A Winning Life with RSD

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Spiritual Healing: Beyond Modern Medicine
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^{_{Spiritual Healing: Beyond Modern Medicine}}

^{_{Choose A Positive Path With Spiritual Healing}}

^{_{When pills, potions and the other accouterments of modern medicine fail, many people turn to spiritual healing to improve their health and their life. Far from visions of faith healers dancing with snakes, true spiritual healing therapy harnesses the energy of the mind and spirit to exert a profound effect on all areas of the patient’s life. Some of the most ancient forms of spiritual healing include meditation, yoga and Reiki. Incorporating these ancient philosophies into your overall health plan can lead to a healthier, happier life.

What is Spiritual Healing?
In a nutshell, spiritual healing is a different way of looking at the process of healing. Rather than introducing outside elements, such as medication, to heal the body, practitioners of spiritual healing draw on the body’s own energy to cure itself. Spiritual healing therapy has been effectively used for centuries to treat the body and mind. It is particularly effective in reducing stress and bringing a measure of peace to today’s hectic pace of life. Best of all, these treatments can complement the standard medical therapies to increase results.

Meditation: Focus Found
One of the most common and easily practiced forms of spiritual healing is meditation. This practice, which involves clearing your mind and focusing on your breathing, has been practiced for centuries in many cultures. Although there is little recorded history as to the exact origin of meditation, researchers speculate that even primitive hunter-gatherer societies may have discovered meditation while staring into the flames of their fires. According to Meditation.com, Indian tantras refer to the formal practice of meditation over 5,000 years ago.

The practice of meditation generally falls into two categories – mindfulness meditation and concentrative meditation. While both of these methods lead to a state of deep relaxation and calm, the methods are slightly different.}}

^{_{In mindfulness meditation, the practitioner is aware of all thoughts and feelings but views them in a detached way – without emotion or response. In concentrative meditation, the practitioner focuses on a word or image, clearing all other thoughts from the mind while focusing on deep, slow breathing.

Both of these methods literally give the mind a “rest” and allow the body to become fully relaxed. Proponents of this spiritual healing therapy, often find that stress levels are dramatically reduced which, in turn, can lead to overall better health. Dr. Herbert Benson, a professor at Harvard medical school, discovered that meditation actually counteracted the “fight or flight” instinct in humans. Rather, mediation increased the blood flow to the part of the brain that controls relaxation and energy conservation. Mediation truly puts mind over matter!

Yoga: Balancing the Chakras
In today’s society, many people incorporate yoga into their exercise routine to help tone their body. Some remain unaware that yoga is actually a method of spiritual self-healing. This ancient practice combines movement of the body with focus of the mind and breath to induce a state of relaxation and to bring the “chakras” (energy centers) into balance. Yoga practice can range from pure meditation to the physically demanding Ashtanga yoga. While the practices can be very different the spiritual aspects of this ancient art remain the same.

The basis for all spiritual healing within the practice of yoga is based on the chakras.}}

^{_{These seven energy centers control the spiritual energy flow throughout the body. If a chakra becomes unbalanced (the flow is too slow or too fast) or blocked, then the life and body are out of balance as well.

By practicing yoga to its full extent – to include both body and spirit – practitioners can insure that their chakras remain balanced and their mind and body healthful.

Some people believe that the chakras will occasionally need rebalancing by a healer. This healer can “see” the chakras and know which ones need balancing. Balance can be achieved with color, crystals, gems, aromatherapy or sound. The healer can use one or many of these techniques to help the patient regain balance.

Yoga can be used alone as a spiritual healing method or in conjunction with a healer to ensure the best balance for the practitioner. Once this balance is achieved and maintained, the practitioner achieves optimal health of both body and mind.

The physical benefits of yoga are well-documented and generally accepted by the mainstream medical community. These physical benefits include:

* Increased flexibility
* Lower blood pressure
* Increased muscle tone
* Reduced stress

The spiritual healing effects of yoga are harder to quantify, but are no less real. Just ask anyone who has realized a more balanced life after beginning a serious practice of yoga.

Reiki
Reiki is an ancient Japanese are that relies on the channeling of the universal energy to achieve healing. This universal spiritual energy is said to heal physical aches and pains as well as to aid in mental health.

The word itself is derived from two Japanese words – Rei (meaning “universal) and Ki (meaning “the energy of life”). The practice of this ancient art relies on the practitioner’s ability to tap into this universal energy flow.

The actual practice of Reiki is very simple. The practitioner lightly lays his or her hands on the patient and channels the universal life force through their hands and into the patient’s body. The life force can then work to heal whatever is ailing the patient. Anyone can easily learn to practice Reiki. In order to become a practitioner, one must become attuned to the universal life force. This is done through attending classes during which the Reiki master imparts the ability to access Reiki to the students.

In addition to the laying on of hands, spirituality is an essential part of Reiki. Dr. Mikao Usui is credited with the founding of modern Reiki. In addition to being able to heal others by a laying on of hands, Dr. Usui also felt that the patient had to truly believe in the principles of Reiki in order for the practice to be most effective. According to Reiki.org, these principles are:

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.

Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth

Belief in these principles along with the tradition of Reiki healing is said to bring about health and happiness. Reiki works by channeling only positive feelings and positive energy into the body. Since the positive feelings are universal forces (and considered higher powers) the energy knows just where to go. It unblocks the body’s energy by washing away negative feelings and thoughts allowing the body to heal itself.

Spiritual healing has been in existence for thousands of years. Its formal practice has occurred predominantly in Eastern cultures. Western culture, however, has recently adopted measures of spiritual healing in a more casual way. Have you ever heard of the “power of positive thinking?” Spiritual healing methods such as meditation, yoga and Reiki depend upon exactly this power to allow the body to heal itself. Used alone, or in conjunction with modern medical techniques, spiritual self-healing can lead to a more relaxed, balanced life.}}

Posted by Marla at 7:58 AM CDT

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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

To The Family's & Friends Of RSD/Chronic Pain Patiens
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^{_{TO THE FAMILY'S AND FRIENDS OF RSD/CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?PAGE_ID=1&PGCT_ID=2953

written by Keith Orsini

2005

(For those of you who don't have RSD but suffer from any other form of chronic pain (CP) you could probably substitute your disease everywhere you see the letters RSD in this article and share it with your families as well)

Dear Loved Ones;

The other day a friend of mine asked me if I would share with her loved ones the experience of being an RSD patient; what we go through on a daily basis, the struggles we face, and the importance of medications and therapy in our lives. I thought the best way to do this was to share what a typical day in the life of an RSD patient was like.

I myself have had RSD since 1974, over thirty years now. I also have Degenerative Disc Disease, Failed Back Syndrome, Ulnar Nerve Entrapment, and Fibromyalgia so Chronic Pain (CP) and I are old friends. I first developed RSD when I was 14 years old. Over the last 30+ years I have talked to tens of thousands of RSD and other CP patients of all ages and we all experience pretty much the same things with some minor differences.

As an example for those who do care but are unsure what a typical day is for us, I will try to explain. Please don't take this letter as mean-spirited in any way. I know some of it may be hard to read, to actually see some of the words in print, but it is not an attack. Your loved ones just want their voices heard.

Over the years I have actually had people tell me, "Gee, it must be nice to not have to work and just sit home all day". If I thought they were really interested in a reply to that ridiculous statement I would tell them that having RSD and/or other CP Diseases, however severely you have it, is much more work than any full-time job! Plus, we don’t get to call in sick, get vacation days, and our work day is 24 hours long, 7 days a week!

Now understand that quite a few RSD patients (also known as RSDers) and CP patients have other diseases as well as RSD, such as Fibromyalgia, Spinal Stenosis etc., and that some RSDers have RSD in one limb while for others it is more. Some have less movement while others have quite a bit. Some take only a few medications and some take quite a lot.

I myself have taken over 20 pills a day(not different ones, but altogether). Contrary to some people's opinions taking a pile of medications does not make us ""druggies". A "druggie" is someone who takes drugs for recreation. A pain patient is someone who takes medication because he/she has no choice and who probably cannot fathom someone who takes narcotics for "fun and/or recreation“!

There are patients who use different types of machines, have Spinal Column Stimulators, or Pumps installed in their bodies in an attempt to reduce their pain. Some deal with the wheelchair issue as well. Most patients, the lucky ones at least, also do some form of physical therapy such as swimming, weights, or massage, to help them continue to be able to do the basics things like walking and using their hands, feet, and arms.

First, let‘s start with the sleep patterns, or lack-of-sleep patterns to be more accurate. Unlike "normal" people, CP patients are prone to insomnia and do not reach REM sleep; this is the healing sleep our bodies need each day. We either wake often or are in a drug induced sleep. When we do wake, it is often physically painful to actually get up and out of bed. So, why don't we sleep?

It is because RSD cause changes to the Limbic System of the brain. The limbic system is that part of the brain that controls insomnia, short-term memory, concentration, irritability, ability to find the right word when speaking, and much more.

(There is a special article on sleep and the problems RSDers have with it in this section) RSD AND SLEEP

We start our day with medications of course. The first of many such times per day. To "look fine" we take 10 to 30 or more pills a day for various symptoms. Then there are the side effects of those medications to deal with; upset stomach, drowsiness, diahhrea, constipation, headaches, and many others. Many of us also have to fight the "Dry-Eye Syndrome" and must use eye drops two or more times per day.

Understand that these pills do not take all of the pain away. They just enable us to get up, move around, and have some semblance of a "normal" life. They simply allow us to function.

Then many of us head to Physical Therapy such as pool exercise, range of motion therapy, massage therapy, and even acupuncture. For the patients for whom these things work, they are lifesavers. Like the medications they allow us to function, to be a part of our families, to enjoy part of each day, and for some they actually give us a reason to get up in the morning.

These aren't luxuries but necessities for those of us who can physically handle them. There can be month's, even years, when the allodynia is too high to do even these simple things. (Allodynia is when even the lightest touches or sounds cause extreme pain.) Maybe the person sitting next to you at dinner touches your RSD arm, or your foot gets accidentally kicked at the pew at Church, or your leg gets bumped into at school; all these things seem harmless to the average person and they may not understand how they could ever cause pain to an RSD patient, but trust me, they can and do. Some people can even have a slight breeze cause them excrutiating pain.

I know what you are thinking, “that is crazy”. No. That is RSD. If you think it’s crazy, and I am telling you from a knowledge background, think how a patient who knows nothing about the disease feels when they start forgetting things, especially when their pain is high? Or when the slightest touch, even the caress of a loved one, the kiss from a spouse, the touch of the sheet on the foot, the tightness of a sock, sometimes even the very breeze itself blowing over the body, can cause such pain to the patient it will bring tears to their eyes. Think of the confusion and terror that brings into their lives.

And when their friend and loved ones sit there, make fun of them and disbelieve them when they try to explain how it causes pain, well, that hurts them even more. When a disconnected Doctor doesn't believe you that is bad enough but when a loved one doesn't believe you it hurts almost as much as the pain. And let me set the record straight here on the pain, there is no pain like the pain of RSD/CRPS. That isn't just from a patient or an advocate, it is documented. RSD pain is ranked higher than any other form of chronic pain known today.
RSD is ranked on the McGill Pain Index as the MOST PAINFUL FORM OF CHRONIC PAIN THAT EXISTS TODAY!

To put that in perspective, you can visit a page we have on the website that shows some other diseases/conditions and their rankings.

McGILL PAIN INDEX

As you can see on the scale, Arthritis pain is ranked about a 18, Cancer pain a 24, Chronic Back Pain a 26, and then RSD/CRPS is ranked a whopping 42! The only thing close to RSD pain is the amputation of a finger and thankfully, that is quick, while RSD pain is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no let-up.

Does that bring it home to you?

It is a pain like no other. When people ask me to describe it to them the best I can do is say “Imagine you had RSD in your hand and arm. Empty the blood from your blood vessels in your hand and arm, then refill them with lighter fluid and light them on fire. Keep them lit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Let that sink in for a moment.

“Now imagine no else can see the flames or will believe that you are in pain no matter what you say”.

That is what RSD feels like.

Whether we patients are walking for therapy, which I assure you is as painful as it is necessary, or doing things that remind us we are alive there is always a price to pay in extra pain directly afterwards, or even the next day or week.

RSD patients are cognizant of that every day. While the average person can sit there and tell us "Go ahead and enjoy the day, you can't let your pain control your life!" What they don't realize is that we are controlling our pain and not the other way around. We control our pain by controlling what we do.

What do I mean by doing things to remind us we are alive? When we spend a few hours tending the garden, spending time with our children, playing with our pets, going to a movie, grocery shopping, running errands, attending a family gathering, or even just going to church. Things that make us feel normal, if only for a few hours.

Unfortunately some people who see you during these "good times" believe that is how you are the entire day. What they don‘t see is the pain you experienced that night and/or the next day because of what you did. Nor do they take into account all the medications you took before or afterwards to be able to do those things nor the fact that you probably had to spend a great deal more time resting afterwards.

The same is true for patients who go to the computer to get support from others with RSD through cyberpals, listservs or websites. Many non-patients do not understand that it is the time we spend there that keeps us going each day . It informs us of new procedures or medications and educates not only ourselves but also our loved ones and sometimes even our Doctors about how to cope/treat RSD.

For most of us it is our lifeline, not our toy. The time we spend on the computer is absolutely necessary to our general well-being for it is there that we can talk with others who truly understand what we deal with every day and every minute.

Many of us have to sneak in a nap in the afternoon to rest our bodies, especially those of us who also struggle with Fibromyalgia. One of the problems this leads to is when our loved ones try to do something nice for us and plan a whole days activities. It is just too much for us. You have to change your whole way of thinking to include doing things in moderation. For many RSD patients that means scheduling things in the morning when we are at our strongest and our pain is at its lowest.

For others, it is much easier to do something in the late morning or early afternoon but typically by early evening we are done for the day. You also have to factor in your physical therapy and Doctor appointments as sometimes these things will wear us out for the entire day.

Another strange symptom that has to be factored in to our daily lives is that many are bothered by vibrations or noise, and for a small percentage, it can actually make the pain skyrocket! A simple ride in the car over a bumpy road can cause a spike in pain.

Due to the noise and vibrations causing me extra pain for instance, there are a lot of things I cannot do, places I cannot go, and again, I am just one example of many out there. These are places most people take for granted and may wonder why we are not there. They may think we are shutting ourselves off by not going, places like my Church, my Masonic Meetings, going out with friends, etc.

If there are a lot of people making noise for example, even if it is simply singing or clapping, it can cause our pain to spike. Visits have to be cut short sometimes due to all the typical regular noise generated or we have to go off to another room. Don't even start on things like thunderstorms, whew!

Imagine saying to your boss, "Sir, I have to go home, the thunder is causing me great pain and the strong wind blowing is hurting me as well." Oh yeah, they would love that. Sorry I can't come to your birthday party because there will be too many people having fun and enjoying themselves and making noise. Yeah, that makes sense, especially to my 10 year old niece. I can only imagine the restrictions parents with kids have to place on their children so as not to hurt their RSD limbs, after all kids will be kids.

I was lucky when I was a teen with RSD because, despite many a day spent wearing dark glasses due to the pain of the bright sunlight or the days when the pain of my RSD made the ordinary things extremely difficult, my friends were always there. So many teens I talk to on our Teen Corner aren’t as lucky. They have schoolmates who take pleasure in pushing them in the hallway to see them fall on their bad leg, or purposefully hit their RSD arm.

Why, even their own siblings hurt them or taunt them about their RSD, as if it is something they have a choice in. Who would choose RSD? Do they think if we just decide to smile it will go away? It would even be a little more understandable if it were just the kids. Unfortunately it isn’t, as many of you personally know.

I have heard so many stories from our teens with RSD/CP whose siblings, Aunts, Uncles, even parents, who tell them they need to "Just get over it, deal with it, move on already". Great advice from the uneducated and seemingly uncaring. Instead of saying things like that, why not read up on the disease, go to the websites like ours, see what the truth is regarding using the limbs, talk with the Doctor about it if you really care that much about their well-being. You don’t know how much it would mean to the patient if you took just an hour here and there to do that.

The bottom line here and the points I have tried to get across are that;

* When you suffer from chronic pain, ou have to constantly think about how, whatever you are going to do that day, will affect your disease and your pain level.
* Being in chronic pain is a full-time job.
* One with no vacations, terrible benefits, and no way to quit.
* RSD is the most painful form of chronic pain that exists today.
* Chronic pain affects the entire family, not just the patient.
* Chronic pain is an invisible disability. Even other pain patients will sometimes forget that they cannot see YOUR pain and make assumptions based on what they can visibily see.
* A chronic pain patient may have a good hour or even many good hours a day where they can "appear normal" to everyone else but most don't realize the price that is paid before and after.
* The positive involvement of their loved ones means the world to the chronic pain patient.

I am still surprised at the number of fellow pain patients who forget that not everyone with RSD, and/or other forms of chronic pain, shows outward signs of it ALL the time so it is understandable when our loved ones forget. Never assume you know someone else's whole story at a glance.

Over the past three decades plus with this disease, I have spent a few years being stuck in bed unable to walk, I spent over a year being confined to a wheelchair and having to learn how to walk again. That was the second time in my life I have had to do that, despite being told by Drs that I may not ever be able to walk again. Good thing I am stubborn.

I remember one year where the only time I was able to leave my room was to go to physical therapy five days a week. I have spent many years having to use a cane to go even ten feet and despite this, I still have people who don't know anything about my past struggles, even some who are fellow RSD patients, email me and tell me I have no idea what it is like to be stuck in a chair or be unable to walk! That I don't have it as tough as they do.

I am blessed in that currently,(2005) I am doing better than many other years. That doesn't mean I am "cured". I take my 15 pills a day. I have to do my physical therapy every day. I have to walk every day. Nearly every afternoon is spent having to lie down because of exhaustion, partly due to the RSD and partly due to the Fibromyalgia, in combination with the medications. But I am not complaining. I have been much worse in my life and I never forget it for a minute.

But NEVER compare your pain to someone else's. It is a lose-lose situation. It hurts you both. Instead encourage one another and support your fellow pain patients! We all deal with pain in different ways and we all have different levels of tolerance.

Our medications, our therapies, and our friends are what get us through each day. The value of none of these things can be minimalized. Not just for the physiological changes that they bring to our body but for the psychological ones as well. That doesn't mean our lives end, they just change. And RSD/CP patients require tools to make those changes possible. Tools that include medication, various therapies, exercise, diet changes, and lots of familial support. You can be a positive part of it or you can be a hindrance, it is totally up to you.

Now some may view this as being obsessed with the disease, that we think of nothing else but our disease, our pain, that we are too focused on it and that is why we are so depressed, so sad, we hurt so much. Gee, you mean if I didn’t think about it so much I wouldn’t hurt so much? Hmm, let me give that a try. No, seriously, the fact is that for us, RSD/CP is a major part of our life. It has to be factored into every decision we make, if it isn't we will pay for it later, as will our loved ones.

My family and I often worry that our friends will get tired of our talking about CP too often. After all, not only have I had it for years but most of our family is involved in running this organization and getting the word out about this disease. Many times we have to force ourselves to take a break from RSD talk for a day.

But then we think it is no different than if we had cancer, MS, or MD, (which some of us have). People are just used to hearing those words more. Yes, we will lose friends along the way, that is inevitable But we will also gain some new wonderfully supportive friends and they will be amazing, true friends who will be in it for the long haul.

I cannot tell you all the incredible people from all over the world I have met in our journey, with whom I have become fast friends. Some I see often and some I see only at our National Conferences on Pain yet it is as if I saw them just yesterday; many I talk to only on-line and I know them best of all. These are amazing people who have overcome obstacles you wouldn’t believe and yet still come out on top. And you know what? They could care less that I have RSD.

So now that YOU know what it is all about ... which type of friend are you?

I hope this has helped you better understand a day in the life of an RSD/CP patient and that you didn't take it as a slap in the face or something hurled at you but as a teaching tool. Sometimes we have to be forced to confront things in our lives in a harsh manner in order to accept that they are real; both the patient and the loved one in the case of the chronic pain patient. Thanks for listening.

Peace, Keith Orsini
American RSDHope

On behalf of Chronic Pain patients everywhere, thank you for taking the time to read this.

It means a great deal to them that you would take the time to do this and just because they asked you to read this does not always mean they feel they have a problem with you necessarily, they just wanted you to have a better idea about what they have to deal with. They NEED you in their life; they WANT you beside them in this struggle. They know they can do it; they can beat this with YOUR help.
PS: For more information on Chronic Pain, please visit AMERICAN RSDHOPE This link leads to a website that is not part of RSDHope

copyright March/2005-2008

Please feel free to share this article with others, we just ask that you respect and include the copyright and author information.}}

Posted by Marla at 11:28 PM CDT

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Gene Therapy for Chronic Pain enters First Human Trial....
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Gene therapy for chronic pain enters first human trial

U-M Phase 1 trial will test therapy in cancer patients with intractable pain

Media contact: Katie Vloet
E-mail: kgazella@umich.edu
Tel: 734-764-2220

^{_{ANN ARBOR, Mich. -This week, University of Michigan scientists will begin a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of cancer-related pain, using a novel gene transfer vector injected into the skin to deliver a pain-relieving gene to the nervous system.
A gene transfer vector is an agent used to carry genes into cells. In this groundbreaking clinical trial, the investigators will use a vector created from herpes simplex virus (HSV) - the virus that causes cold sores - to deliver the gene for enkephalin, one of the body's own natural pain relievers.
"In pre-clinical studies, we have found that HSV-mediated transfer of enkephalin can reduce chronic pain," says David Fink, M.D., Robert Brear Professor and chair of the department of neurology at the U-M Medical School. Fink developed the vector with collaborators and will direct the study.
"After almost two decades of development and more than eight years of studies in animal models of pain, we have reached the point where we are ready to find out whether this approach will be effective in treating patients," Fink says. The investigators are recruiting 12 patients with intractable pain from cancer to examine whether the vector can be used safely to deliver its cargo to sensory nerves.
The trial represents two firsts, says Fink: It is the first human trial of gene therapy for pain, and the first study to test a nonreplicating HSV-based vector to deliver a therapeutic gene to humans. Fink says the technique may hold promise for treating other types of chronic pain, including pain from nerve damage that occurs in many people with diabetes.
The HSV vector, genetically altered so it cannot reproduce, has a distinct advantage, Fink says: "Because HSV naturally travels to nerve cells from the skin, the HSV-based vector can be injected in the skin to target pain pathways in the nervous system."
Gene therapy for pain
Chronic pain is an important clinical problem that, despite a wide array of therapeutic options, cannot be effectively treated in a substantial number of patients. Fink notes that one key problem in treating pain is that the targets of conventional pain-relieving medications tend to be widely distributed in the nervous system, so that "off target" side effects of the drugs often preclude the use of those drugs at fully effective doses.
"This provides the rationale for using gene transfer to treat pain," Fink says. "We use the vector to deliver and express a chemical that breaks down very quickly in the body. The targeted delivery allows us to selectively interrupt the transmission of pain-related signals and thus reduce the perception of pain."

Enkephalin is one member of the family of opioid peptides that are naturally produced in the body. Opioid peptides exert their pain-relieving effects by acting at the same receptor through which morphine and related opiate drugs achieve their pain-relieving effects. In this trial the enkephalin peptide, produced as a result of the gene transfer, will be released selectively in the spinal cord at a site involved in transmitting pain from the affected body part to the brain.
"We hope that this selective targeting will result in pain-relieving effects that cannot be achieved by systemic administration of opiate drugs," Fink says. "This trial is the first step in bringing the therapy into clinical use. A treatment is at least several years off."

Preclinical studies led to human trial

The phase I clinical trial represents the culmination of studies performed by investigators working in the U-M laboratory co-directed by Fink and his wife, Marina Mata, M.D., also a professor of neurology at U-M, along with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh led by Joseph Glorioso, Ph.D. In published studies, the researchers have demonstrated that HSV-mediated gene transfer is effective in rats with pain resulting from inflammation, nerve damage or spinal cord injury, and in mice with pain caused by cancer. The extensive preclinical data in animal models were reviewed by the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee at the National Institutes of Health. The Food and Drug Administration approved an investigational new drug application for the therapy in February.

Funding for the preclinical studies was provided by the NIH, and related studies of the vector were funded by grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The human trial is supported by a research grant from Diamyd, Inc., a subsidiary of Diamyd Medical (DIAMB.ST), a publicly traded Swedish biotechnology company. Fink has no financial interest in or consulting relationship with Diamyd. He is an inventor on patents related to this work that are owned by the University of Pittsburgh and licensed to Diamyd. Susan Urba, M.D. and Frank Worden, M.D., medical oncologists at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center will serve as principal clinicians for the study, assisted by Suzette Walker, N.P., who will serve as study coordinator, and Heidi L'Esperance, who will serve as data manager.

Trial details

The investigators are seeking patients with intractable pain related to cancer that is unresponsive to maximally tolerated doses of conventional analgesic drugs. The vector will be delivered in 10 small injections into the skin, and will require an overnight stay in the Michigan Clinical Research Unit at U-M Hospital. For more information, contact the U-M Cancer AnswerLine, 800-865-1125, or visit:

www.med.umich.edu/engage/
www.cancer.med.umich.edu/research/clinical_trials.shtml
www.med.umich.edu/neurology}}

Posted by Marla at 12:27 PM CDT

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Coincidences....Do You Believe In Them?
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^{_{Coincidences....Do You Believe In Them?}}

^{_{I had to post this because I was reading a book and this is part of the Introduction. The book is titled "Small Miracles" But I found this Introduction very interesting as well as eye opening. Sometimes we do have these moments in life where we say things like, "It's was just a coincidence", "Wow, what a coincidence that was", or numerous other comments like that. But it's very seldom that we consider the possibility of it being Divine Presence. There are many times in my life where I can look back and say that those 'so called' coincidences where in fact a Divine Presence, can you?

You know, there are moments in life when we catch our breath and glimpse God's presence. Sometimes it is when we see the glowing face of a sleeping child, sometimes it is when we hear a song. These moments, which shine for an instant and then vanish in a flash, convey a sense of the Divine.

Every leaf, every blade of grass bears God's imprint. But these days most of us are urban dwellers leading hectic lives, and have lost the connection to the earth that enriched our forefathers and helped them see God. Obscured by skyscrapers and the haze of polluted skies, we can barely see the stars, let alone sense a Divine Presence.

Living as so many of us do, lives of alienation and despair, how can we help ourselves reconnect; to God, to one another, to our very selves?

Beyond nature, there are teachers, other experiences that can help us along our journey. These guides, beacons of light and signposts in the labyrinthine wilderness in which we wander, offer us gentle instruction and compassionate encouragement as they firmly propel us back to the path from which we may have strayed.

These experiences, common to us all, can help lead us to our unfulfilled destiny. They occur within the great universal flow of energy, and require nothing more that our sheer awareness of their presence. When consciousness is cultivated and perception is heightened, these experiences can serve as vital tokens of growth and transformation. To encounter these moments in their fullness and richness, to be aware of their message and hear their music, is truly to know God. And predominant among these experiences is the phenomenon we call coincidences.

Coincidences have been defined as luck, chance, a fluke, something our of the ordinary, or a random conjoining of inexplicable events that defies our sense of the reasonable. I firmly believe that coincidences are much more than simple accidents or quirks of fate. To me, coincidences are blessings, the spiritual manna that hosts of angels send down to illuminate our path. They are vivid, striking, awe-inspiring examples of Divine Providence. They are acts of God.

Thousands of years ago, God spoke to man through sublime miracles he preformed on massive scales. We are not so fortunate. Today we wrestle with a hidden God, a concealed God, a God who no longer parts seas, stops the sun, or turns people into pillars of salt. Instead we have coincidences. Smaller, more personal, everyday miracles. For when a coincidence does take place, it is nothing more and nothing less than God tapping us on the shoulder, whispering, or at times even shouting: "I'm here! I'm with you!" Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous.

Coincidences can also be seen as opportunities for change, vital keys towards expanding our consciousness. If we can learn to become more aware of and attuned to coincidences, more cognizant of their significance, that we will evolve to a higher state of being. When we integrate both the experience and the meaning of coincidences into our lives, we open ourselves to the enriching possibilities, the blessings, and the sense of harmony with the universe that they offer.
I heard a story once of a holy man who radiated an unusual aura of inner peace and joy. An unearthly, almost celestial glow shone from his body, and attracted vast crowds who pursued him everywhere. They would call to him, "Are you a God?" "No." he would answer. "Are you an angel?" "No." "Are you a prophet?" finally he said, "No, I am simply awake."

Coincidences are everywhere and can happen any time. When your soul is ready, they will come. All that is required is that you open your heart.}}

Posted by Marla at 12:03 PM CDT

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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Pharmaceutical Biotech Scientist Discovers New Molecule to Treat Chronic Pain
Mood:

quizzical

^{_{Pharmaceutical Biotech Scientist Discovers New Molecule to Treat Chronic Pain}}

^_08-15-2008

^{_{Northeastern University Pharmaceutical Sciences professor and Center for Drug Discovery director Alexandros Makriyannis and a team of researchers have created a synthetic molecule that could be used to treat chronic pain in patients with diseases such as diabetes or shingles.}}

^{_{The findings were published in a recent issue of Psychopharmacology in an article titled “Discriminative stimulus functions in rats of AM1346, a high-affinity CB1R selective anandamide analog.” The team of researchers involved in this study included Northeastern University Pharmaceutical Sciences researchUniversity of Connecticut. associate professor Torbjorn U.C. Jarbe, as well as Chen Li and Qian Liu, formerly of the}}

^{_{The new molecule, AM1346, mimics, though is more powerful than, anandamide an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter found prominently in the brains of humans and animals. Anandamide is a naturally occurring part of the endocannabinoid system that regulates pain, controls heart rate and blood pressure, and modulates mood and appetite.}}

^{_{In order to test anandamide against AM1346, the researchers studied discriminative behavior in rats and concluded that the animals act in a similar fashion when injected with the two agents. Makriyannis said the rats were trained to respond to an injection of AM1346 by pushing a lever that delivered food to the animals. When trained without exposure to AM1346, an alternate lever produced food. Thus, the presence or absence of the training drug controlled the choice behavior of the animals. Additionally, the cannabinoid antidote rimonabant blocked these drug effects. That is, the animals selected the nondrug associated lever in tests with rimonabant and the other drugs.}}

^{_{“AM1346 is a more potent and stable synthetic compound than anandamide,” Makriyannis said. “It will serve as a test compound to study and understand more completely the endocannabinoid system and could have potential therapeutic implications as a topically applied pain killer,” he said, adding that there is considerable interest from the pharmaceutical industry for researchers to discover new medications within the body’s biochemical system.}}

^{_{For more information on Professor Makriyannis’ research, please contact Jason Kornwitz at 617-373-5729 or j.kornwitz@neu.edu.}}

Posted by Marla at 10:47 AM CDT

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Monday, August 18, 2008

More pictures for you all to enjoy...hahahahaa
Mood:

happy

^{_{Hello Everyone,}}

^{_{You know, they say there is no greater love on Earth than that of a mother and a grandmother.....well let me tell you something........My love for my little Dorothy Rose is enormous, as it is for my little Cheyenne Dawn. Of course Cheyenne says I can't sing You Are My Sunshine to Dorothy Rose because that is "her" song and I need to think of something else. She also tells me that she is my Sunshine so Dorothy Rose has to be something else. We have decided that Dorothy Rose will be my Apple.....it works like this: Cheyenne Dawn is the Sunshine of my day and Dorothy Rose is the Apple of my eye. Now, if I could just come up with another song to sing her....hummmmmm Any suggestions out there??}}

^{_{Here are some more pictures of Dorothy Rose....Had to add them ya know...hahahahaha.}}

Great Grandma re-learning how to hold a baby, of course she never held one this tiny before.

Gordon the cat wanted some of the attention too. The cat is bigger than Dorothy Rose is.

Great Grandpa tickling Dorothy Rose.

Dorothy Rose in her own bassinet.

The bottle is almost as big as she is....but she will grow.

Dorothy Rose and my little brother's daughter Maddie....We thought it would be cute to do a kind of "Before & After" thing.

Posted by Marla at 11:01 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, August 18, 2008 11:02 PM CDT

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Thursday, August 14, 2008

SF-1019; Can this Really be the answer for RSD?
Mood:

quizzical

^{_{Immunosyn Corporation Files 10-Q
Last update: 11:23 a.m. EDT Aug. 14, 2008}}

^{_{LA JOLLA, Calif., Aug 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Immunosyn Corporation (IMYN:immunosyn corp com

Sponsored by:
IMYN 1.70, -0.10, -5.6%) , a biotechnology firm that has obtained exclusive worldwide marketing, sales and distribution rights to the biopharmaceutical SF-1019 from its affiliate Argyll Biotechnologies, LLC, has announced its results for the quarter ending June 30, 2008.}}

^{_{For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, the company incurred $629,884.00 in general and administrative expenses and $15,297.00 in interest expense which was funded from advances by affiliates of $26,527.00, accounts payable of $60,376.00, accrued expenses of ($1,498.00) and services rendered for stock of $529,250. As a result, the company had a Net Loss of $645,181.00 for the second quarter of 2008. During the same period in 2007, the company incurred $71,025.00 in general and administrative expenses, interest expense of $4,810.00 and had a Net Loss of $75,835.00. Immunosyn has had no revenue to date as Argyll Biotechnologies, LLC is still in the process of obtaining governmental and regulatory approval for SF-1019.}}

^{_{"We have continued to significantly control costs this quarter and appreciated the advances from affiliates," noted Stephen Ferrone, Immunosyn's CEO. "In 2008, Argyll Biotechnologies, LLC has reported positive research results for SF-1019 and Immunosyn hopes to add shareholder value by striving for financial efficiency in the execution of its marketing and distribution strategy when approvals for SF-1019 are obtained by Argyll Biotechnologies, LLC," added Ferrone.}}

^{_{Research suggests that SF-1019 has analgesic properties with a perceived ability to substantially reduce the inflammation present in a number of clinical conditions including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, (RSD or RSDS) and other auto-immune and neurological disorders. A limited proof of concept trial for SF-1019 in Europe has shown positive results in effectively treating diabetic ulcers. Immunosyn went public in January 2007 and its stock began trading on October 26, 2007 on the OTCBB under the symbol "IMYN."}}

^{_{About Immunosyn Corporation}}

^{_{La Jolla, CA-headquartered Immunosyn Corporation (IMYN:immunosyn corp com
News, chart, profile, more
Last: 1.70-0.10-5.56%
1:14pm 08/14/2008

Sponsored by:
IMYN 1.70, -0.10, -5.6%) plans to market and distribute life enhancing therapeutics. Currently, the company has exclusive worldwide rights from its largest shareholder, Argyll Biotechnologies, LLC, to market, sell and distribute SF-1019, a compound that was developed from extensive research into Biological Response Modifiers (BRMs). Argyll Biotechnologies, LLC has initiated the process for regulatory approval of SF-1019 in several countries and preparations for clinical trials are underway in both the US and Europe. Research suggests that SF-1019 has the potential to affect a number of clinical conditions including complications from Diabetic Mellitus such as Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) and diabetic ulcers (DU), auto-immune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and neurological disorders such as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD or RSDS).}}

^{_{The above news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a wide range of business risks, external factors and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.}}

^{_{For additional information, please consult the Company's most recent public filings and Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for its most recent fiscal year. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.}}

^{_{SOURCE: Immunosyn Corporation}}

^{_{The Blaine Group
Lisa Baker/Devon Blaine
310-360-1499
310-360-1498 (FAX)
blaine@blainegroupinc.com}}

Posted by Marla at 12:43 PM CDT

Updated: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:49 PM CDT

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Monday, August 11, 2008

My Newest Grand-Daughter!!
Mood:

special

^{_{Hello everyone. I wanted to share a couple of picture's of my newest grand-daughter.
She is absolutely B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}}

^{_{Little Dorothy Rose}}

^{_{The Happy Family!}}

^{_{And the onlooker, Cheyenne, my other grand-daughter!}}

Posted by Marla at 9:53 AM CDT

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Things To Ponder....
Mood:

happy
^{_{Hello Everyone,
I am going to share some of my favorite words to ponder on when I am feeling one way or another, but no way in particular....Hope you enjoy them.

Life is easier than you think --
All you have to do is:
Accept the impossible,
Do without the indispensable,
Bear the intolerable
And
Be able to smile at anything.

************************************************

Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.
When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation --
Some fact of my life - unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment,
Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's wold by mistake.
Unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy.
I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.

************************************************

Only some of us learn by other people's mistakes; the rest of us have to be the other people.

************************************************

True Understanding

We do not understand:
Joy......until we face sorrow
Faith....until it is tested
Peace....until faced with conflict
Trust....until we are betrayed
Love.....until it is lost
Hope.....until confronted with doubts.

************************************************

Hope Makes A Difference

Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst in them.
Hope opens doors where despair closes them.
Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot be done.
Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of mankind.
Hope "lights a candle" instead of "cursing the darkness."
Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities.
Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism.

************************************************

And last, but by no means least.....

Thank You, dear God
For all You have given me
For all You have taken away from me
For all You have left me.

************************************************

I hope you were able to get a nugget or two out of these, I know I sure have.}}

Posted by Marla at 10:43 PM CDT

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Is Pain All In The Mind?
Mood:

not sure

Is pain all in the mind?
New research shows why some people are better at coping with pain than others
By Vivienne Parry
Times Online (UK)

Pain is a simple enough concept to grasp. You stub your toe, shout, perhaps utter a few expletives, rub it better and it eventually fades. But neuroscientists are realising that pain is much more complex than anyone thought possible, comprising not just physical sensations, but emotional ones too. Pioneering studies are providing insights into why some people experience debilitating chronic pain long after an injury has healed, as well as why some are more prone to pain than others, and why certain people never recover from bereavement.

"Pain is much more than mere sensation. The psychological component is at least as important as the physiological processes giving rise to it," says Dr Jonathan Brooks, a scientist at the Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, at Oxford University. His research centre scans the brains of people with chronic pain and compares them with those of healthy people.

While most pain goes away as an injury gets better, sometimes it remains for months or even years, long outlasting its original purpose. Chronic physical pain is debilitating and can cause disability, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also very common. A group from the University of Washington reported in the journal Archives of Surgery earlier this year that 63 per cent of patients who had sustained serious trauma still had injury-related pain a year later. It was most common in the 35-44 age group and in women, and least common in those with a college education.

Other chronic pain conditions include arthritis and lower back pain. In the latter, a physical source can be identified in only about 10 per cent of cases. No one really knows why some people experience chronic pain and others do not, but recent imaging studies at Northwestern University, Chicago, have found a series of abnormalities in the brains of chronic pain sufferers in which the part linked to decision-making (the prefrontal cortex) is reduced, while an area of the prefrontal cortex linked to emotion is hyperactive. What is known for certain is that the brain changes in those with chronic pain so that they experience pain differently from the way they did before.

We all have a system for suppressing pain when necessary so that we can flee attackers even when injured. Those who suffer from chronic pain appear unable to access this and cannot use distraction as a means of suppressing pain; their brains seem to amplify pain signals rather than inhibit them.

Treatment for the condition comprises both physical and psychological interventions, says Dr Michael Platt, the lead clinician for pain services at St Mary's Hospital, London, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where he holds weekly pain clinics. "Most physicians realise that you have to heal the mind as much as the body. For example, if you have pain, then depression is worse, and if you have depression, then pain is worse." He adds that gaining a better indication of which parts of the brain are involved in pain sensations may lead to better treatments for patients.

We all respond to pain differently

Scientists are increasingly realising that everyone responds to pain differently. "There are many physiological and psychological factors that determine how much pain you feel," says Dr Brooks. "Personality, how worried a person is, and, in the case of women, the time in the menstrual cycle, can all have an effect."

He adds that our genes can also influence our sensitivity to pain. This was first brought to the attention of scientists by the "ginger-whinger" syndrome. Anaesthetists reported that redheaded women complain of pain more than other patients, and consequently need more pain relief. Why? Not because redheads are wimps; it was later discovered that their genetic make-up makes them less sensitive to certain types of pain medication.

Neuroscience is also revealing a host of similarities between emotional and physical pain. In the same way that in some people injury can cause long-lasting chronic pain, science reveals why some will never get over heartbreak.

Professor David Alexander, the director of the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research, has been involved in many disasters: the 2004 tsunami; Iraq; and the recent earthquake in Pakistan. He is not surprised about the link between physical and emotional pain. "If you listen to people who are damaged emotionally, they will often translate their pain into physical similes: 'my head is bursting, my guts are aching', and so on. The parallel is very strong."

It is only in the past few years, however, that scientists have begun to investigate what is going on in the brain during an episode of emotional pain. The neuroscientist Mary Frances O'Connor, of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is one of the scientists who has propelled emotional pain up the research agenda. "We're at a very new time when we can use technologies to look at the brain and the heart." Naomi Eisenberger, one of her colleagues at UCLA, has shown which parts of the brain are active when we feel emotional pain. She devised a computer game in which participants were made to feel left out.

Simultaneous brain scanning revealed that the pain of being socially rejected was processed in much the same way in the brain as physical pain, and in the same area, the anterior cingulate cortex, which is located towards the front of the brain, roughly at the height of the temples.

Eisenberger theorises as to why this should be so. Pain is often interpreted as a warning, so that you take your hand away from a hot surface. Social relationships are crucial to our survival as a species. In dangerous situations, a lone human being is in peril, whereas a group may survive. "The social attachment system piggybacked on to the physical pain system to make sure that we stay connected to close others," Eisenberger says. Being wrenched from another or rejected by a group is painful, so we learn to avoid it.

A related issue is "complicated grief", which O'Connor estimates occurs in about 10 per cent of people, who fail to adapt to bereavement over time. Her imaging work shows that this sort of grief activates neurons in the reward centre of the brain, giving addictive-like properties to memories of the lost one. There is a strong suspicion, as yet unproven, that sufferers might also be among those who experience the greatest levels of chronic physical pain. This is an area that deserves urgent research because of its terrible emotional and physical toll.

How to deal with pain

Exercise

Prolonged exercise lifts the spirits and reduces pain, as evidenced by the "runners' high", which is driven by the naturally produced painkillers, endorphins.

Don't bottle it up

Talking about your emotions helps - one reason why women are less at risk from illness after a bereavement.

Don't self-medicate

Dulling pain with alcohol, recreational drugs or too many prescription painkillers can turn recoverable trauma into lifelong dependency or addiction.

Don't get overtired

Tiredness exacerbates pain, especially in women. Fatigue is often reported with chronic pain, though less so in men, whose higher testosterone levels make their muscles more resistant to fatigue.

Try mindfulness meditation

By concentrating on your moment-to-moment experience, you can - through repeated practice - achieve a greater sense of control and enhanced emotional wellbeing.

Case study

For the chronic pain patients who arrive at the pain management centre at St Mary's Hospital, in Paddington, West London, this clinic is their last resort.

One such patient is Ursula Madden, who lives in London with her 12-year-old son. Madden works as a radiographer at St Mary's, but her chronic pain turned her from employee to patient. She initially dismissed her painful feet as a side-effect of her busy job. But when she to lie down every night after work because of an unbearable burning sensation across the tops of her feet, she decided it was time to see her doctor.

Getting a diagnosis was not easy. It took two years, with long spells off work because she couldn't walk, and Madden became very depressed.

"None of the doctors was accepting the fact that I was in agony," she says. Madden was eventually referred to the pain clinic where it was discovered that the pain in her feet was caused by a combination of arthritis and faulty nerves sending pain signals to the brain. The diagnosis made a big impact. "When you have something that people can't see, unlike, say, a broken arm, recognition is a very big part of it."

The doctors at the clinic use a variety of approaches, from psychological intervention such as counselling and life coaching, to more physical treatments, such as pain killers, acupuncture and super-hot chilli pepper cream. The latter works to desensitise the nerves.
"The first time I used the cream I was jumping around with pain, but it worked brilliantly," says Madden, who believes that attending the clinic has helped her enormously, both physically and psychologically.

While visiting her sister in ireland recently she managed to go on a four-mile walk along the coast that she wouldn't have been able to do two years ago. "I was thinking, 'Sod the pain; I'm going to put on my boots and do it'. Yes, it was painful. But I still really enjoyed it; it was wonderful."

Posted by Marla at 10:51 AM CDT

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Newer | Latest | Older

Spiritual Healing: Beyond Modern Medicine

Choose A Positive Path With Spiritual Healing

Pharmaceutical Biotech Scientist Discovers New Molecule to Treat Chronic Pain

Immunosyn Corporation Files 10-Q Last update: 11:23 a.m. EDT Aug. 14, 2008

^{_{Spiritual Healing: Beyond Modern Medicine}}

^{_{Choose A Positive Path With Spiritual Healing}}

^{_{Pharmaceutical Biotech Scientist Discovers New Molecule to Treat Chronic Pain}}

^{_{Immunosyn Corporation Files 10-Q
Last update: 11:23 a.m. EDT Aug. 14, 2008}}