Pain Awareness Month Draws to a Close - A Recap by Celeste Cooper

September is a busy month for me as advocate, author, educator, and as a person living with chronic pain and illness. It is the month to raise awareness for the other 100,000+ million Americans, and countless others around the globe. And to hopefully change attitudes of discrimination and judgment that threatens our self worth. A time to fight for proper treatments that result in improved outcome.

The Sun is located on the vernal equinox, daylight and dark are equal, and autumn begins. For me, fall marks a time not only to advocate, but to educate my comrades in pain through my blog and through Fall Devotions in our Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain seasonal book series. Personally, I celebrate fall with an annual weekend get together with my healthcare colleagues. We have done this for over thirty years and I have only missed once. To say I embrace our need for socialization, regardless of obstacles, is an understatement. And when I need reminders on how to care for myself, those who share this trek with me, many who are our readers, wrap me in their virtual loving arms.

“Come along, it is time to begin our journey as we walk through the beautiful falling leaves that fill our path with color and diversity. Be prepared to kick up new ideas that come from this season grabbing at those of personal interest, those that entice you to learn more. Decorate your life with vast opportunities that autumn offers. Feel the crisp clean air as it fills you up, and prepare for the bounty you will soon discover.”

Excerpt from the introduction to Fall Devotions.

This is a season of time and energy which threatens to drain me because of chronic migraine and spinal disease, which flare FM and CFS and the autoimmune comorbid disorders I endure. But fear not, it is also a season of vigorous collaboration. The rewards of being a catalyst, a change agent, cannot  be measured. The value is found in humankind giving reason to advocate and educate. Here are the blogs written by me this September.

• Part One - A Look Back and Look Up: Could history be a guidefor treating chronic pain?
• Part Two – Chronic Pain in the Present – The Question byCeleste Cooper
• Part Three – The Future for Treating Chronic Pain by CelesteCooper
• Is the prevalence of joint hypermobility purely acoincidence in CFS and FM? by Celeste Cooper

I am continually lifted up no matter how bleak one day may seem, because there is another in the past or the future that is sure to adjust my perspective.

“I cherish my friends because we stand together 

heading in the same direction.”

Go in strength my friends.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Update as of April 2015

"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."  

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Health Central Chronic Pain Pro —Advocate

New Website

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

Is the prevalence of joint hypermobility purely a coincidence in CFS and FM? by Celeste Cooper

Shared by ProHealth is Dr. Peter Lowe’s assessment of joint hypermobility in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Is The Physical Examination Normal in CFS? Part 2: Joint Hypermobility, here.

As you will see, I too made this connection in our book “Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, ChronicFatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection (rated in the top 100 books on Diseases & Physical Ailments on Amazon in 2013) if you read more about joint hypermobility and Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome on my website here. 

How coincidental could this be?

Another study suggests this phenomenon goes undiagnosed in irritable bowel syndrome, a common comorbid disorder to fibromyalgia, which often overlaps with CFS.

Fikree A, Grahame R, Aktar R, Farmer AD, Hakim AJ, Morris JK, Knowles CH, Aziz Q.. A Prospective Evaluation of Undiagnosed Joint Hypermobility Syndrome in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. [Jan 15 Epub ahead of print.]

“Many upper and lower GI symptoms increased with increasing severity of JHS phenotype. Upper GI symptoms were dependent on autonomic and chronic pain factors. JHS is common in GI clinics, with increased burden of upper GI and extraintestinal symptoms and poorer quality of life. Recognition of JHS will facilitate multidisciplinary management of GI and extra-GI manifestations.”

French investigators noted some stark realities in fibromyalgia patients.

“Some patients suffering from fibromyalgia present with clinical signs and alterations in the histopathology, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure of the dermis similar to the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobile type (EDSH). Some types of fibromyalgia possibly represent an undiagnosed EDSH.”

Hermanns-Lê T, Piérard GE, Angenot P. [Fibromyalgia: an unrecognized Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobile type?] Rev Med Liege. 2013 Jan;68(1):22-4.

I can only speak from what I found in my literature review for the 434 page book and my own personal experiences. A stark reality for me is that my own skin is that of someone on long term steroid therapy, but I don’t even tolerate steroids. My wounds heal so slowly that one of my doctors said I should always have a wound care specialist. My skin connective tissue tears like paper and bruises from a feather touch. I have had four shoulder surgeries, one complete reconstruction because it would not stay put, and the other three because of tendon and cuff tears. My hips still pop in and out at will, only contributing to fall risk and aggravation and development of more trigger points, piriformis and sacroiliac pain, and hip bursitis. I have suffered many severe joint sprains throughout my life. I can still put my hands flat on the floor and my therapists are amazed at my flexibility in light of my age and the severe myofascial pain syndrome. And yes, before arthritis, I was what many referred to as double-jointed.

Are our doctors giving this connection serious consideration? 

Could this explain why so many FM and CFS patients 

are susceptible to myofascial pain syndrome?

Keep up the good work Dr. Rowe and fellow astute investigators. A physician should never underestimate the value of a skilled physical exam. We salute you.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author, patient/ advocate, fibromyalgia health expert

Books:

Read about Celeste and access to her books at Author Central here

Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See Saw of Chronic Pain [Four book series]

Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain 

Advocacy: 

Fibromyalgia expert on Sharecare, here. 

Participant in the Pain Acition Alliance to Implement a National Strategy, here.

Website: http://www.TheseThree.com

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

October is Physical Therapy and Massage Awareness Month: Focus, Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Therapy

The Physical Therapist

Not all physical therapists are created equal.  If you suspect you have myofascial triggerpoints (MTrPs) or myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), it is extremely important that you do some investigating before you ask your physician for a referral.  A physical therapist that understands the myofascia, what trigger points are, and what they can do is imperative.  The specially trained physical therapist may or may not be one who specializes in sports injury, but they should be educated about myofasical pain syndrome.  If they are specially trained, they can offer active release therapy, myofascial release, or other muscle targeted therapies and education to help you get you back on the road of recovery.

The Massage Therapist or Body Worker

There are many types of massage used for different reasons and massage is gaining favor as a therapeutic intervention for those with chronic pain.  Because there is one particular problem that is inherent in most if not all chronic pain conditions, we are focusing on trigger point massage. A good MTrP therapist or body worker understands the work of the pioneers in myofascial medicine, Dr. Janet Travell, and Dr. David Simons. You might be able to find one who is part of the NAMTP (NationalAssociation of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists)  or ask for a referral from an integrative pain specialist in your area.  Before you make an appointment you should first ask, “Do you have, or are you, trained in the work of Travell and Simons.”

Experts tell us that to get the most benefit, it is important to learn how to do self therapy between professional sessions. Your physical therapist, specially trained massage therapist, or body worker, and even some integrative pain specialists can show you how to do this or make referrals to materials that teach you.

If you have had a long standing history of MPS, and trigger points that have been neglected, it will take perpetual work to get and keep myofascial trigger points under control, but don’t give up.

So, what is a trigger point?

Trigger points are knotted up muscle fibers in a taut band of muscle. They are EASILY felt unless behind bone or other muscles, or the band of muscle affected is too tight, in which case "specific myofascial therapy," must be used to loosen up the taut band of muscle in order to isolate the specific myofascial trigger point (MTrP) causing pain, dysfunction and radiation of symptoms in a specific pattern associated with that specific MTrP.

Common Abbreviations© 

• MPS: myofascial pain syndrome 
• CMP: chronic myofascial pain
• MTP: myofascial trigger point 
• TrP: trigger point 

•  From Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN and Jeffrey Miller PhD

What do MTrPs do?

Myofascial trigger points can mimic many things and cause pain, dysfunction, and shortening of the muscle affected by this knotted up muscle fiber. Numbness and tingling, burning, certainly pain, can all result from a MTrP which is entrapping a nerve. These symptoms can be local or radiate in a specific pattern that remains consistent among all patients. Circulation/temp changes can occur if MTrPs are located next to a blood vessel, and swelling can develop if the MTrP is located next to a blood or lymph vessel).

You can learn more detailed information about trigger points and myofascial pain syndrome on my website here. 

What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

The development of trigger points can occur from usual muscle strain or injury, surely you or someone you know has woken up with a “crick” in their neck.  Generally, these are isolated events that can be easily and successfully treated. But, when trigger points start to develop in all four quadrants of the body, and they persist for over three months, it is important to consider the existence of myofascial pain syndrome.  Myofascial pain syndrome has been found in many if not most chronic pain conditions, including but not limited to, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue/myalgic encephalomyelitis, migraine, spinal degeneration, teeth grinding, restless leg syndrome, TMJ, interstitial cystitis, irritable bladder, arthritic joints, and can result from post surgical scaring. When not treated by a therapist who understands the work of Travell and Simons, the patient does not get any lasting relief.

The pain that exists because of trigger points depend upon the location of trigger points and you can refer to the links following to decide if you need to know more about trigger points and how they can affect the body and various diseases.

There are many dedicated physical therapists and myofascial body workers that dedicate their lives to helping you.  Many times the therapies they use to treat you can put them at risk for developing myofascial issues, whether they work specifically with the myofascia or not. So please take the time this month to tell them thank you.

Following are few articles written with you in mind:

• Defining Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs)
• Neck Pain, Migraines, and Myofascial Trigger Points
• Are FM Tender Points Really  Myofascial Trigger Points
• Costochondritis vs. Myofascial Trigger Points 
• Scream “4,”Cervicogenic Migraine and Myofascial Triggerpoints: June Awareness 
• Exposing the Cover Up of Myofascial Trigger Points inFibromyalgia, Mention in CFS/ME
• Foot Problems
• EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME
• Fibromyalgia
• Pelvic Pain, Bladder Disorders, Prostate Problems, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Other Female and Male Related troubles: Is it more than co-incidence?
• Pelvic Floor Muscles and Pain-Not gender specific
• Chiropractic and massage therapy in treating fibromyalgia
• Chest Wall Pain, Esophageal Spasm, and GERD 
• BODY-WORK: The Anatomy’s’ Labor of Love. Manual therapies you might find helpful for chronic pain. 
• Human Touch: Soft Tissue and Massage Therapy in Chronic Pain Conditions
• FM Tender Points are NOT the Same as Myofascial Trigger Points

You can learn more about trigger points and myofascial pain syndrome, including various treatments known to help in “Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection.” Available from our publisher Healing Arts Press and Imprint of  INNER TRADITIONS, Bear and Company here, Amazon here,  Barnes and Nobel, here, and other major retailers. It is also available in Kindle and Nook.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Celeste Cooper is a retired RN, educator, fibromyalgia patient, and lead author of the Broken Body Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See Saw of Chronic Pain devotional series (coauthor, Jeff Miller PhD), and Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection (coauthor, Jeff Miller PhD) She is a fibromyalgia expert for Dr. Oz, et al., at Sharecare.com, here, and she advocates for all chronic pain patients as a participant in the Pain Action Alliance to Implement a National Strategy, here. You can read more educational information and about her books on her website, http://TheseThree.com

What the heck is a syndrome?

A syndrome is a collection of symptoms that remains the same throughout a particular patient group, but the cause is unknown. These might include fibromyalgia syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, AIDS, Asperser’s syndrome, Barrett’s syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome,  paradoxical orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, urethral syndrome,  restless leg syndrome, Raynaud's syndrome, CREST Syndrome (a form of Scleroderma), complex regional pain syndrome, and many more. You may not realize it, but even rheumatoid arthritis is considered a syndrome. 

Some disorders are confusingly called diseases, when they are actually syndromes.  Diseases generally have a known cause. And syndromes, even when we know something about them are still syndromes. For instance, research shows there is an excessive release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular (nerve to muscle) junction of a myofascial trigger point, but myofascial pain syndrome is still considered a syndrome. This is because we don’t know what causes the excessive release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, the chemical messenger between the body and the brain.

When invisible disorders have no biological marker, a test that says you specifically have the disorder/syndrome, and sometimes when they do, there is always the doubting Thomas.  We think these folks mission in life is to prey on our psyche.  Why is this? Pretty much the answer is simple; they don’t experience our pain, lack of restorative sleep, life altering fatigue, severe chronic headache, a bladder that is constantly on fire, constantly cold extremities, or feel like everything they touch is barb wire, just to mention a few symptoms of invisible illnesses. Syndromes are not seen as real because some people operate on the assumption that if you can’t see it, it isn't so, even some healthcare providers migraines were once attributed to a woman’s frenzied inability to cope with stress.

Newer research into genetic markers will plow under the misconceptions of those who do not share our syndrome. In the mean time, it is up to us to support those who support the research.  Orphan disorders of all sorts face the same challenges.

In healing and hope, Celeste Cooper, RN author, patient, activist

All blogs, posts and answers are not meant to replace medical advice.  www.thesethree.com

Pelvic Pain, Bladder Disorders, Prostate Problems, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Other Female and Male Related troubles: Is it more than co-incidence?

The muscles in the pelvic girdle are what keep our organs from falling to the floor. These muscles make up the perineum, the urogenital triangle, and the anal triangle. They support the rectum, the vagina/penis, and the urethra, but they may not be the only muscles involved in your pain and dysfunction.

Causes

Pelvic pain can be from many causes such as, vulvodynia, irritable bladder or interstitial cystitis, infection, vaginal atrophy, prostate problems/pain, testicular and or pain in the penis, pain in the urethra (where your urine comes out), rectal pain, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, neuralgia, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), but for this blog we are looking specifically at the bladder and the perineum (area of the urethra, penis, vagina, and rectum).

Myofascial trigger points have been identified as the greatest aggravator of chronic pelvic pain, and pain is not the only symptom. Pelvic floor problems can also cause a decrease in urine flow in men and women, erectile dysfunction, urinary retention (setting the stage for infection), urgency (always feeling like you have to urinate), and constipation.

For more on myofascial trigger points and myofascial pain see “Myofascial Pain” at my website and
 my blog: Points That Need More Than Pondering: Defining Myofascial Trigger Points


Offending trigger points

Myofascial trigger points in adductor magnus (thigh), or internal oblique (abdomen), are capable of causing bladder pain and frequency, and MTrPs in the adductor magnus can cause a host of referred pain to groin and inner thigh, pelvic and pubic bones, rectum and vagina and can cause menstrual cramping (as can MTrPs in the rectus abdominus, abdomen), and trigger points in the internal oblique can also cause bladder difficulties. The muscles of the pelvis, and the multi-layered muscles of the pelvic floor can become tight, unforgiving and short due to MTrPs. Myofascial trigger points in pelvic related muscles can refer pain to the urethra, rectum, coccyx, or the crease of the buttocks.

This is speaking in generalities, but it’s important to understand that the source of your pain can be close by or well away from pelvis itself.  Treating MTrPs, whether active (painful without touching) or latent (only painful with touched) that refer pain to a specific region is just as important as treating those directly relatable. Often times, those who claim to know myofascial trigger points do not understand the complexity, this includes physicians, physical therapists, and body workers.


Chronic myofascial pain in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and pelvic dysfunction

Myofascial pain syndrome often co-exists in fibromyalgia, and has been identified in some chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients, chronic pelvic and bowel disorders.  Myofascial trigger points are a peripheral nerve to muscle problem that lends to centralized (amplified) pain in fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, bladder difficulties, ME/CFS, IBS, and other overlapping conditions.  This hypersensitive state is also present in these disorders. Ignoring the obvious bloodies the diagnostic waters and most importantly delays appropriate treatments and leads to flawed research.


Therapies

It is important to identify perpetuating factors, such as, co-existing hip problems, piriformis syndrome, pudendal neuralgia, low back or sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and other overlapping conditions, bringing them under control when possible. Pay close attention to aggravating factors such as, sitting too long or on hard surfaces and chairs that can’t be adjusted to your body type, over activity, infection, poor posture, wearing pants that are too tight, consuming offending foods, etc.

There are a variety of therapies to help you, including intravaginal and pelvic floor trigger point injections, external and internal massage of the perineum and in women the vagina, biofeedback, bladder retraining, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), tennis ball therapy (as discussed in our book),
acupuncture, dietary changes, over-the-counter probiotics for the bladder, stretching movements, topical analgesics (such as oragel), oral analgesics, and of course specific myofascial therapy by a trained specialist. Sometimes, all are necessary.

Seldom are doctors well informed about myofascial pain s and trigger points, so I am a firm believer that women should see a urogynecologist, that men should see a urologist and in both cases, the physician should understand the role of the myofascial in chronic pelvic pain.  The same is true for the physical therapist. Why? Those who do not understand the role of trigger points chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction may suggest traditional therapies, such as, Kegel exercise, which can worsen your symptoms, and when co-existing conditions such as piriformis syndrome, spinal disease, IBS, etc. are involved; a host of referral patterns are involved.  This is why identifying ALL your pain patterns (whether you feel a trigger point there or not) is important information for your specially trained healthcare provider.

Always discuss your symptoms with your doctor to make sure other causes are ruled out. If your pain and dysfunction is not found to be from another source, please look for those myofascial trigger points and a specialized therapist, they are treatable.

Resources for you:

IC and Irritable bladder
Blatman Pain Clinic
What Your OB/GYN Should Know About FMS and CMP by Devin J. Starlanyl
Pelvic Floor Myofascial Trigger Points: Manual Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis and the Urgency-Frequency Syndrome by Jerome Weiss
Fibro Care Center
National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists
ICA – Physical Therapy
ICA – Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
International Myopain Society
IC Network


(Signature line appended, March 2018)

In healing,

Celeste Cooper, RN / Author, Freelancer, Advocate

Think adversity?-See opportunity!

http://www.CelesteCooper.com

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Learn more about Celeste’s books here. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All blogs and comments are based on the author's opinions and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Are Your Power Lines Down: Sensitivity of Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Disorders

It's not enough that we hurt interrupting sleep and other important activities, but with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, we know our brain is on hyper alert for different reasons, but sensitive all the same.  This puts us at risk for sensitivity to light, sound, household chemicals and odors, cold, heat, and even some medications.

Particularly troublesome are those things in our environment that we have little to no control over, which has an effect on many neuro-endocrine-immune disorders

We can’t live in a dark room all day every day.  Recommendations are that we spend about 20 minutes a day in sunlight, a great source of vitamin D, which is low in some patients.  After other causes of photophobia (light sensitivity) have been ruled out, we should protect our eyes with dark polarized sunglasses with UV protection. Even snow can be a source of irritation, so wear your sunglasses or a wide brimmed hat year round. Light sensitivity, is also common in migraine so these precautions could help prevent a migraine attack too. If ambient light or a computer screen is a factor for you, a lighter tinted glass you can wear all the time may help.

Sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) or misophonia (sensitivity to certain sounds) is another matter, and it seems not only sound and tones, but several people talking at one time can be irritating.  Tinnitus, ringing in the ear, may also play a part for you, and is sometimes caused by the presence of myofascial trigger points of myofascial pain syndrome. Total avoidance may not be possible because it is important to spend time with others to combat isolation, but we can identify and avoid certain known toxic noise situations.  Carrying ear plugs for those times when you have one nerve left and noise/sound/music is unbraiding it may be helpful.  Try to keep your environment as chaotic free as possible. There are auditory retraining therapies available so you may need a referral to a specialist.

If light and sound sensitivity causes a great deal of anxiety, discuss this with your doctor, there may be a medication or supplement that can help. Deep breathing, Qi Gong, mindfulness therapy, and meditation have been scientifically proven to lower our hyper alert response.

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is best treated by first identifying offensive environmental chemicals and medications.  Once the culprit/s is identified, the best solution is avoidance.  Unfortunately, this is not always possible.  Discuss particular aggravating factors with your doctor to explore treatment options

Talk to your doctor about your sensitivities so he or she can work with you to come up with an effective treatment plan.

In healing and hope, Celeste

All blogs, posts and answers are not meant to replace medical advice.

Want to know more about Celeste’s books?  (click on the title)

Broken Body Wounded Spirit: Balancing theSee Saw of Chronic Pain. (co-author, Jeff Miller, PhD)

Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia,Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection (co-author, Jeff Miller, PhD)

KaleidoPain News, 9-11-2012

“Use what talent you possess:  

the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” 

~Henry Van Dyke, American author, poet, 1852 – 1933.

*Tips for writing your own affirmations www.thesethree.com/Key_to_Affirmations.html

*Tips on journaling www.thesethree.com/Journaling.html

CELESTE’s BLOGSPEAK

Who Should Be Prescribing Our Pills?

Demanding body, cellular strength, LGS:  Are we what we eat?

Notes:

Blogs also available at Sharecare www.sharecare.com/user/celeste-cooper/blogs

See past blog links at www.thesethree.com/Featured_Blog_Links.html

HEALTHY HABITS

Johns Hopkins Health Alert! Lifestyle Factors and Cognitive Decline: What's the Link?

Five Caffiene-Free Ways to Boost Your Energy via Kate Bartolotta 

FEATURING Q&A by Celeste at Sharecare

Can an old trauma lead to fibromyalgia?

Are there alternative treatments for fibromyalgia?

*Follow all answers by Celeste at  www.sharecare.com/user/celeste-cooper/answers

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Check out the announcement on the home page of www.TheseThree.com

“Everyone challenged by chronic pain - please join us wherever you are in the world on September 16th for a day sure to enlighten, inspire, educate and empower! To watch, simply view the live stream either here,  www.forgrace.org/women/in/pain/C265/  , on the 2012 Women In Pain 

Marly Silverman is retiring and she is handing off PANDORA (Patient Alliance for NEI Disorders Organization, Research and Advocacy) to capable hands. Read the news. 

IN THE NEWS

Which Endocrine Problems Cause Fatigue And How Does Salt Affect This? - Dr. Friedman (VIDEO)

From FDA Approvals > Medscape Medical News, New Option for Constipation: FDA Approves Linaclotide by Nancy A. Melville 

Pain Misdiagnosis and CRPS Spotlighted by FOX 11 LA.

TNX-102, sublingual low dose cyclobenzaprine, for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia has been unrecognized by the Social Security Administration in the listing of impairments.  Times are changing, “medically determinable impairment (MDI) of fibromyalgia (FM), “  see Social Security Ruling, SSR 12-2p; Titles II and XVI: Evaluation of Fibromyalgia.

NEWS FOR YOU from Celeste

“Osteoarthritis” www.thesethree.com/Osteoarthritis.html

More “NEWS FOR YOU”  at www.TheseThree.com 

ROLFING THE RESEARCH 

This months featured research at www.thesethree.com/Featured_Research.html

BOOK REVIEWS

I just finished reading an excellent book by Anita Moorjani called "Dying to be me". It is highly recommended for us, who struggle on a daily basis to live with this FM-thingie! Her book - about her Near Death experience and the resulting healing from stage 4B Lymphoma puts it all into perspective. To say I finally made peace with my illness is an understatement.

--review by Elke Hutton

"When Movement Hurts: A Self-Help Manual for Treating Trigger Points" by Barbara Headley MS PT. It gives many of the most common trigger points. The muscle sections contain associated diagnoses, signs and symptoms, causes, management tips, and prevention hints. There is a chapter that deals with other causes of muscle pain, one on exercise, and one on repetitive stress, and one dealing with chronic postural stress. The author is an authority on trigger points and well loved by many of us in the field. Her teachers included Janet Travell and David Simons.

--Review by Devin Starlanyl, author and advocate for fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome.

ABOUT OUR BOOKS  

www.thesethree.com/About_the_Books_WPCN.html

FEATURED WEBSITE OR BLOG!

The National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association.  I hope you will join me by supporting the NFMCPA however you can.  They work behind the scenes, collaborate, educate, advocate, and network within political and health organizations that are striving to make a difference in our lives.  (Disclaimer, I do not work for the NFMCPA) 

How To Get Well From ME (CFS)? 10 Areas Of Treatment To Look At by GetWellFrom ME.  [Inspiring overview, Cc] 

Fantastic presentation for some patients with fatigue, with valuable information. Which Endocrine Problems Cause Fatigue And How Does Salt Affect This? - Dr. Friedman (VIDEO)

COMMENT CORNER 

This review is for: Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection (Paperback) 5.0 out of 5 stars The holistic approaches presented are great resources for anyone dealing with these conditions!, July 8, 2012 

By Lyn, Massage Therapist 

I know how debilitating these conditions can be for my clients and how important it is for them to gain control in managing their symptoms. This thoroughly researched book provides a variety of practical solutions to managing a myriad of symptoms. The science is presented in easily understandable terms; the focus on mind, body and spirit is truly integrative. Tips provided for dealing with the challenges of securing treatment in our broken health care system are not found in other books. This is an excellent resource! 

POINT TO PONDER    (Sneak Peek from our soon to be released, Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See Saw of Chronic Pain, a series beginning with “Fall Devotions”)

Do I exude the pleasures I seek in others? 

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The KaleidoPain newsletter is for you, join in and submit one of your inspiring moments or book review's. Make a contribution and share with others. To submit contributions put "inspiring moment" or "book review" in the subject line and email to Celeste@TheseThree.com

*This virtual newsletter is for informational purpose only and is not meant as medical advice.