HEALING | Integrative Healing Fibromyalgia Program Treats Body, Mind and Spirit by Kathryn Trill Fibromyalgia is a debilitating syndrome affecting between 6 million to 12 million people in the United States, mostly women between 25 to 50 years of age. This complex, chronic condition causes widespread pain and fatigue along with other symptoms. The pain of fibromyalgia usually consists of diffuse aching or burning throughout the body, often accompanied by muscle spasm. Its intensity can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain that interferes with work and ordinary daily tasks. The fatigue varies from mild to debilitating exhaustion. Other symptoms that may be suffered by persons with fibromyalgia include sleep disturbances, depression, swollen joints, chronic headaches and more. Because the causes of fibromyalgia are not known, the treatment can be difficult. One new approach to treating fibromyalgia is being pursued by the Mind Body Spirit Clinic at Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis. The clinic, a joint venture of the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing and Fairview Health Services that opened in 1999, is just starting its second 12-week special program for women with fibromyalgia. Sharon Norling, M.D., the clinic's medical director and a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, is excited about building upon the success of the first 12-week program just recently completed. "Fibromyalgia is a huge public health issue," Dr. Norling says. "We designed our integrated healing program with the University's Department of Rheumatology, basing it on evidence that shows which healing modalities are most effective." The program begins with a comprehensive intake interview with Dr. Norling and a psychologist, followed by participation in a weekly two-hour group session. Here the patients learn about healing options such as nutrition and herbal therapies, and meet with these alternative care providers. All participants receive sessions of healing touch and T'ai Chi movement therapy and have the option of additional therapies such as acupuncture and massage. Because the program is research-based, each participant provides information at its beginning and end on the quality of life they are experiencing. "Not only did 100 percent of our fibromyalgia patients in the first group complete the program," Dr. Norling notes, "they also reported at the end they were experiencing less pain, taking less pain medication, having less fatigue and less absenteeism from work. They said they were more productive in their lives and felt more empowerment. It's definitely a successful program." Patients of the Women's Health Services at the Mind Body Spirit Clinic are seen for conditions including menopause symptoms, osteoporosis, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, pregnancy, cancer and arthritis -- all with an integrative healing approach. "We're not primary care providers, and we often work with the patient's referring physician," Dr. Norling says. While patients can self-refer to the clinic, there is also a growing base of physician referrals, according to Dr. Norling. The clinic works collaboratively with conventional physicians in a three-way partnership of patient, physician and complementary health providers and stresses open communication among all the partners. In addition to holistic assessments, pre- and post-surgical services and cancer support services, the clinic offers complementary therapies including massage, acupuncture, acupressure, Qi Gong, T'ai Chi, therapeutic touch, energy therapies, clinical hypnosis, meditation, guided imagery, spiritual direction, prayer and healing rituals. "Our mental health program is exceptional," Dr. Norling states. "We offer the opportunity to have sessions with a psychiatrist or psychologist who practices holistic mental health. Among treatment options they discuss with patients are herbal therapies, meditation and nutrition, as well as pharmaceutical options." The clinic selected the alternative therapies that it offers by looking at the evidence to support safe and effective treatments and considering those therapies most frequently being used by people and the type of patients that would be seen in the clinic. "Many patients choose a combination of conventional and complementary therapies," Dr. Norling explains. She describes as an example a patient who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was planning on having a double mastectomy. "She wanted healing options as she got ready for surgery and dealt with her distress. After consultation, she chose clinical hypnosis to prepare for surgery and healing touch to prepare for the loss of her breasts. She was also interested in nutritional counseling to establish a diet helpful for cancer patients." Likewise, patients with menopausal symptoms select a course of action based on counseling about a wide variety of options in addition to the conventional hormone replacement therapy. "Or, a patient could choose to be on hormone replacement therapy and yet want additional therapies, such as food good for strong bones, stress management such as meditation and relaxation and herbal therapies to reduce their menopausal symptoms." Someone experiencing vaginal dryness may select options such as herbal remedies or dietary supplements. "We're finding that many women who choose a natural approach can increase their quality of life with these healing therapies," Dr. Norling says. Services at the Mind Body Spirit Clinic, which treats both men and women, often are covered by insurance. However, alternative therapies are usually out-of-pocket expenses. The patient base so far is about 20 percent preventative visits and 80 percent individuals with symptoms or a diagnosis that they want help with, according to Dr. Norling. "This past year, the number of patients we saw increased six times over the previous year," she reports. Each patient completes a 12-page questionnaire prior to the first appointment, which Dr. Norling says gives them an opportunity to review and consider their own health issues in detail. The first appointment lasts for an hour, which not only gives the doctors an opportunity to obtain a complete medical and social history, but also gives the patient the chance to share what's important to him or her. "We are guides," Dr. Norling says of the role of physicians at the Mind Body Spirit Clinic. "We ask what we can do for them. We provide information. It's the patients who determine what they want." For more information: The website for the Mind Body Spirit Clinic is located at www.fairview.org/mindbodyspirit. Additional information on the fibromyalgia program can be obtained by calling the Mind Body Spirit Clinic at (612) 273-5000. Kathryn Trill is a Certified Massage Therapist specializing in relaxation, deep tissue, Swedish, geriatric and prenatal massage and energy healing. She invites your comments and questions on her articles and can be reached at (763) 416-4814 or at kbtrill@cs.com. Her website is at web2.abmp.com/kathryntrill. Copyright © 2001 Kathryn Trill |
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