Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection - Softcover

Cooper R.N., Celeste; Miller Ph.D., Jeffrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594773238 ISBN 13: 9781594773235

Publisher: Healing Arts Press, 2010

Synopsis

Fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain from muscle trigger points, and chronic fatigue syndrome are often seen as interchangeable conditions. Nothing could be further from the truth--however, they do often coexist. Knowing what you have will help you in determining the right treatment.

Written by a registered nurse with these three disorders, and a psychologist who has been treating chronic pain since 1994, this book presents an integrative approach. The authors understand these conditions are not curable, but they provide a thorough guide for treatment options that can benefit you. They answers questions like:
 
How can I be more than a bystander in my own care?
Why is proper documentation in my medical record important?
How are FM, CFID and CMP different,  how do they cross over and why should I know?
What are common co-existing conditions and what conditions mimic or aggravate mine?
How do I communicate my needs and symptoms successfully?
Where is that word I had two seconds ago?
What different forms of exercise are available for my specific needs?
How do I write a poem or meditate and why is the feedback to my brain important?
Why do some treatments make me worse when everyone swears they will make me better?
What should I look for in the "right" doctor?
What are my patient rights?
What foods should I avoid, and why?
Why should safe use of medications, herbal remedies and supplements  concern me?
Why can't I sleep, what can I do?
What is a flare, and how do I deal with crisis?'
Why don't my family and friends understand?
How do I assess and document the effectiveness of treatments, and medications?
What are the different types of bodywork, and who provides it?
What are the dos and don'ts of exercise?
How big is big brother?
How can I help my doctor overcome fear of prescribing the medications I need?
How do I write my thoughts and feelings down, and why is it important to me?
How do I apply for the benefits I need, what are they looking for?
What is an appeals process?
How do I get my needs met at work?
Why is nurturing my spiritual side important?
How can I resist isolation and feel empowered?
How do I accept what has happened to me and maintain forward momentum?

About this title

From the Author:

Recent research is yielding results that we suspected all along. There is more than a casual connection between fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain from trigger points in the muscles, and though more studies are indicated, research tells us that if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, you are at a greater risk of developing fibromyalgia.  Chronic fatigue syndrome is more than the pitiful name attached to it, fatigue. Research is showing us it is a biological disease and serious consideration is being given by the National Institute of Health and the committee for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFSAC) that reports directly to Katherine Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who reports directly to the President of the United States. The viral issues connected to what is now known as ME/CFS is significant enough that those with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome be excluded from donating blood. We have maintained this all along and speak of it in the book.

I implore you, if you have fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or know someone who does, please get this book. It is important to know how to relate your symptoms to your doctor, it is important to learn how to be a voice, it is important to know you are not alone, and you have tools available to you to help you communicate and cope. We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by doctors that are willing to hear us out and prescribe treatments that will help us.

The medications used to treat FM will not treat conditions that co-exist with FM, exercising a muscle riddled with myofascial trigger points without addressing perpetuating factors and treating the trigger point directly will only make matters worse. Treating  FM or ME/CFS with psychiatric and anti-seizure medications will not improve the metabolic disturbances of either condition or the viral load placed on the ME/CFS patient. Not having all the tools in your arsenal will only cause further pain and dysfunction leading you and your physician down a road of distrust and defeat. Please read our book and find out how you can prevent this from happening.

After you read the book, you can keep up on the latest at my blog, fmcfstriggerpoints.blogspot.com/

Harmony and Hope, Celeste

From the Back Cover:

HEALTH / BODYWORK

“Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue immunodysfunction, and chronic myofascial pain are the most common illnesses of modern society. I have worked full time in this area since I was trained by Travell and Simons in 1988. This book is not only an easy-to-use self-help book for patients but also an essential reference for any health care practitioner wanting to treat the cause of illness, rather than treat the symptoms. It is totally comprehensive and carries the passion and healing energy of the authors in every page. This is the basis of the medicine of the twenty-first century.”
--Dr. John Whiteside, MBBS, BSc, Fellow of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine

Fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, and chronic fatigue are often seen as interchangeable conditions, a belief held even by many health care providers. Nothing could be further from the truth--however, they do often coexist. Knowing if more than one of these disorders is present is extremely important, because the treatment for one of them can often exacerbate the problems caused by the others. Written by a registered nurse and a psychologist who has been treating these conditions since 1994, this book presents an integrative medical approach to these three disorders with a strong emphasis on utilizing and strengthening the mind-body connection to restore well-being.

The authors begin with clear diagnostic guidelines for each condition and reference the latest scientific research on what causes these illnesses. Because many medical practitioners are relatively unfamiliar with these disorders, it can take several medical visits to arrive at a definitive diagnosis. Clear communication with medical personnel is key to diagnostic success. This book provides invaluable advice on how to describe symptoms, document health history, and keep a log of medical appointments. Included are interactive worksheets to facilitate these activities. The authors provide a thorough guide to numerous treatment options--from diet, exercise, and herbs to mindfulness meditation, yoga, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They also offer techniques to dispel the “brain fog” that these illnesses can create, offer guidance on the psychological issues that accompany these chronic pain disorders, and provide advice on how to build a personal support team. The final chapter gives advice on how to navigate the health care system, including step-by-step instructions for preparing an application to the Social Security Administration for disability benefits. An extensive resource section provides a wealth of contact information for helpful agencies and organizations, good sources for medical supplies, and a wide selection of suggested further reading. In short, this integrative treatment guide will open the door not only to physical recovery but also to emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

CELESTE COOPER, R.N., worked as a nurse and nurse educator for more than 20 years before being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome. She is now an advocate for sufferers of these disorders and lives in Missouri and Arizona. JEFFREY MILLER, Ph.D., is a psychologist specializing in chronic illness from a spiritual perspective. He lives in Missouri.

About this edition

• Publisher: Healing Arts Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1594773238
• ISBN 13: 9781594773235
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448