Advocacy and Awareness: CRPS

Posted by twinklev

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Image Source: Sad Face Behind Mask by Mudabbirali

I had always maintained a level of balance when raising awareness for Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type 1: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Type 2: Causalgia. My role was to provide accuracy over inaccuracies. Identifying, evaluating and sharing diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of CRPS. In addition was the difference between CRPS and CPS (Chronic Pain Syndrome) Chronic Pain Syndrome is a compilation of chronic pain complaints which can include RSD or Causalgia, yet is NOT a CRPS itself.

Complex regional pain syndrome occurs in two types, with similar signs and symptoms, but different causes: Type 1. Also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, this type occurs after an illness or injury that didn’t directly damage the nerves in your affected limb.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 2 (CRPS Type 2) is a severely painful response to a peripheral nerve injury. CRPS Type 2 is characterized by severe, burning pain affecting a specific area as a result of the nerve injury.

Approximately 90 percent of people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome have Type 1.

The McGill Pain Questionnaire

McGill Short Form Pain Questionnaire

McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)

The McGill Pain Index

The McGill Pain Questionnaire, also known as McGill pain index, is a scale of rating pain developed at McGill University by Melzack and Torgerson in 1971. It is a self-report questionnaire that allows individuals to give their doctor a good description of the quality and intensity of pain that they are experiencing.

This index is subjective. Subjective means that your pain and symptoms are based solely on what you define them to be. It contains no objective findings to establish any certainty whatsoever.

This index leads you all to believe you have the worse pain disease known to man. Above Cancer. The index describes “Causalgia” which the majority of the people with this syndrome do not have.

Upon reading this many of you will suddenly decide that you have type 2. If you didn’t have type 2 there would be less reason to be incurable and in so much pain.

Do you know how many people over the years who have been diagnosed with RSD suddenly changed their own diagnosis to Causalgia upon learning the difference? Too many.

This is why the research and documented statistics are flawed. This is why the healthcare system fails to help us and instead classifies many of you with Chronic Pain Syndrome or Somatic Symptom Disorder.

According to the respected Dr. Philip Getson “Current estimates suggest that there are between two and ten million patients with this disorder worldwide. It is my personal belief that if you subscribe to the theory that fibromyalgia is in fact not a distinct and separate entity but rather a sub-sect of RSD (as I do), that number can be as much as five times higher.” http://www.drgetson.com/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy.html

This is because RSD and Fibromyalgia share similar subjective results (trigger points/pressure points) and complaints in addition to some objective shared findings. Overactive nerves instigated by stress. The Fight or flight response.

I can assure you that Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type 1: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Type 2: Causalgia can be drastically relieved and has the potential to be curable without drugs, sympathetic blocks, modalities or implantable devices.

I can no longer ascribe to the belief that CRPS is without possibility in healing. I’ll not tell people they’ll never get better, and I won’t be sharing the misinformation that advocacy groups expect of me. What I’ll share are the facts that surround this misunderstood syndrome and how we never have to end up disabled, sick, emotional and grieving over something that has a chance early on for an immediate remission, without years of failed treatments and medications and doesn’t ever have to lead to an end of no return.

I think I’ve proven that.

~Twinkle VanFleet, GohlProgram.com

Power of Pain Gets Ready for September: Pain Awareness Month

Posted by twinklev

Pain Awareness Month is right around the corner. September is always a busy time for most of us. These are just a few of the Power of Pain Foundation’s events and activities during that time. Please feel welcome to join in on the events you are able to. We have other’s we are involved with from State to State. We look forward to all that you are doing for the mutual cause we share as well as the hope and fight for a cure we all work so hard for when raising awareness. If you have an event you would like me to share, please feel free to contact me.

I wish you pain eased days and nights, ~Twinkle V.

September is Pain Awareness Month!

PAINWeek 2013

WHEN:
September 4, 2013 – September 7, 2013

WHERE:
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Las Vegas
NV
USA

CONTACT:
PAINWeek 973-415-5100
info@painweek.org
Event website: www.painweek.org

EDUCATION
Lyme MS Neuropathy Pain RSD
Audience: physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, hospitalists, dentists, social workers, and podiatrists

The PAINWeek 2014 Schedule at a Glance is now available! Debuting this year will be two new course formats to broaden the educational experience for our attendees:

Frontline Practitioner Focus will delve into the practice challenges that are particular to provider types and practice settings, including hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists and physician assistants
Clinical Conundrums will present case-based examinations of assessment and diagnosis, and criteria for specialist referral in the pursuit of better treatment outcomes

info@painweek.org

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Chronic Pain Solutions Webinar Series
Online
CONTACT:
Power of Pain Foundation

480-882-1342

Please register for Chronic Pain Solutions on Jul 24, 2013 5:00 PM PDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7262827706450704128

Dr. Daniel Twogood, D.C., has been practicing chiropractic medicine in Southern California for 30 years. The doctor will describe 10 steps necessary to lower or eliminate chronic pain. This program does not work for everyone, but is noninvasive and we hope that attendees take away a few good pointers from it. This webinar not a cure, it is a tool to help people manage their chronic pain.

Dr. Twogood will discuss that chronic pain is caused by ongoing inflammation which is caused by specific substances in the diet, food additives & medication. He was also on the blogtalk show Living with Hope, sponsored by the Power of Pain Foundation in May 2013.

Over 100 million Americans suffer with some form of chronic pain such as back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines and arthritis. His book is easy to read and lists the ten steps necessary to eliminate chronic conditions fibromyalgia, headaches, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and more, based on this doctors findings over all the years he has been practicing medicine.

Where conventional medicine isn’t always effective, Dr. Daniel reports that relief is available by following these 10 steps outlined in his book. Most patients he works with recover well before 90 days.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The Power of Pain does not endorse the presenter or their products. This is being offered as a tool that people in pain and their caregivers can listen to, ask questions, and start a discussion.

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POPF’s P.A.I.N. Summit 2013

WHEN:
September 14, 2013 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

WHERE:
Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Conference Center
9003 East Shea Boulevard
Scottsdale,AZ 85260
USA
COST:
Free

ONLINE and in PERSON

CONTACT:
Power of Pain Foundation info@powerofpain.org

The 7th Annual P.A.I.N. Summit hosted by the Power of Pain Foundation provides a great avenue for pain education for providers, patients and their caregivers. This year’s conference consists of an exhibit area and educational sessions that focus on better diagnosis and treatment options for pain patients, chronic pain issues (as a whole), prescription monitoring programs, and Proper Opioid Management. There will be breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack provided to attendees.

The event will be hosted by Brittany Brannon, Miss Arizona USA 2011, model, and RSD patient. The event will also feature two celebrity speakers, Dr. Natalie Stand, MD winner of the Amazing Race, and WWE star and professional wrestler, Raven.

The day will consist of two sessions.
8am – 1:00pm The morning sessions are focused for healthcare providers. This includes all areas of expertise; anesthesiologists, complementary medicine specialists, emergency room, general practitioners, internal medicine, neurologists, nurses, orthopedics, pharmacists, physiatrists, physician assistants, primary care physicians, psychiatrists, surgeons, and therapists. Any clinician who practices, or is interested in practicing, pain management from an integrative perspective, will benefit from the meeting. HCP’s will be introduced to the rapidly expanding field of diagnosis and treatment. This conference will proved attendees a greater awareness and understanding of the need to appropriately identify, diagnose (HCPs only) and treat/seek treatment of common types of pain, including fibromyalgia, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy and other chronic pain conditions.
1:30pm – 4:30pm The afternoon sessions will be filled with patients and their family/ caregivers. This portion of the conference will provide attendees a greater awareness and understanding of the need to appropriately identify, and treat/seek treatment of common types of pain.

There is no charge to attend this conference.
Schedule (tentative)
HCP Sessions
8:00 am – 4:00 pm Ongoing Registration Breakfast served Hosted by Brittany Brannon
8:15 am – 9:00 am Keynote address: Preventing complications that arise from diabetes such as peripheral neuropathy (pain)
Dr. Natalie Stand, MD, Amazing Race Winner, USC Pain Clinic
9:10 am – 9:55 am An Integrative Approach to Chronic Pain Dr. Philip Getson, DO, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
9:55 am – 10:40 am Cultural Competency and the Patient in Pain Dr. Maged Hamza, Virginia Commonwealth University
Pain Clinic Director, Richmond, VA
10:40 am – 11:20 Evidence Based Chronic Pain Care Linda Watkins, PhD, University of Colorado
11:20 am – 12:00 Complementary Medicine and its role in Chronic Pain Management (TBD)
12:00 pm – 1:00 Open Discussion with the Speakers and Attendees Lunch is served, Exhibitors

Patient/ Caregiver Sessions
1:30 pm – 2:30pm An Integrative Approach to Chronic Pain Dr. Philip Getson, DO, Drexel University, NJ
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm Prescription Drug Monitor program Explained Rob Kronenberg, PharmD
3:15 pm – 4:00pm The Patients Perspective; At Home Pain Coping Skills Raven WWE Wrestler, Barby Ingle Power of Pain
Foundation, and Diane Kennelly AZ Fibromyalgia Group Leader

If you are unable to attend in person, you can attend by watching our UStream Channel
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/power-of-pain-foundation

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AANEM 60th Annual Meeting
WHEN:
September 17, 2013 – September 20, 2013

WHERE:
Montreal
QC
Canada

Event Website- http://www.aanem.org/Home.aspx

American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine

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American Academy of Pain Management

WHEN:
September 26, 2013 – September 29, 2013

WHERE:
JW Marriott Orlando
4040 Central Florida Parkway
Orlando,FL 32837
USA
CONTACT:
209-533-9744

Event Website-

http://www.aapainmanage.org/conference/annual-clinical-meeting/register.html

The American Academy of Pain Management’s 24th Annual Clinical Meeting

Come for the education, the experience, and the pure enjoyment!

Join us at the Academy’s 2013 Annual Meeting, Exploring the Science, Practicing the Art and expand your knowledge and understanding about pain management, meet some of the most forward-thinking experts in the field, gain practical hands-on experiences, and have a great time!

Who Should Attend – Any clinician who practices, or is interested in practicing, pain management from an integrative perspective, will benefit from the meeting.

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Institute on Psychiatric Services

WHEN:
October 10, 2013 – October 13, 2013

WHERE:
Philadelphia
PA
USA

Event Website- http://www.psych.org/

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ASA Annual Meeting

WHEN:
October 12, 2013 – October 16, 2013

WHERE:
San Francisco
CA
USA

American Society of Anesthesiologists

847-825-5586

Event Website- http://www.asahq.org/

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NERVEmber

2013 Scottsdale Headache Symposium

WHEN:
November 13, 2013 – November 17, 2013

WHERE:
Scottsdale
AZ
USA

CONTACT:
American Headache Society
Event Website- http://www.achenet.org

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Comic Pain Relief

WHEN:
November 8, 2013

WHERE:
Chandler Center for the Arts
250 North Arizona Avenue
Chandler,AZ 85225
USA

CONTACT:
Power of Pain Foundation 480-882-1342
info@powerofpain.org

Event Website: http://powerofpain.org/
Comic Pain Relief 2013 presented by the Power of Pain Foundation for NERVEmber. More Info to come!

Comic Pain Relief is a charity show to help raise awareness of chronic pain issues through a great social event using comedy. The event is open the public.

The Comic Pain Relief show will take place to help raise proceeds and support for low income and under-insured patients who are affected by chronic pain conditions such as Post Cancer Neuropathy, MS, Lyme Disease, Diabetic Neuropathy and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

Neuropathy pain conditions affect people of all ages, and races. There are over 100 million Americans with Chronic Pain.

Ken Taylor
Ken is the Executive Director of the Power of Pain Foundation, and an expert on several neuropathy conditions. Ken@powerofpain.org

Through Our Motivation For a Cure, We Turn Pain Into Power! ©powerofpain

Reflections Of…

Posted by twinklev

The last week has been a bit overwhelming and my previous post somewhat confrontational. That is not the image I want left etched in the minds of my readers, followers or the communities in which I’m involved. I do not belong to a single community, but several. Contrary to what has suddenly become popular belief I am not hateful, bitter or spiteful. I have never in my lifetime been out to hurt anyone, I have only ever helped others. Before the injury which led to my CRPS I took care of children that weren’t my own, one had no blood relation to me or my children, other’s were by blood and did not include my own. I breast-fed a child that wasn’t mine because her own mother couldn’t and the baby couldn’t take any type of formula. I saved that baby’s life. I had happened to just give birth to my second daughter 2 weeks before and so was able to be a surrogate for her.

I cared for 2 dying people. I literally closed one of their eyes upon passing. I was not even old enough to really be put in the position to, but I was and I did.

I’ve lived a life of service.

Before I entered the CRPS Community, I was a controversial writer, reporter, small time. Published in various areas of writing, soft erotica, dance, poetry, I owned a small publishing business for a time on top of a 60 hour work week working for someone else and I was still busy doing for other’s.

I’m not here to sugar coat anything. And especially not from the last few days.

I’ve had attempts to add me to friends lists with names such Nancy Drew (Hardy Boy’s Nancy Drew Mysteries, remember those days?) I had a Mary Mack on my list that I didn’t realize was there (Mary Mack Mack Mack all dressed in black black black with silver buttons buttons buttons all down her back back back, remember the old kids clapping game?) and several other fictitious play names have tried to add me My support group has an influx of people attempting to join. I’ve had pages go up about me, one taken down, I’ve been called awful names, I’ve been told I’m going to be sued, I’ve been apologized to, and told if the person knew my name they would address me by it. I didn’t understand this all day yesterday because the person was messaging me to my name. Then I realized she must think I’m using a nick name. So many of them do. It was assumed I was also.

I’ve been kicked out of what I will call a group to give it anonymity., I will not mention the name and if asked I will not tell you. I honestly do not know if it’s common knowledge or not. All those involved were removed from what I understand. It did seem a little odd for me as I had not posted there at all. I cannot let it hurt me, anymore. I admit that it did! Very much so! I have no animosity toward the administration for their decision.

While many are very upset with me, I do not have any regrets in regards to letting everyone know that the information I posted in the comment section of the previous post was truthful and accurate.

My only regret if it’s even a regret at all is that when push came to shove I shoved back with a vengeance.

Would I do what I did again? I’m not sorry to say, yes! Yes I would! I don’t need popular to survive, I only need to survive. I am not just a CRPS survivor, no….

I am simply a survivor!

My life has shown me that from the very beginning in all it’s let me see and feel for myself.

I wish you all pain eased days and nights,

Proof of my name is included.

~Twinkle VanFleet

A New Beginning: My Life with RSD

Posted by twinklev

A New Beginning: My Life with RSD.

The above blog belongs to featured Blog Talk Radio Host Trudy Thomas.

The Living with HOPE Radio Show is Sponsored by the Power of Pain Foundation.

Living with HOPE began in 2007 under the original title Living with RSD. It was Trudy’s hope to learn more information about her own health issue, the debilitating and painful illness RSD/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and with that a show was born. Trudy interviews doctors, therapists, caregivers, and patients; both traditional and alternative practitioners with expertise that runs from prevention to cutting edge technology.

Trudy empowers, informs and educates her listeners with information that may not be readily available in their local area. Through the power of the internet she has the ability to communicate with and speak to some of the most knowledgeable doctors and researchers in the world.

Some Topics have included: Meditation, Biofeedback, Guided imagery, Relaxation techniques, Breathing exercises, Holistic healing, Coping strategies, Distraction, Depression, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), Pain Management, Medications, Chronic Pain Treatments, Ketamine, Calmare (Scrambler Therapy), Cortical Integrative Therapy (CIT®), Mirror therapy (Mirror Box), DMSO, Low Light Laser Treatment Therapy (LLLT), Functional Restoration, IVIG, Neuropathies, RSD/CRPS, Neuro Inflammatory Disease (NID) and much more.

For more information on how you can listen or even call in please click HERE.

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Listeners are encouraged to call in to ask questions of the guests during the show 1-347-884-9691, and if you miss the show you can listen later by clicking on the play button or downloading the shows archive. If you are on the go, you can call into the show through your home phone or cell phone at the above number and listen live. To speak with the host or ask the guest a question press 1, you can still listen to the show while waiting to go on the air, don’t hang up! Your questions and comments are important! A chat room is also available during the live show.

Living With Hope is broadcast live on Monday’s 4:00 p.m pacific and Friday’s 9:oo a.m pacific.

You can post your questions in the chat room to be answered on air. If the time is not convenient to stop by the live shows, you can listen to the archives at any time on the radio page.

Savy Seniors, Trudy’s newest show is live on Wednesdays 3:00 p.m PST. with co-host, Sharon Rowell covering all the latest news about health, medicine, safety, care taking and programs that are available to help seniors live a fun, productive and long life.

And, for fun of course Trudy does a Saturday show, 3:00 p.m PST, with readings from spirit given by Seers of the Soul and lots of fun music from the 50′s-80′s. Oldies but goodies.

If you are interested in being a guest on any of these shows, please email Trudy at goldfield_nv@hotmail.com.

FAQ: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy | The Dr. Oz Show

Posted by twinklev

FAQ: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy | The Dr. Oz Show.

Philip Getson, D.O. • Yesterday (July 25, 2013) “I was given the honor of having a post on RSD featured on droz.com Please feel free to comment on it”
“I am delighted to get the disease the exposure it so deserves”. “Here is the link for the RSD post” These above are the personal words of Dr. Getson, I have quoted.
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/faq-reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy

I am delighted that Q & A’s regarding CRPS/RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) made it back to Dr. Oz. via Dr. Getson.

In addition, the differences between CRPS/RSD and Fibromyalgia were touched on.

Paula Abdul tried to do her part in sharing the debilitating outcome this illness causes, but as some of us know television editing can leave a lot out.

Even so I think Paula made her point. There were some people that tried to convince me of how terrible she did, I re watched that segment I can’t tell you how many times and the bottom line is she did great! How much can you do in so little time. It wasn’t an RSD specific show in the first place it was to showcase a vitamin line of healthier living. So yep, good job for what she had to work with.

For Dr. Philip Getson who has been educating and treating CRPS/RSD for decades, I am honored to have spoken to him briefly via email and look forward to again. I also look forward to the P.A.I.N. SUMMIT hosted by the Power of Pain Foundation during Pain Awareness month where he will be Guest Lecturing. I would love to meet him in person and attend the conference in Arizona but if not, I will still be attending via UStream and have already registered.

~Twinkle V.

RSD Patient Seeks Community Support

Posted by twinklev

In a telephone interview yesterday May 14, 2013 a Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy patient stated she has temporarily lost custody of her 16 year old son to Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) and they are trying to remove her 9 year old daughter. The patient from Delaware shared that the vibrations and sensitivity to her hearing has been documented by her doctor and that children services believes she has a mental disorder. Apparently a case worker for the State did a search for CRPS/RSD and found an article which included “Emotional Disturbance” as part of the condition and is using this against her.

Let me try to be more specific while CRPS/RSD can cause a number of secondary symptoms it absolutely does not mean everyone will have them. Unless your doctor has diagnosed you with a mental disorder I do not think this type of state worker is qualified to do so this way. And certainly not by Google search.

Jim Moret, Host of Inside Edition, Attorney and Author of The Last Day of My Life describes his own journey with his son’s CRPS diagnosis in When Pain Becomes the New Normal.

Many of us already face the stigma involved with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy first discovered during the civil war by Silas Weir Mitchell. It is not a mental disease or disorder. It is a physical condition which begins with physical characteristics and symptoms. www.powerofpain.org www.rsds.org

Because this illness is so misunderstood and because there are still so many that are uneducated regarding it’s existence patients face anything from “but you don’t look sick” to “you must be a drug seeker”. This disease does not discriminate! Even children can develop it.

A very high percentage of us, I don’t have the exact statistics, yet I’d guess it to be in the high 90 percentile were active members of society, we worked, raised children, were active in our lives, if single parents raised children alone, some of us had everything, others like myself had enough to just be happy.

Now let me ask you this…

Why would we give all that up for this?

I admit I worry about the single mothers out there with CRPS/RSD who lack family support. Especially when the family does not believe in the illness and when the patient is on disability and the family thinks the patient should be working. Again no education and understanding.

Many don’t even want to know. Do you know how many times I have listened to patients tell me how they tried to reach out to their families, spouses, children with educational material, videos etc, just to learn those people were not interested?

To me it’s no different than learning about Parkinson’s, Heart Disease, Diabetes or any other illness. Would you be interested in that?

This is why ongoing awareness for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is so very important and why the power of community is just as important.

There are many disabled parents out there in the world caring for their children.

Each CRPS/RSD patient should be treated on a case by case basis, we should not all be clumped together, one size does not fit all, but the diagnosis is the same.

Autumn asks for your help. She asks that anyone who can come forward to write a letter on her behalf, make a phone call or support her in any way to email her at: Autumn Stevens

~Twinkle VanFleet

I will be attending the RSDSA’s Integrated Solutions to CRPS Conference on Behalf of the Power of Pain Foundation May 10, 2013

Posted by twinklev

I am really excited to announce that in 4 days I will be attending the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Assocation’s (RSDSA) Integrated Solutions to CRPS Conference at San Francisco California’s Airport and Double Tree Hotel.

I will be attending on behalf of the Power of Pain Foundation.

I am eager to learn all that I can while there so that my knowledge regarding CRPS/RSD continues to expand.

I am very much looking forward to meeting the RSDSA team, listening to Guest Speaker’s, and meeting those attending from various Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Communities both online and offline.

I look forward to writing all about it after the conference.

Thank you Ken Taylor, Barby Ingle and the Executive Board of the Power of Pain Foundation.

~Twinkle Wood-VanFleet

California State Ambassador- Power of Pain Foundation