As part of the Lumigrate collaborative effort for raising awareness this year about FMS/CFS, On Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 a very special conversation on Addressing Fibromyalgia's Pain, Insomnia, Fog 'n' Fatigue with Integrative Approaches took place and was recorded and hosted by Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD at her website about foods for fibromyalgia.  (The link is provided here as well as the bottom -- we encourage people to take a minute to review this introductory discussion in order to get people in the fibromyalgia awareness community 'on the same page', as we are concerned about how to most effectively educate so many people who have so many resources of varying levels of validity, which ends up being detrimental.) www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com/interview-with-rand-and-spurlock.html [1]

I asked Dr. Rawlings and the MDs, Jerry Rand of Bay Recovery Centers and Marcus Spurlock of Health Rejuvenation Specialists, all featured experts in Lumigrate's Forums, to participate in a collaborative awareness effort for this year's upcoming International Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue/ME Awareness Day on May 12th.  I was not surpised but was pleased when all three eagerly agreed and prioritized making the time to rapidly make it happen, as I know how committed we all are to providing solutions through the businesses we have chosen to go into focusing on alleviating or solving chronic pain and fatigue/illness for those we can reach successfully. 

This is being made available for FREE to anyone who wants to access the webinar via their computer or MP3.    It is a one hour conversation which is very informative and pleasantly done and I encourage you to consider investing your resources of time and energy into listening.  We've all invested our time, energy and money to usher our careers in this direction because we see that we have much to bring to the table with solutions from nutrition and spirituality to pharmaceutical interventions and exercise.  "Integrative treatment solutions", which in my case with Lumigrate focuses on the occupation of health care through progressive education.

YOU now "virtually" have Dr. Spurlock, Dr. Rand, and Dr Rawlings on YOUR TEAM NOW because they are part of the Lumigrate team and you are as well. 

Lumigrate is rapidly becoming a progressive health information portal with an emphasis on FMS and CFS initially, and I cannot be more pleased and excited about the future possibilities of the collaboration of these fine doctors.  This is our FIRST collaborative event of many we are planning, so please tune in, tell others, and know that this is the place to be if you want to get things going in a better direction for yourself. 

And we ask your help with this: everyone involved (YOU) can post on their facebooks and websites, Tweet on Twitter and send smoke signals to get the word out.  Put this link on your forehead?  DARE YA! Totally kidding, but I hope you got a grin from that.  

Clicking on PRINT in Lumigrate yields beautiful copy which you can give to others, and please remember your medical providers who are mentioned in this interview, who are desperately needing this kind of resource.    We'd appreciate YOUR help in ALSO posting the link to this page on any sites you go to or administer and telling others.    WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, and these committed professionals have provided wonderful information in this interview which will help those who listen immensely.   

As you will hear Dr. Spurlock say in this webinar, don't be angry at your doctors and providers for not knowing what to do about fibromyalgia yet: they just haven't learned.  Be their teacher!  That's what YOU are doing on the home page of Lumigrate in the middle of those providers, really.  Years agoI saw the need to not only provide this type of information to people with fibromyalgia, but people with fibromyalgia can guide their physicians to helpful sources.  Events like this also provide 'cross polination of the providers' writing on Lumigrate.com as our amazing experts, as you will hear.  Because we ALL have to keep learning every day and make it a concerted effort to grow and be our most effective.  

This is what you can learn:  

1. Find out the causes of the pain experienced in fibromyalgia and how many people are affected
2. Is there a "cure"? The disorder is definitely repairable/treatable. Medications, nutrition, etc are discussed.
3. A comprehensive treatment plan to manage and alleviate the pain of
   fibromyalgia will be discussed.
4. Help you and your systems around you (family, friends, coworkers) realize that fibromyalgia is not a "broken arm", it is a complex illness/disorder that requires treatment in multiple areas to get sufficient recovery.  
5. An ultimate goal of treatment is to "Give the body all the tools it needs to repair itself"
6. Why so many physicians and medical providers do not want to treat people with fibromyalgia.
7. What each person with fibromyalgia can do to have more effective medical treatment for fibromyalgia.

 

The Doctors' Biographies

Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD

I presently work in Dallas, TX treating people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bio-Identical Hormone Deficiences and Environmental Illnesses.  I have been doing this work exclusively for 8 years. My new center should open soon and will be called "Health Rejuvenation Specialists".  I graduated Medical School with an MD in 1981. I practiced Family Practice until 2003.  Through a total body approach, our treatments are 85-90% successful to returning patients to their previous health potential.

 

Jerry Rand, MD

Mardy's Note: Unfortunately, in the time after our collaboration, the officials in California acted upon complaints from patients or their advocates alerting them to things that were awry at his treatment facility and with his actions. You can find information at the State's medical board's website, as well as in mainstream media reports. We all know to check out our providers before using them as advisors to be sure we're comfortable with what might have occurred that was 'run up the flagpole' so that people are aware.  This was one where I'd met him in person and had my first impression, then next impressions were of him showing how much information he had at his fingertips about chronic pain, addiction, and many issues, and he was collaborating with a trusted videographer who had then invited me to the conference as a presenter.  My first impression was correct. For many reasons, I now sign off with Live and learn. Learn and live better! ~ Mardy

Dr. Jerry Rand specializes in the treatment of Chronic Pain and Addictive Disorders. Dr. Rand has treated numerous pain conditions to include but not limited to; fibromyalgia, migraine and other chronic headache conditions, low back syndrome, RSD, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic skeletal injuries, ulcerative colitis.   He is the medical director for a treatment center that provides residential care for chronic pain and addictive disorders. In this capacity he also directs and over-sees other providers who are working within the multi-disciplinary team. These providers include PhD, MD, MFT, Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, Anesthesiologist and CAADAC counselors. In this setting Dr Rand, in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, is able to address pain and addiction treatment through a variety of treatment modalities to include addressing physical health, psychological health, family relations, social supports and cultural factors for the person struggling with Chronic Pain and Addiction. Dr Rand has been treating patients with Chronic Pain and Addiction for over 15 years. His education includes completion of medical school in 1972. Since that time he has worked in numerous treatment settings, initially within medical hospitals and emergency rooms. Since 1994 he has directed and developed many treatment programs for the patient suffering from pain and addictive disorders. He founded his own center in 1992, and has since then successfully treated hundreds of chronic pain patients.   Note from January 2012: I have been contacted by more than one former patient of Dr Rand's at Bay Recovery asking me to remove all information about him due to their concerns for others based upon their experiences. I appreciate that they are taking the time to research where he might be doing outreach to get his name heard, so thank YOU.  That is true 'generosity of time and energy' which might be translated into 'spirit'.   I have opted to keep this and one other piece and adding this suggestion for researching if selecting as a physician to consult with because it is "baby with bathwater" phenomenon. This interview is an excellent resource for people to learn from and over almost two years was read/heard by many.   To help in your researching this provider (and I suggest you do this for all your providers) here's a link to the portion of the California Medical Board related to Dr Rand:  www2.mbc.ca.gov/LicenseLookupSystem/PhysicianSurgeon/Lookup.aspx [2]

 

Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD

Founder of Nutri-Living and author of Foods that Help Win the Battle against Fibromyalgia, (Fairwinds Press, July 2008), Deirdre is a powerhouse of information and inspiration regarding your path to a healthy nutritional life-style and overall well-being.  With more than 15 years of experience and expertise as an educator, coach, counselor, and consultant, Deirdre has developed a holistic nutrition practice focusing on psycho-nutritional counseling, which deals with both a client's nutritional and emotional needs.  She explains the biochemistry of human nutrition, enabling clients to understand the importance of making better choices. Deirdre is a board certified naturopathic doctor with the American Association of Naturopathic Medicine (AANM) and earned a PhD in holistic nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health.  She holds two masters degrees; one in nutrition science from Clayton College of Natural Health, and the other a Master Herbalist from the School of Natural Healing.  Deirdre is a certified health and wellness coach through Wellcoaches Corporation, which is partnered with the highly prestigious American College of Sports Medicine.  She is a certified Sports Nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutritionist (ISSN), and has earned the national title Certified Nutrition Consultant from the American Association of Nutrition Consultants (AANC). Deirdre is an avid learner who uses scientific information in a caring manner to help clients make lasting lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being.  Deirdre successfully helps clients whose diverse needs range from diabetes, to depression, and specializes in helping people who have fibromyalgia and auto immune-related disorders. Reflecting her passion to educate, Deirdre has developed several health maximization and nutrition classes for both individuals and corporations, in addition to providing personalized health and wellness coaching & consultations, along with our signature group coaching tele-seminars series and workshops.   Seasonal cleansing and detoxification retreats programs are also a part of Nutri-Living's offering. With her combined training in Holistic Nutrition, Functional medicine, Naturopathy, Herbs, and Sports Nutrition & Exercise, together with her passion for people and the planet, Deirdre has created conscious health and wellness programs and solutions to optimal healthy living.

Dr. Rand's website at Bay Recovery: www.bayrecovery.com [3] 

His Forum on Pain/Mgmt / Addictions at Lumigrate is at: www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibromyalgia-chronic-pain-and-chronic-fatigueexhaustion/chronic-pain--1 [4]

Dr. Spurlock's website at Health Rejuvenation Specialists:  www.healthrejuvenationspecialists.com [5]

His Forum about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue at Lumigrate is: www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibromyalgia-chronic-pain-and-chronic-fatigueexhaustion/wm-marcus-spur [6]

Dr. Deirdre Rawlings' website, which includes the information to access the recording of this conversation, which I encourage people to invest their time to listen to is www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com [7]

Her Forum about FMS/Fatigue and nutrition in the Fibromyalgia Forum area of Lumigrate is: www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibromyalgia-chronic-pain-and-chronic-fatigueexhaustion/deirdre-rawlin [8]

Again, the link for the interview is:\www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com/interview-with-rand-and-spurlock.html [1].   

 

Thanks to everyone involved in making this happen, and in particular, Deirdre and her staff!