Inject Yourself !!!

It’s  been a very long time since I started my journey into medical madness. First stop: Menopause. Second stop: an underactive thyroid. Third stop: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (an auto immune disease) Fourth stop: Fibromyalgia. I was being treated for my underactive thyroid with  Synthroid and more synthroid. Cymbalta was added on top of Prozac, intertwined with various other drugs for various other ailments. Then, a long period of feeling like I had the flu without a temperature, no energy, no strength, every body part and his brother ached, all I wanted to do or was able to do, was pretty much, sleep. I felt and looked like hell.

That was about a year and a half until I was forced to see a specialist in NYC that dealt with joint diseases and auto-immune diseases only. That became the start of more medicine, but more hope. I had to keep a journal of how achy I was (yes) and how tired I was (still yes.)  Then came Plaquannel, high doses of Vitamin D and after that, folic acid. After a few more months he added methotrexate and to contradict some of the really bad side effects of methotrexate he added Levocoir or something that sounds like that.  That worked and it didn’t work, sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. There was no rhyme or reason as to when it would work and when it would not. In addition, he had me see his colleague ( girlfriend) an OB-GYN, and start bio-identical hormones.

Since I have not reacted most positively to all the drugs listed above, my guru Dr. wants to go to even stronger meds, including injectible ones. That’s right, injectable drugs, in my thigh, given by me, every day. From the diary he asks me to keep from one to ten, one being a mess and ten being (in my words)euphoric or on top of the world, I am at best a five. He is not happy with that number, he wants it to increase to an eight. I will never be a ten, with my auto-immune disease, but I should be higher than a five or sometimes a two. At least that’s what he says. Me? I’m not so sure.

How much though, is too much?  How much more medicine to I want to take in my already overly medicated body. Why isn’t a five acceptable? Are these his standards, or mine? I am weary of taking stronger drugs and injecting them daily. For what? A higher quality of life? I have an acceptable quality of life and I am beginning to think that that’s enough for me. The name of the drug he wants to introduce by injection is Enbrel. Since I become hysterical at looking drugs up on Web MD, my husband always reads it first. For him to shake his head and say, “I’m not so sure about this one…..” is tantamount to me shrieking, feeling sick and fainting all at once. My husband is a calm man, I am not considered to be calm when it comes to medicine, illness or personal safety. I admit it. I worry.

Yes, I would like to feel better than I do but at what cost? Doctors often breezily refer to drugs with well known risks as if they were telling you to take a multi-vitamin.  I am going to have to seriously think about the next step, although I’m pretty sure I know what I am going or NOT going to do. I don’t want more drugs in an already inundated body. I don’t want to inject a drug that has more negative side effects than it does worth. I’m sick of all of it, sick of feeling poorly, sick of taking drugs and sick of Dr.s and yes, sick of myself.

I can’t tell you what I am DEFINITELY going to do, I need much more information. Why is a five in a range from one to ten such a bad thing? What about the hidden side effects of all these different medicines. And, what about quality of life? Maybe being a ten is not for everyone, or a nine, even an eight. In the meantime, I am going to weigh all the risks and get more facts,  but, for the meantime I will stay at five; and just be very grateful for that.

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

Kim Burnham, PhD, IMTC, Certified Matrix Energetics Practioner

Kim Burnham, MT, PhD Bio at Mission Hills PT

Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner

January 5th – 15th, 2009  at Mission Hills Physical Therapy – San Diego, CA

Kimberly Burnham, MT, PhD

In 2006, Kimberly Burnham added a PhD in Integrative Medicine to her 15 year as a
 manual therapy practitioner. This added to the richness and breadth of her experience and
 specialization in working with people dealing with neurological and visual disorders. Her
 dissertation topic was “The Effect of Integrative Manual Therapy on the Symptom’s of 
Parkinson’s disease.  ”
Kim is certified in Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT). Her 10 plus years at the Center for 
Integrative Manual Therapy and Diagnostics (CenterIMT) were spent treating clients at the 
headquarters in Bloomfield, CT and as the clinical manager in Boulder, CO. Her job titles
 included, instructor for the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy; Director of
 Knowledge Management, Director of Neurodegenerative Disorders, and Director of Vision IMT.
A licensed Massage Therapist, Kim graduated from Sutherland-Chan (Toronto,1993)
where she later taught clinical courses. She also studied cranial work focused on holistic healing, headaches, back pain, fatigue, neurological conditions, cranial circulation and more through the
 Upledger Institute, The Milne Institute, Canadian College of Osteopathy and had a private 
practice in Toronto for 5 years before joining the staff at CenterIMT.
The thing Kim loved most about working for CenterIMT was the opportunity to see
positive changes in clients with a dismal medical forecast. She has had the good fortune to see
 so many positive changes, changes that many would consider miraculous or impossible. That 
experience has really ignited her ability to see that anything is possible.
 At CenterIMT, Kim enjoyed traveling and broadening her global perspective on health.  
She consulted with clients in Hong Kong, Israel and Italy, as well as treating people from all
over the world in Bloomfield, CT. One highlight was speaking at the “Defeat Autism Now” 2007
conference in Verona, Italy. In 2008, she spoke about “Using Complementary and Alternative 
Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease” at the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association annual meeting.  To her clinical practice, Kim brings expertise as a Certified Hypno-therapist and Certified
 Matrix Energetics Practitioner. These tools allow her to interact with the client holistically,
 focus on shifts and help clients see significant improvements in symptoms. She has a strong 
grasp on reference material, research and morphic fields, which she taps into during treatment sessions.
  Familiar with a wide range of nutritional therapies, Kim is a nutritional specialist (2006)
and studied homotoxicology (2004) with Heel and phyto-therapy (2009) with Kerry Bones  .
A proficient writer with the ability to clearly explain health concerns and hands-on
 approaches, Kim is the editor of The Burnham Review, a twice monthly e-newsletter reviewing 
the medical and scientific evidence supporting the use and benefits of manual therapy, energy
 medicine and other forms of complementary and alternative medicine  .
Referring to the first time working with an individual, Kim says, “I believe, what we
expect and observe, influences what we get. People in my practice can expect my full attention
 as well as positive changes and progress with their goals. It is best to come to the first session 
having thought about your goals. If anything, truly anything, can shift about your health, you r
life, your relationships, your way of being in the world, what do you want? What does “better” 
look and feel like for you.”

Advanced Integrative Manual Therapist Kim Burnham, MT, PhD at MHPT

Hi all

We are fortunate to be able to bring in to our clinic Kim Burnham, MT, PhD, advanced practitioner in Integrative Manual Therapy © and Matrix Energetics Certified Practioner.

She has advanced skills in Integrative Manual Therapy with neurodegenerative disorders and vision therapy and will be working with us January 5th – 15th, 2009.    Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who may need her help.

In particular people with vision problems, and neurodegenerative disorders;   Her PhD was in Integrative Manual Therapy and the results with a Parkinson’s patient.  You can go to her website www.TheBurnhamReview.com   Her website has a lot of information on a variety of research and information about integrative manual therapy.

We will be taking clients for her schedule on a first come / first serve basis, but will give special consideration for people with more involved conditions.  Multiple hour sessions will be available.  Please call Susan as she is setting up Kim’s schedule and can give you more details. We may have the opportunity to have her here for 2 weeks if the client load warrants this.

This is a big opportunity to get the help people need.

Ralph Havens, PT OCS IMTC
, Susan Williams, office manager
 Mission Hills Physical Therapy 
928 Ft. Stockton dr. Ste 201
San Diego, Ca 92103

619.543.1470

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

Matrix Energetics - The Science and Art of Transformation

What is Matrix Energetics and how can it help me?

Here’s the deal.  Used to be, I would ask clients if a treatment took away their pain.  Or if we had changed their pain level, when they would seek me out for treatment.  Since tapping into the world of Matrix Energetics, I no longer ask that question.

What I do ask is, “What do you notice that is different?”  You may say “so what”.  Have you ever heard the expression, “don’t look where you don’t want to go”?  It’s like when you are riding a motorcycle on a windy road on the edge of a mountain.  The one place you don’t look is over the edge where you could fall.

Many times when injured, clients will dwell on the injury, testing to see whether it’s still there; upset when it is, and worried if it will return when it’s better. I know I’ve done this many times in the past.  This puts us in a duality; a fight against the problem.  Problem is that’s “looking where you don’t want to go”; and what happens when we fight something?  It persists.  Think of the war on terrorism, or war on drugs or war on poverty.  Please tell me a war on something we’ve won lately!  It’s hard to find.

With Matrix Energetics we utilize the unlimited healing potential of __________.  The reason I leave a blank is that once you name __________, it’s not that.  If you did want to name it you could call it grace, the field, God, the zero-point field, or any other name; but once you name it you limit it; and it’s not that.  In fact it’s no thing, and every thing.  Sounds confusing; that’s good if it’s confusing that leaves a little “wiggle room”.  This allows for the potential for the universe or grace or whatever it is to slip in and transform.

These are not new ideas, but have been alluded to and described throughout time in various traditions from Christianity, Buddhism, Yoga, and Quantum Physics perspectives. Even Yoda alluded to it when he said “there is no try, only do”.  He didn’t’ get it totally right according to Dr. Bartlett;  It’s more like “Just Be”.   Kinda like the bible verse that says “be still and know that I am God”.  What this says to me is “Be still” and what happens when I’m still?  “I know”.  And what do I know?….. “God”.  And what is God?  Definitely something we can’t explain or put in a word.  While I’ve studied many methods, it wasn’t until I met Dr. Richard Bartlett, that I saw how it can be tapped in order to allow healing and transformation on a real and quantifiable level.  Dr. Bartlett was given a gift and shown a powerful way to access that healing space and has been able to teach us how to access it as well.  I feel I am giving him the well-deserved credit for the way I’m explaining this now.

What I’m talking about is not only healing the injury someone comes in to fix up; but also changing in ways that we could not even predict or imagine.  For example, I’ve recently had a client tell me they are grateful for having had their shoulder injury because they would not have found us and the other changes in their life would not have happened if they had not had a reason to come in.  This client now has significant changes in longstanding hands and feet numbness, improvements in her relationship, improvements in her mood and a real sense of peace for the first time in her life.  She even reported no longer fighting with her significant other.  Her shoulder is also no longer hurting or limited.

Now when we ask “what’s different since the last treatment” we get answers that continue to amaze and inspire us.  And we know that we didn’t do it.  How could we make changes like that?  We can’t.  But we can now access the space that allows for healing to occur.  And healing can happen on all levels.

Jen, Danielle, Cathie and I are excited to have this to offer people and want to share it.  We are available for group demos or a short individual demo session.  Please contact us and we can set up a time to experience Matrix Energetics and tap into the field of transformation.

Ralph Havens, PT, OCS, IMTC

Mission Hills Physical Therapy

928 Ft. Stockton Dr. Suite 201

San Diego, CA 92103

619.543.1470

www.missionhillspt.com

matrix energetics website  www.matrixenergetics.com

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

tis the season... calling all fibromites! what's your perfect christmas present?

today is december 7th and i can promise you, telling you i have a lot to do is the definition of an understatement. i am not going to be hard on myself. there’s no whip cracking (wait a minute! mayyyybeeeee that’s the sound i keep hearing… let me check, just give me onnnnnneeeeee second… nope, that’s definitely just the rain outside. whew! i got scared for a second there!), as i was saying i am on my own schedule. i put the pressure on myself every year.

i have this crazy idea that i want to make presents for people. i love love love to give people gifts. in my next life i’m coming back as santa. (to the one above, let me be specific… when i say i would like to come back as santa… i mean THE santa, not the homeless guy in nyc or any other person with that same name… i mean THE one and only the big guy that ‘makes the list and checks it twice, gonna find out whose naughty and nice’ please let us not do any funny play on words… thank you very much!) again, as i was saying, if i was a bazillionaire (this is a real word in my dictionary), i would just find ways to give away without involving all the politics… yet i digress.

in making all these gifts, every year, down to the wire… i always end up working around the clock. this is the first year i’m dealing with my pain levels being so crazy bad. this is the year my fibromyalgia decided to come and visit… and never go home (if you say it with that deep scary voice, it is much more effective and entertaining). last year was pretty bad, this year… let’s just say… prettier badder… or even prettierest badderrest!! okay shit… it just effing sucks but it’s christmas time and i’m trying not to say bad words and i just did and now i feel bad!!

so what was the point of all that anyway?

hmmmmmm my title says “tis the season… calling all fibromites! what’s your perfect christmas present?” what was i going to say… (the sound of my foot tapping does not help me remember oddly enough)… oh yeah! seriously… this is real time and i sadly did forget what i was writing… that was foggy brain at it’s best. you have just witnessed my foggy brain in action. whew! back to my blog.

what i want for christmas! geez i better type fast before i forget again… i want the perfect organization system for foggy brains. let me explain so you know what i mean:

• something i can carry with me 24/7 in my purse
• something i can write in and journal as i think (so i don’t forget!)
• place to take down work notes while on calls or in meetings
• calendar tickler to keep my work and personal key dates coming up
• place to take down work and personal actions/ to-do’s
• reference information that i need to keep either for work or personal
• i would like to keep my work and personal separate

i have an iphone so i don’t need to keep contacts and i also have my calendar in my iphone for reminders… but i am a visual person i don’t remember unless i physically write things down to feel and see myself write it down… and also… if you have an app for that (hahahaha…. say it… say the commercial “i have an app for that!”) let me know, i’d love app suggestions for my iphone as well, i have tried GTD, OmniFocus, and i can’t remember what else…

if you have made something, i’d love to copy it… if you have thought of making something, i’m taking ideas…

i love stationary… i’m kind of crazy about paper, i think that’s why i love to scrapbook and love stationary stores… i have looked at tons of personal organizers (in weight.. really, i bet the total is probably 1/4 of a ton, what… does that seem like a lot or too little?). why the crazy look on your face?

this is my dream… to create the perfect organizer for people like me. an adhd foggy brained fibromyalgia chronically depressed insomniac scrapbooking crazed mom! if that is not the best description… man the next time i’m in a work meeting and someone says “why don’t we start by going around the room and introducing ourselves”, what do you think? should i start with that?

thanks for reading! stay super cool!

happy holidays!

ps. i thought i’d share some sites with you that may be useful to you fibromites/cfs peeps during the holidays:

• About.com: Survive Holiday Shopping With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Nat’l Fibromyalgia Association: Holidays
• Fibromyalgia Symptoms: Party Time

pps. if you just need a serious laugh… (not for the politically correct folk), check out my most favorite place to go when i really need some relief from pain. she makes me laugh out loud every single time i read her blog:

• http://thebloggess.com/ –> this chick is the absolute best!

ppps. if you actually read all the way to the bottom of this… i know that i could have matched my pictures to my blog a little better (like a diary or an organizer but i haven’t found the perfect one so that actually would not have made sense… hmmm), but i love my dog and any excuse to use her holiday pictures and i’ll take it… and really, it is my blog right?

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

The Benefits of Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain Sufferers

December 5, 2009 – Cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana (or marihuana), has been a topic of debate for many years, not only in Canada, but also in several other countries including the U.S. and the U.K. However, while marijuana for recreational use has not been legalized in Canada, medical marijuana use can be granted for medicinal needs.

The Definition of Chronic Pain

Although “chronic pain” seems all encompassing and thus easily used as a reason for medical marijuana use, the organization of Health Canada very clearly defines what can be considered severe enough pain for medical marijuana. With that said, there are many suffering from chronic pain – due to a variety of reasons – with grants for the medical use of cannabis.

Arthritis, headaches and back pain are the most common, but fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy and phantom limb pain are also common reason for chronic pain. Continuing pain can also be caused by debilitating illnesses such as MS (multiple sclerosis), scoliosis, osteoporosis and others.

Original Treatments for Chronic Pain

For many, medical marijuana use is a “last resort”, used only after several pharmacologic treatments fail. Typically, the first treatments include pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Unfortunately, long-term use can cause serious side effects; even if there is pain relief, it can only be in short periods due to the need for short-term use of the “first line” of treatments.

Should the first treatments fail, narcotic opioids such as codeine, morphine and oxycodone are generally prescribed. Although often highly affective, the concern for these types of narcotics is that they have a high possibility for addiction and abuse. As well, their use is also limited, due to possible side effects in higher doses. The withdrawal symptoms for addictive pharmaceuticals can be mild to painfully severe.

Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain

For those that don’t respond to the first or second line of treatments, medical marijuana may be prescribed. As well, there are those who prefer not to use man-made pharmaceuticals that have a high rate of addiction or serious side effects.

According to Health Canada, “Dependence is unlikely to be problematic when cannabis is used therapeutically, although withdrawal affects may be uncomfortable. These include restlessness, anxiety, mild agitation, irritability, tremor, insomnia and EEG/ sleep disturbance, nausea, diarrhea and cramping.”

Relief from chronic pain, however, far outweighs the possibility of addiction for many:

- Migraines – Severe, incredibly painful and often lasting as long as 72 hours, migraines can cause serious debilitating issues such as nausea, vision changes, vomiting and a high sensitivity to light and sound. Many of the pharmaceuticals used to either stop or lessen the amount of migraines cause the same issues as the onset of the migraines themselves. Often, sufferers stop treatment because it doesn’t work or because the side effects are too severe.

Medical marijuana, on the other hand, has been a well-documented treatment for many years – even throughout the nineteenth century. Cannabinoids have often demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, as well as dopamine blocking. It is believed by some that one of the causes of migraines is the lack of natural endocannabinoids in the body, which might explain why cannabis works to decrease the pain as well as the symptoms.

- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – MS is a degenerative disease that attacks myelin in the brain and spinal cord. If you imagine nerves to be like electrical wires, myelin is the insulating, protective sheath around the nerves. The autoimmune system treats myelin as a foreign invader, destroying patches of it and leaving nerve fibers exposed, interrupting their normal function. It is debilitating and painful, causing such symptoms as tingling and numbness, painful muscle spasms, tremors, paralysis and more.

Prescribed pharmaceuticals can cause severe, debilitating medical issues such as seizures, abdominal cramps, dizziness, mental disturbances and other problems. Many MS sufferers prefer to self-medicate with marijuana, and have noticed that cannabis helps them control tremors, spasms and bladder control. Tests have also shown that THC helps reduce pain intensity and sleep disturbance significantly.

Although these two illnesses are common for the use of medical marijuana in relieving chronic pain sufferers, the same can be said for rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries and even phantom limb pain. While more studies need to be performed to explain exactly how cannabinoids and medical marijuana work, the fact that they do work is clear. Source.

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

Whole Health Therapy

Whole Bloom Analysis for Fibromyalgia is a one of a affectionate holistic treatment. The appellation Whole Bloom is acclimated to denote that this analysis not alone promotes abatement of affection associated with Fibromyalgia but aswell retains bloom and antithesis to all locations of the getting (including the physical, mental, emotional, and airy aspects). In this way, healing takes abode at the basis of the dis-ease so that as affection blow and abandon the aftereffect is lasting.

Treatment is adjustable alive carefully with anniversary being to advice administer symptoms, analyze added levels of healing, and coach advantageous cocky affliction as necessary.

Resources are accessible for abbreviate appellation administration or as allotment of a alone bloom affliction program. In this way, Fibromyalgia sufferers are accustomed access and ascendancy over their healing acceptance affliction to be tailored to the individual.

At the affection of Whole Bloom Analysis is a appropriate Reiki blueprint which combines 12 healing energies from six altered healing traditions. When activated together, this aggregate has been apparent to abatement the attendance and acuteness of Fibromyalgia accompanying affection while abbreviation the boilerplate amount of blaze ups experienced.

In fact, all-embracing testing has been completed assuming the cogent statistical accurate allowances of this therapy.

Whole Bloom Analysis for Fibromyalgia is torn up into three accepted healing stages: Symptom Management, Core Healing, and Cocky Care. As the name suggests, Symptom Administration seeks to accretion ascendancy and accommodate abatement from Fibromyalgia accompanying symptoms. Core Healing probes added into the brainy and affecting expressions of this condition. Finally, Cocky Affliction teaches advantageous cocky assurance and cocky healing techniques.

Author: Tami Brady

Source: ezinearticles.com

Dr. Tami Brady earned a BA and MA in Archeology and Heritage before turning her interests to alternative medicine (RP, RM, DD), largely due to her own experiences with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Today she provides Whole Health Therapy sessions to help people with Fibromyalgia. She is the author of nine books. The latest of which is Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey.

More information about Tami, her Whole Health Therapy services, and her various publications can be found on her website at http://www.tami-brady.com

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