from Jen

[Guest guest]

,

It was my pleasure! Yeah, I do have a lot going on, but thanks to

great treatment, I am still able to work most of the time. I do

have FMLA though, which is a big help!

About Ortho-bionomy, it incorporates both cranio-sacral therapy and

healing touch into the whole treatment realm. My practitioner is

great, and even took me to my first classes when I decided I wanted

to become a practitioner. If you go to www.ortho-bionomy.org, you

will find a state by state listing of practitioners who are

sanctioned by SOBI, which is the Ortho-bionomy Society's " governing

body " . Basic practitioners have to undergo a little over 500 hours

of training. I have 24 hours in, so needless to say, I have a long

way to go yet! I think, though, since you find alternative

therapies interesting, you will like OB. One of my friends is a

Reiki Master, and she's done a little bit of work on me...I loved

it. Like you, I'm all for alternatives to traditional medicine,

especially when that treatment is able to replace a med.

The reason I turn to alternative medicine a lot is because my

journey into the world of pain started with an adverse reaction to a

medication. In June of 2002, my doctor prescribed an antibiotic

called Levaquin for a sinus/ear infection. Four days into a 10 day

course, my forearms started to ache really bad, but I attributed it

to work. On the 6th day, I woke up in so much pain that I could

barely move. The antibiotic had triggered an auto-immune like

response in my body, and it was basically attacking itself. I was

in pain like that for 3 solid months. I found out along the way

that this type of reaction is not uncommon in this drug class, which

includes Cipro and Avelox. In fact, there is a support group here

on Yahoo for people whose lives have been altered by one of these

drugs. It was finding that group that saved my sanity, and

explained what was happening to me. I had several other things

happen along the way, leading me down the path to Fibro, but the

Levaquin caused the tendonitis and neuropathy. So needless to say,

I'm very wary of new meds, and cringe away from antibiotics

now.

I totally understand what you mean about gathering the energy to do

PT strengthening exercises sometimes. I do some for my back that I

learned a while ago, when my back pain first started, and sometimes

I end up feeling worse for it! When it's nice out here in Ohio, I

like to walk for exercise, but during the winter, which is

unpredictable at best, I mainly do stretching exercises and the

stuff for my back. Winter is definitely my worst time pain-wise!

It also took me a long time to stop causing myself flares. Some of

the older members here can tell you that way back, I was so

stubborn, determined not to give up my " old life " . I've since

learned my limits!

It's great that you are down to one or no Xanax a day! I know I was

very happy when I could say to my psychiatrist that I didn't need it

anymore. I was taking .5mg up to 3 times a day, and a lot of days,

I needed to take all 3!! It was a great help though, when I needed

it. I still have to take a benzo at bedtime though, because I have

PLMD (periodic limb movement disorder). If I don't take Klonopin at

bedtime, I jerk and twitch so much that it keeps me from getting a

decent night's sleep, which we all know is crucial!

Like you, I practice breathing exercises, and I also do meditation

and energy work. It sounds like you and I have a lot in common as

far as the holistic approach goes! If you ever want to discuss

further, please feel free to contact me off the group!

Again, you're very welcome for the input, and anything I can do to

help, just let me know!

All my best,

Jen