Fibromyalgia Belknap Journey

A crisp fall day bursting with orange, red and yellow colors welcomed a group of fibromyalgia patients on a healing and educational journey to Belknap Hot Springs near McKenzie River Bridge on Oct. 26. The trip included a group bus tour with site-seeing and stretching stops, warming in Belknap's healing mineral water pool, walking through the beautiful resort gardens, enjoying a healthy lunch outdoors and learning how to cope with the chronic pain disorder of fibromyalgia.

Pain Management Partners, in conjunction with Axis Physical Therapy & Rehab and psychologist Terri Lechnyr, Ph.D., provided this unique trip. Offering expert advice along the way were Dr. James Morris; Lechnyr, a clinical psychologist, nurse practitioner Sharon Jones; licensed physical therapist assistant Jennifer Fitzpatrick and Lane Community College physical therapist assistant student Michelle Grant.

For the group of 13 patients and two caregivers, the event had a significant impact.
"Thank you for providing this kind of outing for people who suffer chronic pain and illness better than suffering in silence and isolation," one patient expressed.

The daylong event followed the "20-minute Rule," which is one of the seven secrets of successful pain management.

"It's about learning to pace yourself," explained Dr. Morris. "Your goal is to do things in 20-minute segments, then take a break, change positions or something else.

A visit to Hendricks Bridge

just outside of Springfield was the first of three stretching stops that included aromatherapy. After traveling, it's helpful for a person with fibromyalgia to physically move. Fitzpatrick led the group in short, easy-movement stretches and handed out cotton balls splashed with peppermint and lemon oil as a pleasant smelling pick-me up to distract from pain.

"It's helpful to have regular movement, especially in the morning," Fitzpatrick explained. "Physical therapy is a great resource to develop a program so that you can become consistent with movement. The pool at Tamarack (Wellness Center) is a great place to start. Also, just walking, stretching and breathing."

Lechnyr, who specializes in fibromyalgia, said community support is crucial. And as the group experienced, they shared their issues, offered each other tips and formed new connections. "Community is a powerful mood lifter and pain reducer. Just by coming together, you can reduce your pain," she said.
As an example, sharing an "oxytocin hug" at Eagle Rock Lodge during a stretch stop brought the group together. Lechnyr explained that the body creates its own natural, healing chemicals, one being oxytocin.
"That's that great feeling you have when you're in love," she said. "It's a powerful mood booster and pain reliever. It's free and you can create it with a simple touch."
She suggests hugs and any kind of healing touch to help relieve fibromyalgia pain.

Fibromyalgia is a nervous system disease in which the nerve cells become sensitized allowing the "gates to open" to any kind of touching which can increase pain all over the body. Dr. Morris explained that neuroplasticity is the new cutting edge theory relating to fibromyalgia. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. He said while we used to think the brain stopped developing at 17, that's not true. The brain is constantly breaking old pathways and creating new ones. So by simply stretching, or even imagining stretching, you can create positive pathways.

Sleep and diet are also crucial in dealing with chronic pain. "Sleep hygiene" or sleep habits that are regular can be an issue. Tips for getting a good night's rest include going to bed and getting up at the same time, taking a warm bath an hour before bed and turning off the television before bedtime. If you can't fall asleep, just rest, play some relaxation CDs or recount your day backwards. Consistent exercise is a great way to help with insomnia. Also, guided-imagery, or self-hypnosis, can help you relax.

Eating a healthy diet and losing extra weight will also help with pain management. The group shared a tasty lunch of pumpkin-yogurt soup, wild rice salad with dried cranberries and cherries, veggies, meat, chips, dips, gluten-free peanut butter cookies and fresh ginger water. Pain Management Partners staff members Marian Harris and Virginia Scoggins prepared the picnic on the Belknap patio along the rushing river.

Patients enjoyed the hot springs in two sessions before and after lunch and said the warm water therapy was very relaxing and helped ease their pain. Patients also said the question and answer session later in the day was helpful not only to the individual but the entire group.

Finally, Dr. Morris advised patients to be smart consumers when getting health care.
"Do your research and focus on two or three main pain issues and decide what you want out of your practitioner visit. You may need more visits, but with fibromyalgia there can be many pain issues," he said.

Seven Secrets of Successful Pain Management:
Understand your pain.
Research treatment options and assemble a multidisciplinary treatment team.
Pace yourself. Remember the "20-minute Rule."
Activate and condition. Plan regular movement activities. Walking daily.
Insomnia cure. Learn to sleep again, preferably without drugs.
Never give up while you recover function. Is it time to go back to work or school?
Prevent relapse. Have a written flare-up plan.

Patient comments:

Very pleased to find wonderful professional informational, approachable, personable support team. Awesome team! Thank you!
Reconfirmed the advantage of warm water stretching.
Thank you for making this topic so open for discussion and conversation. The question and answer was excellent.
Love Dr. Morris's goofball sense of humor! Awesome! Sharon very sweet, appreciate her gentle spirit.
Excellent information and presentations. Short and relatable.
Thank you for always bringing good information and a life that is better.