, enough to enable me to have increased endurance after 1 p.m.   Enough to hang onto my doctor’s words that , “It may take up to two years, but I believe I can help you.”  Enough to believe that I was lead to this doctor by the God I serve and enough to believe that He knows what is best for me. “

“You have to want the program. And mentally, never give yourself the option to quit,” said Master Chief Information Systems Technician Dennis Wilbanks, head SEAL recruiter.  Like the successful SEALS trainee, I am no quitter!  I will endure another setback with strong mental resolve and then plan my next training session to become healthy.

Early riser

I never got to sleep last night until about 6am as the day before I was sleeping from 11pm to 7pm the next day, my body feels like ive just been ran over by a car and this morning I was walking as if I shit myself lol.. So the cowboy look isnt so good when I had to drop my boy off at school…

This is the first time I have managed to get up in the last 4 weeks to take my son to school, and I am beginning to think is the amitripline working or is it the new super strength vitamins I got yesterday from Holland and Barret..

• B-100, vitamin B complex (1 a day)
• Mega Vitamin, high strength vita mins

They are both massive tablets and only look acceptable for a horse to eat not me..

On a more personal note, I sat and thought about one of my friends who died in Northern Ireland during my time as a soldier serving in Northern Ireland, Lest we forget..

i did it... and i'm gonna celebrate it!!

YAY!! I did it!!

Okay… all I’m sayin’ is… I DID IT! I was in some serious pain and I really believed I was not going to be able to go out with the kids trick-or-treating… but I ate some food, put my shoes on and I walked out the door.

So let me backtrack a bit. I went to my daughter’s soccer game in the afternoon and thought I was going to have to go to bed on the way home from that. I was almost in tears on the way home, my body hurt so bad. I just took some deep breaths and when I got home, I sat down and relaxed for about 20 minutes before folks started coming to the house.

As family and friends came over and we started to get the food out and the kids started to get ready, I started to get excited and at the same time really nervous… “would my body fail me… would I just go for it and pay later...”

My sister-in-law drove over the hill from Santa Cruz, bringing with her my 11-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew… God bless her for that!

As we all stepped out the door to go trick-or-treating, the thoughts going through my mind… “please don’t make me have to call my husband to pick me up… body, please don’t fail me now… just let me have fun on this Halloween night!“

My nephew kept me laughing for the next hour and a half as we walked the neighborhood. He was sooooo excited, his excitement and happiness from the night just overflowed and had me smiling and laughing!! He ran from house to house to house and told us every piece of candy he got from each house. He was first at the door in front of the big kids. He said “Trick-or-Treat”, “Thank You! Happy Halloween!” at every single house without being told. He knew to only go to the houses with the lights on, he told us which houses to go to… he carried that bag of candy by himself and did not complain ONE TIME! Man! I was in awe of this child… how can we bottle up that joy? At the end his bag of candy had to weigh at least 1/2 his body weight! He carried it like Santa carries his bag of toys, slung over his shoulder…

So… yes… I am celebrating the fact that I walked the neighborhood and didn’t have to be picked up!

Mostly, I am celebrating the fact that I have this little angel to be thankful for, that made me so happy and allowed me to enjoy Halloween for another year.

Stay cool and thanks for reading!

Fibromyalgia: First steps after a diagnosis

from the Chronic Pain Health Center

The days and weeks after you’re first diagnosed with fibromyalgia can be a whirlwind of emotions. You may feel anxious about what’s to come, angry that you have a chronic illness, sad that your lifestyle might have to change—or even happy to finally have a diagnosis! Here are some things you can do to feel more prepared and supported.

Coordinate your health care team
Chances are you’ll have multiple health care providers (HCPs)—possibly working at separate facilities—treating your fibromyalgia. These can include a primary care doctor, rheumatologist/neurologist, pain care specialist (i.e., anesthesiologist, physical medicine specialist), psychologist and physical therapist, some of whom you may see more often than others. Coordinating with your health care team may help ensure you get the best treatment.

Make a contact list of all your HCPs to distribute to each of them, and request that they coordinate with each other on your care and share information as needed. Take the time to connect using email if possible, phone if necessary—whatever it takes to keep your team informed and united.

Consider a “whole patient” approach
Fibromyalgia will likely affect many areas of your life, and unfortunately there’s no “one thing” that will make you feel better. Many experts agree that a “whole patient” approach—one that encompasses mind, body and environment—is the best way to treat and manage the condition.

A “whole patient” approach usually encompasses many areas of influence and types of treatment. Your HCPs may work to help you develop an exercise routine; teach you meditation, visualization or other relaxation techniques; craft a healthy diet; find a balance of appropriate medications and/or supplements; use massage or physical therapy to help with your pain and mobility; and much more.

Adopt pain management strategies
There are many approaches to pain management. Your HCP will likely review several different options with you as you work together to find a combination that gives you support and relief. While many pain management strategies may start with medication, they may expand to include other approaches such as relaxation techniques. For example, relaxation training with biofeedback techniques can teach you to identify pain centers and neutralize them with techniques like deep breathing, visualization or meditation. Conventional treatments such as heating pads and cold packs, as well as warm baths, can help relax both your mind and your body while reducing pain.

Learn about medications
While complementary therapies may offer relief, there are also medications available to treat fibromyalgia. In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications specifically for the management of fibromyalgia.

Your HCP may also suggest other medication options to help manage pain and address any additional issues you may experience.

If you’re juggling a variety of medications, you can use tools like daily/weekly pill organizers—or high-tech tools—to stay organized and ensure you’re taking medications correctly.
Ease into exercise
If you’re exhausted and hurting, it may be hard to get excited about exercising or any physical activity. You might be surprised to learn, however, that many HCPs recommend low-impact exercises like gentle swimming, walking, cycling, and tai chi to help ease pain and fatigue—and this can also help to raise your spirits. Stretching can help keep you limber. It’s important to remember that easing into exercise may have ups, downs and plateaus—so cut yourself some slack. And, be sure to discuss any exercise goals with your HCP before starting. 
Keep thorough medical records
Maintaining accurate, organized medical records can play a big role in minimizing the stress that can come with a chronic illness. Organized records will make it easier to speak with your insurance company or Medicare/Medicaid; help you remember what treatments you received, and when; and enable you to chart your long-term progress.

So dig out that shoebox of paperwork from under your bed and start organizing! You may choose to sort your records by service date, HCP or facility location; some people prefer paper, while others like to create accompanying digital records (like spreadsheets) to track expenses. Determine the system that best fits your personal style and stick with it.

Manage personal relationships
Fibromyalgia can have a significant impact on your personal relationships with family and friends. You need a good support system, a team to cheer you on when things are tough and to keep your attitude positive.

Just like other big life events, diagnosis with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia may bring out the best—and worst—in the people around you. As you share your experience with friends and family, take the time to strengthen bonds with those who show empathy and patience…and don’t be afraid to build healthy boundaries that protect you from those who don’t respect your experience and needs. Over time you’ll create a team that motivates and supports you, through good times and bad.

A chronic pain condition can be a struggle to manage. But, in so many ways, the outlook for people with fibromyalgia has never been better.  Today, experts understand better how to diagnose, treat, and manage fibromyalgia symptoms. Together, you and your health care team can develop a strategy that works best for you.

References

Arthritis Foundation. Fibromyalgia Treatments. Accessed on September 8, 2009. http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=10&df=treatments.

National Fibromyalgia Association. Treatments. Accessed on September 8, 2009. http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=fibromyalgia_treated.

Mannerkorpi, K. Physical exercise in fibromyalgia and related syndromes. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2003: 17(4). 629-647.

Henriksson KG. Fibromyalgia–from syndrome to disease. Overview of pathogenetic mechanisms. J Rehabil Med. 2003;89-94.

© 2009 HealthyWomen All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from HealthyWomen. 1-877-986-9472 (tollfree). On the Web at: www.HealthyWomen.org.

EIGHT DROPS OF OIL TO A SANER LIFE

“With the increasing demand for holistic health care and the ‘green revolution’, the demand for aromatherapy will increase, and hopefully we will reach the point where medical doctors incorporate it into their repertoire. It will become routine for doctors to send culture samples to the pharmacist for testing, and identify the relevant aromatherapy for the patient. The stress-relieving properties associated with aromatherapy make it an indispensable part of health care.”

-Robert Tisserand, of London, England

Today, when I went to the chiropractor, she told me that there was a cancellation with the massage therapist who works with her and she has certification regarding aromatherapy oils.  I immediately took that appointment and met with her hoping I might learn how these oils can help with my chemical sensitivities.

And what I found most interesting was this woman’s caution never to use more than 25 ml of oil per day.  Any more than that can be toxic!  That information I need to pass on to a woman I know since she burns those oils often.  Anyways, this woman says she is careful not to use the oils very often at home since she is exposed to them at work!!  There are even some oils pregnant women shouldn’t use and of course if they are used for young children the amount used is  reduced.  Therefore, the first thing I learned today is that it is not like burning a scented candle.  These oils have “power” and that power must be used with caution and with knowledge.  Therefore I am glad I didn’t just decide to call a store that sells these oils and just try something!

This woman I spoke to today doesn’t sell oils but she gave me an idea of how much each one she recommends should cost so that I make sure I purchase a quality oil.   I thought it would just be easier to order the same oils she does and now I am in the process of getting information about the company New Directions.   She recommended 3 oils to combine and one of the small bottles costs $50.00!

I asked her if her patients with MCS have had much success with the use of oils and she said yes, but the people she has treated haven’t had as severe reactions as mine..  More commonly their eyes burn and they get headaches and their reaction doesn’t last very long.  However, I’m thinking that even a little improvement is good and so I have decided to try using these oils.

When I asked how to use these oils, she said I could burn 25 ml every day or just add it to some cream, or just purchase a spritzer and spray it on my clothes or on my wrist. Initially, I thought I was looking for an oil just to use when I entered an airplane or store or new building, but using it every day means that that sensitivity should always be lowered.  This is a great advantage I won’t have to remember to spray some oil on me just prior to entering a building.

Well, one thing my husband and children will attest to – I have certainly tried a lot of different treatments over the years on this quest for health!   And here goes one more interesting venture!!

today's a bad day...

Blue skies and windy outside and I am still laying down for the fourth day in a row. I think I have become a professional facebook gamer. It’s a good enough distraction from the pain, but it is starting be a constant reminder that I am doing nothing.

I stare outside the window and pretend I’m looking at the ocean. I wish I were scrapbooking or capable of reading a book. For all the hours I have sat and played facebook games, I could have completed many scrapbooks or read books that could enrich my life! It’s my life wasting away and it is THE MOST frustrating experience ever. I’m too anxious to read and I’m in too much pain to sit and scrapbook.

The last 3 days I have been in a deep depression. I feel like I am in a dark cave and I can’t see my way out. The fibro Twitter gang that I follow have been great! I feel like they can relate to what’s going on. My friends are worried and I feel incredibly sad about that, I just don’t know what to say or do. My husband is worried and I’d like to just snap my fingers and feel better. It just doesn’t work that way. I have to claw my way back to the light that is reality and make myself feel again. I feel broken.

I know I will have days that are good and days that are bad. I’m looking for my next good day to come soon…

Thanks for reading… stay cool!

REST IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

I am still trying to recuperate from my exposure to multiple chemicals and this morning I began the treatment protocol to pull out more mercury from my body that seems to affect my body adversely.   I am not struggling as much as I was on the weekend but enough to require lots of rest.  Greg came home for lunch and as he was getting ready to leave, I was just laying on the sofa.  He came in the family room to say goodbye and to remind me to just go to bed and get lots of rest this afternoon.  I smiled but said, “ The word rest has become another four-letter word to me. In fact, I am ready to use other four letter words than the word rest!”  He joked, “I wouldn’t blog about that!!”  My response was that I didn’t think I would blog today since I doubted I would have anything too positive to write!

And yet here I write!  I know from past experience, these are the days when I need to remind myself I have gone through setbacks lots of times and I have pulled through them.  I need to remind myself that I am resilient and that nothing is going to prevent my goal of getting healthy .  These are the days when I must assess my priorities.  Do I want to get well and do what is necessary or do I want to whine and rebel and do things that can jeopardize my progress? On these days when I am attacked by doubts and fear that I am setting myself up for disappointment, I must choose to rebuke those thoughts.

I am really not the kind of person who uses profane four letter words, but my comment was my way of expressing frustration and impatience.  However, perhaps I wasn’t so wrong when I made my retort to Greg.  I do need to replace the word REST and instead focus on other four letter words such as HOPE,  LOVE, and  PRAY!

PONDERING ON PASSIONATE PURSUITS

As Greg and I watched the one man play, Ben Franklin: Unplugged in Portland, I became fascinated about what helps clarify a person’s passionate pursuits. Ben Franklin, always a strong Loyalist, became passionate about breaking away from Britain after one devastating and humiliating circumstance. He waited several years to be able to speak to the Crown and to the Courts regarding the grievances of the Americans, but when he was finally called, he was treated with scorn, contempt and judgment.  He left in a complete outrage determined to use all of his resources to separate from Britain.

A less dramatic illustration of how a person can find his passion was revealed by the playwright   himself.    As he was standing in front of the mirror one morning, he noticed he actually looked a little bit like Ben Franklin!  This revelation lead him on a passionate journey researching this man, which of course lead to the current monologue Greg and I were watching. This playwright also soon realized that his passionate focus on Franklin’s relationship with his son was due to his own personal  needs as he was wrestling with his own relationship with his father.

A final illustration of how a person finds his passion was when this playwright met the renowned Ben Franklin scholar Claude-Anne Lopex.   He was surprised to learn that she wasn’t a traditional scholar who had accumulated many degrees, but had gained a respected credibility just by her own personal, avid research of this man. She told him it all started when as a bored professor’s wife, she wandered into the university’s Rare Books Section of the library. During a discussion with one of the professors, he learned that she could read and write French and he desperately needed someone to translate the letters of Benjamin Franklin during the years he was living in Paris, France.   She says, “I really just fell upon my passion.”

Most motivational books tell us to discover our passions by answering two questions:  What did you enjoy doing as a child and what activities would you gladly do without receiving any money?  After watching this play, I think several more questions could be asked.  What makes you angry or even outraged and do these emotions reveal something you are passionate about?  When the playwright Josh Kornbluth looked in the mirror and thought he looked like Ben Franklin, he began his passionate interest in this man.   If you looked in the mirror and believed you reflected the image of Jesus Christ, what would be your passion?  As this playwright also discovered, his passionate interest revealed some of his own personal needs.  Are you aware of any particular personal needs that could be clarified through a particular passionate pursuit? .

Probably what speaks to me loudest is Claude Anne Lopez’s success without the “required” degrees.  I too often put a “cap” on any of my interests since I often believe I am not qualified.  I also put a limit on my passions when I decide that I shouldn’t think about them while I am ill. Certainly how I pursue my passionate interests and to what extent must be determined by health issues, but the actual passionate interest doesn’t change.   I am hoping that these observations will help me finalize my mission statement as I am currently stuck in Chapter 2 of Jack Canfield’s book The Success Principles!

A Must Read For Health

For all you holistic types out there, and for anyone who wants to be healthy, wants to remain cancer free, wants to detox from environmental toxins, or who want to cure cancer, please read this:

Important Thing To Read

What corporations including big-pharma and big-medicine do not want you to know is that much if not all of what we need to remain healthy exists naturally in our environment.  We are creatures of the Earth, and she is there to take care of us if only we let her.

Too bad we don’t take care of her.

I Feel Like I'm Fried and Crispy

So today I went to yet another Doctor’s appointment, you know cause I just enjoy them sooo much right. This appt. was ordered by disability, because of corse disability doesn’t believe my doctors could be right when they say I can’t be under fluorescent  lighting.  It’s so frustrating having an illness that makes it hard for me to go out in the first place and then they have me sit in the doctors office under the lights for two hours as the pain gets worse and worse, feeling like my skin is burning hotter and hotter.  I don’t know if the office’s do this so that they can see my reaction or if their just being cruel but I’m god dammed  tired of it. After the Dr. brought me into the exam room and started examining me, my body flared so bad  I screamed. I didn’t mean to scream but I couldn’t help it, it just really hurt.  I don’t want to go through this process I just wish I could be better! I want my life back so badly!   Rich was really wonderful! He sat with me the entire time, and when I was really dizzy from the pain and he helped me off of the exam table and took care of getting me into the house when we got home. He is sooo wonderful always taking care of me. I wish the world would go to a different kind of light instead of compact fluorescent. LED lights are always a great option for everyone instead.

Walking on Water

(I wrote parts of this at the end of summer)

But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Matthew 14:30-32
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We are playing boggle. I am winning against my dad and stepmom. But I am still trying to frantically find words, hoping that if I focus on the small board in front of me and the pen in my hand, I won’t think of the pain radiating from the base of my spine upwards. As I defend one of my words (roe, meaning fish eggs), I press my back up against the chair, my posture as straight as possible. We play for an hour before I admit that I am in pain. “I think I am going to pass out,” I tell my dad. “Or throw up.”

When I wake up, the pain is worse. In five days, I am supposed to go back to school. In a week, I am supposed to be in a wedding, to walk down the aisle, and dance. I can’t even sit up. I came home this summer to get well, to focus on my health. I cancelled my summer plans in order to see doctors and take care of myself. I told myself, and the Lord, that I would be well before the next school year. I gave myself and the Lord a time table. Twelve weeks. After eleven weeks of seeing some improvement, the twelfth week leaves me wrecked. I am worse than I was at the beginning of the summer.

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For my most of my life, I have been sinking under the weight of lies I believe. They are heavy iron shackles, bonds tied to my neck, my arms, my legs, trying to pull me under. The tide is strong and the undercurrent irresistible. But I swim hard. I swim until I am tired, until my arms and legs stop moving.

When I finally look up, I see Jesus walking on water. He is the most beautiful thing. My amazement, my love for Him, and awe at His sacrifice, give me new energy. I kick my legs; I move my arms. I swim and I swim hard towards Jesus but those old bonds are heavy. Though Jesus freed me on the cross, I choose to hold onto those lies with fisted hands. When I think, “I am worthless,” I know Jesus thinks differently but I let the lie weigh me down. When I see others walking on water with Him, I think, if I only swim faster, better, harder, I will get there too. Sometime I rise a little higher in the water and I can breathe more freely. But other times I grow so tired that I sink, until I struggle to draw in air, believing lies and wondering why I can swim so close to Jesus and not feel the miraculous weightlessness others feel.
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I should be freaking out. How will I move in to school? How can I even go to school? What about the wedding? I have spent the whole summer stressing about every little thing, knowing that stress makes my condition worse. But for the first time, I am calm. As I lay in my bed, unable to move, I consider the fact that I am twenty one years old and this is my life. But I am not angry or bitter or even upset. The fact is, since I became a Christian, I have claimed that God is the only thing I can depend on. I have claimed to walk by faith. But now, I cannot depend on my health. I cannot depend on my body. I can’t even walk.
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One day, my legs stop working. My arms forget how to paddle. As the storm rages, I sink. I can’t see Jesus over the rising water. I try to hold my breath or beg my body to work, but I can’t. My body, my strength is used up and I tossed by the waves and wind. Now I cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” I can’t swim on my own. I am too tired, too broken.

He reaches out right away. He sees me through the wind and the water. He pulls me up. He holds me in His arms. He asks me why I doubted Him and I have no answer, because standing on the waves, walking with Jesus, this is so much better. I watch my bonds sink to the ocean floor, safe in my savior’s arms, knowing if not for Him, the chains would have taken me with them. When the winds calm, I do not go back in the water. There is nothing for me there and besides, my body can no longer handle the current. I rest in Christ’s arms–rescued, saved, grateful for my failure.
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At this point, I consider my health problems to be a blessing. Though I have been a Christian for several years, I didn’t understand what it meant to walk by faith. I thought I did. I read my Bible everyday and I grew spiritually. I told people about Jesus, that He is the only thing I can depend on. I believed in Him and I loved Him. But I didn’t see, I didn’t understand that I continued to carry burdens I had no business carrying. I stressed over my family and school. I was the classic overachiever. And though I prayed about these things, though I thought I was giving them to the Lord, I wasn’t. Somewhere deep inside I still thought that I had to do the work, that I had to be better, stronger, that I had to fight the current and keep my head above water.

The problem was, for a long time, I was good at it. If I worked hard, I excelled. If I put my mind to it, I could do it–whatever it was. But after years of this, my body finally said, “No more.” Very literally, I could no longer survive, let alone thrive, on my own strength. In the twelfth week, in the midst of the worst flair up of pain I’d ever had, someone told me that this was an opportunity to my full weight on Christ–not just one foot or two–but everything I had. That day, in my bed, I read 2 Corinthians 12. Paul asks for the thorn to be removed from his flesh three times and God says no. The Lord tells him, “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in your weakness” (12:9).

The reason I consider my health problems to be a blessing is because they have literally forced me to rely on the sufficiency of God’s grace. Literally, I cannot depend on my body. But whether I am riding my bike or unable to move, God’s grace is always sufficient for me. I can walk by faith, even when I can’t walk. I continue to pray for healing but more than anything, I want His will to be done. Right now, today–this is where I am supposed to be. This is God’s best. It is the best. And I don’t have to worry or perform or achieve. In fact, His power is made perfect in my weakness. And so, by faith, I am walking on water.

Life is gonna change. A lot. Again.

It’s been a rough few weeks. Not so good health & pain-wise. Cycle of over-doing, paying for it, repeat. Spent a whole week recovering from the jaw spasms I got after spending 2 hours trying to get some information from an insurance company for a patient. Brain doesn’t work so well when I’m exhausted & in pain.

So, I’ve decided to put my medical license on inactive the end of this month. Besides the physical toll my practice has taken, my medications & brain insults from chemo, meds, concussion etc add up to my brain not being as sharp as before. Scares me. When I’m really tired, I lose words. I’m not going to be responsible for making a mistake on someone’s prescription or anything else that could have adverse consequences.

I’m glad I’ve already gotten rid of most of the work. there were days I was completely wiped out. The migraine I got after the Blue Cross/Blue Shield day of the complete run-around was a real day-killer. Luckily I could spend the day resting. Wouldn’t have been able to do this before.

Another advantage of my lowered stress levels – the return of some artistic creativity. Something besides finding funny gifs for my blog, I mean! I made some great mixed media bookmarks, cards & boxes for our  temple’s annual bazaar. OK, I’m tooting my own horn, but they really are lovely.  When I get a little more energy I’ll put up photos.

Because I’ve been down a lot & working on the bazaar project (when I had energy) for the last 2 weeks AND Kat came home for a week of extended fall break, I haven’t been able to tend my on-line business.  I have SO many things I need to list before the Christmas buying season ends – really need them up in the next couple of weeks. My first priority is the group of stuffed toys I listed last year, have photos but when I pulled the listings didn’t think to copy the wording onto notepad… so now I’ve had to weigh and measure each one again! Here’s one of my favorite toys – a lovely custom-made white teddy bear with a gorgeous custom made lined white plush coat with great details:

That’s what I did this afternoon – after I slept for 2 hours in what was left of the morning/early afternoon when I got up at 11….We had the bazaar yesterday & it really wiped me out.

So – it’s toys, Christmas jewelry & collectibles and then my gorgeous vintage hats. Hats are a new venture for me – I’ve been doing my research; have some great ones, including a couple Mr John Classics. Here’s one of the gorgeous Mr Johns – the green wool felt & veil really complemented Kat’s red hair – I wish I had a photo of  her wearing it!

My listing hold-up has been finding a good hat head for photographing them. I have that plain styrofoam head & one of my wigs from chemo days. That will probably do if I can make it stand up! It wasn’t made for the weight of a hat, so I need to stabilize the bottom. Some of these hats weigh a couple of pounds – Yeah! Really! I can’t believe women actually wore some of these things…

Got some more vintage ties too. This time most of them are really pretty – including a batch of wool ties from Scotland, Ireland & England. Those should be great for the Northern winters. Nobody around here in NC would even think of wearing a wool tie!

Life goes on. Nik and i were able to make it back to 2 SCA meetings!! YAY!! I had Nik do some research on Aristophanes. I was inspired by Tony Blair mentioning “cloud cuckoo land” in a speech before Parlement. Nik found out about “The Birds” & the political climate in Athens at the time as well as the format of Greek “comedies”. All by himself except for a discussion at the end of the day when we discussed what he’d found. He’s such a great kid!

Yesterday he was explaining a moss bonsai to a lady at the bazaar. He mentioned he’d been studying moss recently and she wanted to know where he was doing that. She was probably thinking which school class. He simply explained he was home schooled & decided to see if he could grow moss under out back deck to prevent erosion – studying which grew best, what growing conditions were ideal, which propagated itself most freely etc. Think it scared the heck out of her to hear this coming from the mouth of a young teenager.

Unschooling or “child led education” is working extremely well with Nik. He’s interested in so many things that he’s providing himself a liberal arts education! Did I mention he is studying classical painting & has Thomas Constable as his current favorite? We’re working on his writing problem with his blog. Slowly, he’s increasing the amount he’s writing and decreasing the amount of whining. Eventually he will learn to write a research paper; I’m content with him finishing most of Algebra 2 and being ready to start on Trig. If he were in the 8th grade (as he would be), he’d never have even heard of a Greek play….

Life is changing. A lot. Again. Always something new to do, to learn & to discover. I guess I’ll roll with it

I feel like I am in my 30's again!

Don’t cats have a great life? I went in to take some pics and Aleka figured it was time for a belly rub

Too bad that’s not a good thing to feel like I’m back in my 30’s This is a lot like I felt when I first got diagnosed with lupus. Every evening I go through hours of chills and creepy skin…then my face gets red and I feel like I am burning up a few hours later.

My right leg is soooooooo swollen! Tonight the swelling has moved above the knee and is all the way up to my butt. I have on even roomier sweat pants than last night and the whole right leg is tight against the material It’s owie to bend my right leg and it won’t fold up at the right angle. I can bend my left knee just fine…and that’s my bad one!

I even found a lesion on my hip JUST like the one I had 23 years ago that the doc saw and then knew I had lupus. Hmmmmm…..what’s going on? I forgot to ask the doc to do a SED rate and CRP. I hope I can remember to call tomorrow and have it added to my blood tests I need to get done. From the pain all over my body, I’d say the tests will find plenty of inflammation. My 800 mg Motrins aren’t even touching this pain and soreness.

Beth and Luc are on a diet. That’s good for me The last 2 nights I got their restaurant leftovers. Tonight it was HoJo’s clam strips. Yesterday was two kinds of Chinese food. YES! After I cut up vegies for the freezer, I don’t feel like cooking. Today I did 10 quarts of salsa.

I should have put a quarter on the onions in the bowl in the last pic. That is a 2 gallon bowl and those are good sized onions. Sometimes it’s hard to tell size in pics.

Small Business Tip: Firms Working to Take Some Pain Out of the Workday

This is the last day of the month and a close to Pain Awareness Month. Not a big small business event? You’d be surprised. Thousands of small business owners are taking steps and making accommodations to help employees living with chronic pain stay productive.

Fibromyalgia affects more than five million Americans and is one of the most common, chronic widespread pain conditions, yet it is often called an invisible illness. The disorder is one of the most common chronic widespread pain conditions in the United States.

This short streaming video reveals some of the ways small business owners and entrepreneurs are making changes to help the millions of Americans living with chronic pain.

Please follow me on Twitter to learn more about small business trends and events to give you a competitive edge in business at http://twitter.com/danitablackwood

Fibromyalgia: an overview

I didn’t intend to get into a theme this week, but this paper arrived in my inbox this morning, and given both the prevalence of fibromyalgia, and the often ‘fuzzy’ management that can be provided, I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look at it.  The paper itself is a pre-print, but has been revised earlier this year and is probably the final version.

The outline of the paper covers diagnostic criteria, and briefly discusses the place of neuroimaging (if only we could get that done readily here!), but notes that many other conditions overlap or mimic FM such as hypothyroidism, tendonitis, ankylosing spondylitis, as well as chronic fatigue, suggesting some sort of common pathway in either the peripheral or central nervous system, raising the possibility of some common treatment approach.  So far though, it’s not clear – and it’s important to rule out these other conditions that all have their own management approach before deciding that FM is what the problem is.

The next section of the paper reviews the current state of knowledge around pathophysiology as a basis for treatment and rehabilitation.  Both peripheral and central sensitisation seem implicated in FM, leading to amplification of sensory impulses that alter pain perception.  Increased excitation of various peripheral structures can in turn lead to neuroplastic changes in the central nervous system – winding up the whole experience for the person in the middle of it!

Imamura, Cassius & Freni, the authors of this paper, briefly review some of the factors thought to play a role in the reduced threshold for neuronal firing, including elevated levels of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, bradykinin, and so on.  Included in their review are CNS factors such as the altered non-REM sleep of people with FM – and that this is associated with the severity of symptoms; the association between depression and FM; and neuroimaging studies showing a change in regional cerebral blood flow to pain-related structures in people with FM.

If these aspects of FM can be explained to people with the pain problem it could make a significant difference to their own attitude toward their pain.  For many people, it can take several years before a diagnosis of FM is made: during this time the beliefs and approaches of many practitioners can influence their understanding of their pain – and sadly, some practitioners are not empathic and can take a somewhat pejorative approach to people with the disorder.  Knowledge can lead to understanding – and understanding can lead to a sense of empowerment.

Moving through the paper, the authors indicate that treatment needs to be based on the proposed model of fibromyalgia.  That is, it needs to address central mechanisms rather than peripheral ones (so, no more NSAIDs, opioids or corticosteroids!), and the overall approach needs to be ‘rehabilitative’ – I’d suggest biopsychosocial as the model!  The shift is from curing the problem to improving health status and health -related quality of life.

There are two arms of management for fibromyalgia:

(1)  pain relief through medication and ‘physical’ strategies to reduce peripheral and central sensitisation

(2)  cognitive behavioural approaches to manage sleep, fatigue, mood, cognitive problems, headache, migraine and other problems associated with FM.

Although the authors suggest ‘education’ as a cornerstone – I’d rather suggest helping the person to reconceptualise their problem as one of pain processing.  Education can be seen as simply providing information – reconceptualising is about helping the person see themselves and their pain problem as something they can manage, something only they can do – and something they can do.

The remainder of the paper looks at pharmacological approaches and the rationale for using tricyclic antidepressants and/or serotonin/norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors, and tramadol because of their effect on reducing afferent transmission at the dorsal horn or increasing the activity of the descending inhibitory pain systems.

It should be noted that even these drugs don’t always reduce the pain and all have their own array of side-effects – so they need to combined with self management.

Nonpharmacological approaches are then reviewed.  This is where the interdisciplinary team can take the lead because these approaches are both effective – and once learned, don’t consume health resources in quite the same way as medications can.

Exercise gets the nod – remembering that exercise can include enjoyable daily activities such as walking, gardening, dancing and playing with the dog, not just going to a gym!

Electrical stimulation – this is suggested, although as far as I know, it’s not readily available – Imamura et al. indicate transcranial direct current stimulation as an effective approach, but I haven’t heard much of this as a strategy available in New Zealand.  (If anyone has, let me know).  I’m also not entirely comfortable with this as a self management strategy – it sounds pretty invasive and requires health care input, at least initially.

Acupuncture – this is less well-documented, and results are, as these authors say, ‘controversial’.  They suggest that ‘clinical benefits seem to be of small magnitude and of short duration’ – my main concern would be that unless the person can ‘do it themselves’, it will involve more appointments, so I’d not be comfortable with it as a self management approach.  I hold a similar view of injections – Imamura et al suggest that ‘concomitant myofascial pain, along with instruction in relaxation techniques, may benefit some patients with an associated mysfascial pain component.’ 

The final area reviews, very, very briefly, cognitive behavioural therapy.  The authors indicate its use for ‘associated psychological and psychiatric comorbidity’, but I’d be inclined to challenge this.  The perception of pain involves thoughts and beliefs about the meaning of pain – and the effect of reconceptualising fibromyalgia as not being a ‘life sentence’ or a ‘constant struggle’, and understanding what some of the mechanism are, will bring about changed perception.  Distress reduction, increased sense of self efficacy and more effective approaches to activity, relaxation, cognitions, as well as effective communication skills and working on relationships - these are all integral to living a good life despite pain.

Overall – this is a nice, brief review especially of some of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and the rationale for the treatment approaches suggested.  There are plenty of good references, and while it’s not an ‘easy’ read, it’s quite brief and contains the essentials.

 

From Imamura, M., Cassius, D., & Fregni, F. (2009). Fibromyalgia: From treatment to rehabilitation European Journal of Pain Supplements DOI: 10.1016/j.eujps.2009.08.011

The 3 R's? A Fourth Is Crucial Too : Recess

Egoscue Portland comments on an article in the New York Times.

The best way to improve children’s performance in the classroom may be to take them out of it.

New research suggests that play and down time may be as important to a child’s academic experience as reading, science and math, and that regular recess, fitness or nature time can influence behavior, concentration and even grades.

A study published this month in the journal Pediatrics studied the links between recess and classroom behavior among about 11,000 children age 8 and 9. Those who had more than 15 minutes of recess a day showed better behavior in class than those who had little or none.

Read The Rest of the Blog

SLEEP, SLEEP AND SLEEP A LITTLE MORE!

DAY 30:  I choose  to appreciate my naps since much healing occurs while I sleep.

I really resent having to sleep much of my afternoon away.  A real indicator of health for me will be increased endurance and restfulness so that I will not have to stop and sleep.  I  hate this gradual loss of stamina during the morning so that by Noon I am struggling and finally after lunch I surrender and go for a nap.  On some  stronger days I resist the fatigue and attempt to miss the nap.  Unfortunately, by supper I am ready to collapse.  Therefore, I almost resist the growing body of evidence that suggests that everyone should have a nap in the afternoon!

Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs writes in an article called the ”Benefits of Naps” that  “because the urge for a nap is appreciably weaker than the need to sleep at night, it can be suppressed (or masked by caffeine) but at the cost of increased sleepiness and reduced mood and performance.” He also states that “sleep itself may not be the crucial factor in the positive effects of afternoon naps on improving mood; what may be important is an afternoon period of relaxation common to both resting and napping.” (http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep)  Others who promote naps actually suggest that a power nap will give us more patience, less stress, better reaction time, increased learning, more efficiency and better health.  These sleep advocates even suggest how long a nap to take in order to enjoy specific benefits.  For example, a 20 minute nap increases alertness and motor skills; a 40 minute nap increases memory; and a 90 minute nap increases creativity!  Apparently, it is unnecessary to have a nap longer than 90 minutes since it merely means that the cycle of sleep begins again.  However, I haven’t found any research to determine whether some of those numbers may change for someone who is ill.

What this information does suggest is that if naps are that beneficial to healthy people how much more to those who are ill. The necessity of sleep was reinforced when I read A Stroke Of Insight by the brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor, who had a stroke at 39 years of age.  She writes, “When it comes to the physical healing of cells, I cannot stress enough the value of getting plenty of sleep.  I truly believe that the brain is the ultimate authority on what it needs to heal itself .  . . I remain a very loud advocate for the benefits of sleep, sleep, sleep and more sleep interspersed with periods of learning and cognitive challenges.”

Obviously, I need to positively approach my naps so that negative emotions don’t hinder the benefits of this afternoon rest!  I need to imagine how my cells are healing and how my immune system is getting stronger while I sleep.  I need to trust my body’s wisdom and know that when I no longer need long naps I will no longer sleep as long as I do!  And apparently, I am in good company as I nap since the following were self-proclaimed nappers:  Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Johannes Brahms, and   Eleanor Roosevelt.  If naps were good enough for them, I guess they are good enough for me too!

Ambassadors For Christ

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us   (II Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV).

Our pastor recently preached on this passage. I usually associate this verse with foreign missions, but as I listened, I was impressed with a new thought.

He mentioned that the word “ambassador” means having a mission or assignment to carry out. This verse does not say that Christ’s ambassadors are only the healthy, the strong, the mobile, or the mentally alert. It says that we – all believers – are on this mission for God.

Many days I may feel I don’t have any “assignment”– I may not be able to physically “do” anything from my perspective. I then thought about ambassadors to other countries. I’m sure there are times when every day is not packed with activity, yet they still remain as a constant presence, ready and prepared to represent their country.

I can do the same. There may be long periods where I feel there is no “mission” I am capable of carrying out for God, yet His Word says otherwise. We are God’s only vessels on this earth. He has chosen us as well as the healthy and strong to represent him. If nothing else, our continued perseverance and faith is an assignment which may have significant effects in someone else’s life.

Our pastor also reminded us that an ambassador’s home is not where he is serving. He is living their temporarily until his mission is accomplished. I am actually doing that now on earth, and some days I am ready for my assignment to be ended because I just want to go home. But the Lord knows what only I can do for him, and until that is finished, He will keep me here. One glorious day, I will be able to say, “mission accomplished”. May I also hear the Lord say, “well done thou good and faithful servant”.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that you choose not only the whole and healthy but the weak and infirm as your vessels, for when we are weak, then you are strong. May we look on every day as an opportunity to represent you and do it well. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bronlynn Spindler is a wife and mother of three grown daughters and lives in Fredericksburg, VA. God’s grace and strength give her the ability to deal with chronic back pain, depression, headaches, and fibromyalgia. You may contact her at spindler@cox.net.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome -

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS Treatment

originally posted on August 4, 2008;  Re-posted 9-22-09

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), commonly referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD, is a syndrome in which pain, usually burning type, is out of proportion to the injury (either nerve or no nerve involvement). The pain may spread through the entire limb and/or to other parts of the body. Examples of precipitating events that may cause CRPS include the following: fractures, surgery, frostbite, soft tissue trauma, burns, MS, tight cast, strokes, heart attack and amputations. The symptoms are characterized by autonomic dysregulation such as swelling, vasomotor instability (skin becoming pale/cool/cyanotic or red/warm/dry), abnormal sweating, trophic changes (course hair, thick rigid or brittle nails, skin may become coarse or thin, smooth, and tight), hypersensitivity, abnormal motor activity, and decreased bone density.
Medically, CRPS is managed by a variety of medications aimed lowering the rate of nerve firing, reducing inflammation, reducing anxiety, and reducing pain. More invasive measures include sympathetic nerve blocks in the spinal column or ganglion blocks, implanted dorsal column stimulation or decompression, all of which carry the same risks of any invasive procedure.
The main reason for this entry is to share a positive treatment outcome for CRPS using IMT. In general, the physical therapy treatment for CRPS includes reduction of pain to allow the pt. to maintain function. Traditional forms of exercise such as aerobic, pool therapy, ROM, joint mobilization/soft tissue mobilization, exercise emphasizing compression and distraction, functional ex. and exercise that increases blood flow to the extremity or increase proprioception to the spinal cord may be beneficial All exercise must be extremely gentle and nonaggressive especially if not initiated during times of sympathetic blocks.
My past experience with CRPS includes most patients unable to tolerate any manual techniques and very minimal exercise resulting in extremely slow progress. It has been shown in research that early intervention with physical therapy is extremely important to minimize loss of function. The earlier the intervention the more likely to reverse the dysfunction.
Recently I evaluated a pt. with CRPS onset following a bunionectomy. The pt. presented 3 months post op with extremely antalgic gait, inability to bear more than 30% weight on the affected foot, and requiring a walking cast boot to tolerate being on her feet. The patient’s foot was swollen, reddened, and there was no active mov’t in the big toe. Within 5 treatments of IMT including light touch on areas of the body specific to affecting the autonomic nervous system and indirect myofascial release (vs. more aggressive direct techniques) the patient is able to bear 50-50% body weight, ambulate w/o the walking boot with more normality. Gait quality still consisted of slight antalgia, decreased push off and mild trunk shift but the patient is able to walk further and have more energy throughout the day to function. The skin has returned to a more normal color and edema has decreased resulting in less smooth/shiny appearance. The slough and calluses which persisted on her incision long after surgery fell off naturally within 1 week and active ROM has returned in the big toe. Range of motion home exercises are being performed in a warm bath and also passively to isolate different joints of the toe. Ankle ROM exercises are also completed in the bath. In no way is this patient healed or pain free but the quality of the toe/foot appearance, gait quality and tolerance have progressed more rapidly than I have ever seen in the past.
I know I’m more than a little biased towards IMT but I want people out there to know that there is gentle, effective treatment out there that can make life a lot easier and functional if you have CRPS. Please spread the word!! www.missionhillspt.com and http://missionhillspt.com/index.php?page=chronic_pain for success stories of patients who recovered from chronic pain issues.

For more information on the methods used at  Mission Hills Physical Therapy please visit these sites

www.centerIMT.com

www.matrixenergetics.com

www.kimberlyburnhamPhD.com

Sally Skurdahl, MPT

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Ralph Havens PT, OCS, IMTC

Mission Hills Physical Therapy

928 Ft. Stockton Dr. Ste. 201

San Diego, Ca 92103

619.543.1470