Support group helps fibromyalgia and chronic pain sufferers |
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Lynn LaDuke, on left, recently formed the Western Mass. Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Support Group, which meets at the Western Mass. Wellness Center in West Springfield. On a recent meeting night, Christine A. Jette, nurse educator, was a featured guest speaker. Jette, standing, shares some details on ways to reduce stress to Debbie Fitzgerald of West Springfield.
Reminder Publications photo by Lori Szepelak
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Nov. 14, 2011
By Lori Szepelak
Correspondent
WEST SPRINGFIELD — From bedridden and depressed to now studying yoga and Reiki, Lynn LaDuke has found a way to beat the pain that has wracked her body for decades, and now wants to share her knowledge to help others.
LaDuke, in collaboration with the Western Mass Wellness Center, recently started a free program titled “Restoring Quality of Life” as part of the new Western Mass. Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Support Group.
“I suffered from fibromyalgia for years and now live a pain-free life,” she said during a recent interview with Reminder Publications. “My regular doctor who has been treating my condition for the past 15 years is the one who asked me to start this group.”
Fibromyalgia is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially, according to LaDuke. Even though it is triggered from some type of accident, fall or injury, recent studies show it can be genetic.
“The cause is a mystery, but one of the most common muscle problems,” added LaDuke, who has had back surgery due to a fall, and has sustained injuries from two car accidents where she was struck from behind in one incident, and hit head on in the other.
On a recent October evening, the support group was small in number but big on exchanging ways to help others live virtually pain free.
“If I can change just one person’s life or help just one person learn how to live virtually pain free, than my contribution has been worth it,” she said.
As part of the monthly program that meets the first Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Western Mass Wellness Center, LaDuke hosts a guest speaker who too lends valuable advice on improving the quality of one’s life. In October, nurse educator Christine A. Jette spoke on “Stress: Make The Connection,” which reviewed the many diseases connected to stress.
“Stress affects mind, body and behaviors,” said Jette. “We need to know how to control it.”
Jette reviewed a host of ways that chronic pain and fibromyalgia sufferers could improve their circumstances, ranging from “learning how to say no and pare down your to-do list, to managing your time better to stay calm and focused.”
“When you are stretched too thin, you can’t create a balanced schedule to avoid burnout,” she said.
Looking at the “big picture” is always the first step in improving one’s health, as well as setting aside time to relax and connect with others, according to Jette.
“Do something you enjoy every day,” she said, adding that our bodies want balance and adopting a healthy lifestyle is the first step in improving one’s overall mind, body and spirit healing.
Of course, exercise should be at the top of the list for anyone wanting to improve their quality of life, as well as reducing one’s caffeine and sugar intake, Jette said.
“Get enough sleep too since adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body,” she said.
LaDuke echoed the sentiments of Jette.
“The group was founded to educate people, giving sufferers a voice, and helping all affected, to restore, renew and improve their quality of life through healthy living and holistic mind-body-spirit healing,” LaDuke said. “It is my sincere hope that through this experience of connecting with others and supportive learning within these groups, everyone will find the peace that I now have.”
LaDuke noted that the support group might not be for everyone, however, she hopes that listening to experts on nutrition, yoga, qi-gong, meditation and all of the other alternatives that have been clinically proven to help this syndrome will help area residents.
“I am 56, and I hike, ski, play with my grandchildren and do things I never dreamed possible to do,” LaDuke said. “If someone asked me to do these things in the mid to late 1990’s, I would have laughed and said yea right, I can barely move and you want me to hike a mountain?”
For more information on the newly formed support group which meets at 1111 Elm St., Suite 21, call 732-9355, email LaDuke at fibro911@gmail.com, or visit www.westernmasswellness.com or RestoringQualityOfLife.blogspot.com.
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