Potsdam Fibromyalgia Support group

Newsletter

March, 2004

 

Relationship Between FMS and Chronic Headache

In the past year, two major headache newsletters have discussed the relationship between FMS and chronic headache: Headache (put out by the American Council for Headache Education) and HeadLines (put out by the National Headache Foundation). Chronic headaches and FMS share many characteristics. For one thing, both conditions affect women 4-9 times as often as men. Furthermore, these conditions exist together in many people: in one group of people with chronic headaches, 36% also had FMS and in another group, 42% had FMS tender points. On the flip side, among a group with FMS, 35% also had chronic headaches. This high percentage of overlap suggests that both conditions share some component of nervous system hypersensitivity.

Also, people with chronic headaches and those with FMS respond to stress in similar ways to one another, but differently than people without these conditions. In some cases, the FMS might indirectly contribute to headaches because people who take pain medications too often (more than 4 times per week) may develop a form of chronic headache called a ‘rebound headache’ – where the headache is actually caused by the pain medication. Finally, some of the effective treatment approaches are the same for both conditions: learning pain and stress management skills, self-care (exercise, proper body mechanics, use of heat or ice), biofeedback, managing sleep disorders, antidepressant medications and muscle relaxants.

            If you would like more information about headaches, both of the organizations named above have excellent and reliable web-sites: www.achenet.org and www.headaches.org.

 

Reflexology: Loving Touch

            The February FM Online Newsletter (at www.fmaware.org) suggests Reflexology as a form of loving touch that can be shared between people with FMS and their partners. The article describes how this specialized form of foot massage can be a way that each partner can give and receive caring touch. Sometimes this is important, as people with FMS often hurt so much that they do not want to be touched; both partners can begin to feel isolated. In contrast, there is an exchange of electromagnetic energy when people touch, and this field becomes more ‘coherent’ when the touch is given with love and caring.

            According to the principles of Reflexology, different places on the foot represent organs and parts of the body. For example, a spot on the line between the 2nd and 3rd toe, just beneath the ball of the foot, represents the solar plexus (a bundle of nerves behind the breastbone). According to Eastern acupuncture, this point is called the Calming Spirit, and pressure to this point can be deeply relaxing. The article recommends adding mental imagery, such as visualizing a ray of loving energy passing from you to your partner while you hold the pressure on this point. See the fmaware web site for more detailed information about doing Reflexology. Even if you don’t follow specific principles of Reflexology, foot massage can be a wonderful form of physical contact and a great way to relax.

Massena Health Fair Success

The Potsdam and Massena Fibromyalgia Support Groups successfully staffed an information table at the Massena Health Fair on Saturday, March 13. Debbie Wells coordinated the effort, and was helped to staff the table by: Sharon Lashomb, Diane Lashomb, Sarah Hanley, Nancy Elzo, Helen Clookey, Linda Dashnaw, and Judy Skamperle. Thanks to all who helped out!

Help Us Get Fibromyalgia Aware Magazine in Local Bookstores

Many of you are familiar with the first magazine written specifically for people with fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia Aware. At the moment, it is not possible to browse the magazine or purchase individual issues locally, as no local bookstores carry the magazine.  Waldenbooks, in St. Lawrence Center Mall, says that they might be able to carry it if enough people contact the central Waldenbooks office to request it. Please! Email them at: ccare@waldenbooksstores.com and ask to have Fibromyalgia Aware carried at the St. Lawrence Center Mall store.  The more people who do this, the more likely we are to succeed.

Potsdam March Meeting

The March 25th Potsdam meeting will be a guided discussion: “What are you looking forward to when Spring arrives?” Share what you enjoy most about the Spring or warm weather. For more information about the Support Group, contact Canton-Potsdam Hospital at 261-5460.

The April 22nd Potsdam Support Group meeting will be a presentation on Meditation: What is it? By Roberta Paccione, an area meditation instructor.

April Massena Support Group meeting  

The Massena Fibromyalgia Support Group will have an guided discussion “How do weather changes affect your pain?” on Tuesday, April 13th at 6:30 in the Community Meeting Room of the Massena Memorial Hospital. For more information, contact facilitator Maxine Dodge, at email maxinesbeach@wmconnect.com or 769-5778.

 

Help PT Students Learn About FMS

Each year, the Clarkson Physical Therapy graduate students learn about fibromyalgia so that they can become more effective health care providers in the future. As part of their learning experience, we have had several people with FMS come in to help with the clinical practice part of the experience. This year’s class is large, and I am looking for 8-12 people with FMS to come in. The class is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 30th, from 3-5 pm. It would involve 60-90 minutes of talking to the students one-on-one (or talking to two students) and about 30-60 minutes of allowing them to do some tests and measurements, such as a physical therapist would do with you on an initial visit. Examples include looking for tender points and checking joint motion. You would not be asked to do anything you are not comfortable doing. If you are available and willing to help, please contact Leslie at 268-3761. Past participants have said they have enjoyed the experience. It is a chance to make the next generation of health care providers more aware of and sensitive to FMS.

 

This newsletter is a joint effort of Clarkson University and Canton-Potsdam Hospital.If you would prefer to receive these newsletters electronically (and save a few trees), please send your email address to gilberta@clarkson.edu.