Pardee Hospital

FALL 2015

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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17 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m FA L L 2 015 S P I R I T O F W O M E N SHUTTERSTOCK A good pain specialist will say, 'I am going to work as hard as you to make the pain manageable.' ~ Tina White, CNP OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Ill. 1 3 5 7 But the pain is not just a run-of-the-mill ache: Sufferers describe it as widespread musculoskeletal pain that prevents them from participating in regular activities. Fibromyalgia encompasses a complex group of symptoms, says Dr. Dan-Thuy Tran, director of pain management at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J. She says there are 18 different documented tender points where fibromyalgia patients may experience pain. "Patients get frustrated and tend to think no one believes them about the pain," says Dr. Edward Lewis, medical director of the Pardee Pain Clinic at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C., "and then that leads to mistrust of the system and a lot of anxiety." That's the discouraging part. The encouraging part is that an increasing number of healthcare providers do acknowledge that fibromyalgia exists. A growing number of hospitals now have chronic pain clinics, like Pardee's, and other resources to help patients cope with fibromyalgia for the long term. Those healthcare professionals say that what is called self-management can have a significant impact on how fibromyalgia affects people's lives. Here are seven tips that can help ease the symptoms and intensity of fibromyalgia: Get out. It can be tempting to stay home when you don't feel well. But curling up on the couch isn't good for your mind or your body in the long run, says Dr. Lewis. Exercise is crucial to helping the body feel better, and interacting with friends and family is key to alleviating depression and anxiety. Find a support group. Sometimes it can be hard for family members to understand pain they can't see. A support group of others who experience what you do and share their self-management tips can be helpful. Many hospital pain centers have such groups. Ask your healthcare provider for referrals to one in your area, or check with the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association (www.fmcpaware.org) for additional resources. Practice good sleep hygiene. Getting enough sleep is important for keeping pain at bay, says Dr. Lewis. It can be a catch-22, because the pain can make it hard to both fall asleep and stay asleep. Starting to dial down 30 minutes before you are ready to go to bed can help your mind and body get ready for sleep. Turning off screens, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and having a bedroom that is cool and dark and 2 4 6 dedicated to sleep are all proven small steps that can help you get some shuteye. Move it. Another catch-22 of living with fibromyalgia involves exercise. If it hurts to move, you are unlikely to get in a good workout. But regular exercise—at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week—can help reduce pain and elevate mood. Talk to your healthcare provider about the kinds of exercise that may make sense for you. Eat right. A diet with fewer processed foods can help reduce inflammation, boost energy and improve mood. There's no research showing that specific foods have any specific link to fibromyalgia, but chemicals (such as those in processed foods and even artificial sweeteners in beverages) may be tougher on those with fibromyalgia. Don't rely exclusively on medication. Several medications, including Lyrica and Cymbalta, can help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia and reduce pain flare-ups, but Dr. Tran cautions that medication alone won't cause the pain to go away. A holistic therapy approach is needed, with an emphasis on the steps you can take on your own, not just on what your doctor can write a prescription for. If you start a new medication, talk to your doctor about follow-up and how long you can expect to take the prescription. Consider nontraditional therapies. Acupuncture, massage and other non-Western and alternative treatments can be successful in lessening pain and reducing flare-ups and work well in tandem with other treatments, says Dr. Tran. "There is no magic wand," says White. "And no one wants to hear they are going to have chronic pain the rest of their life. But a good pain specialist will say, 'I am going to work as hard as you to make the pain manageable.'" • " "

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