Neurotechnology in treating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrom

[James]

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
and Neurotechnology



You woke up this morning after a long night with very little sleep.  It 
seemed that every time you fell asleep you woke up soon after in pain.  
All day long you have one foot in sleep and the other in wakefulness.  
As you stood up you felt stiffness and more pain.  You are fatigued and 
feel as if your brain were empty and unable to think. You were ready to 
return to bed in a few hours.  There is no energy to begin.  
Concentration is difficult and memory is poor.  You just cannot seem to 
handle difficult situations.  Is this a nightmare or is it real.? This 
is Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it's real.  You and 
thirty million people are suffering from these similar diseases.  More 
women than men and more adults than children suffer from these diseases.

FMS(Fibromyalgia syndrome) is considered to be a widespread 
musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder of unknown cause.  For the 
most part routine laboratory tests reveal nothing.  For these reason 
doctors have resorted to utilizing the following criteria for diagnosis:

A. Severe widespread pain in four quadrants of the body for over 3 
months 
B.	Continued pain in 11 of the 18 tender points around neck, 
shoulder,                                                               
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                  knees, hips and  elbow 
areas.
c           Sleep disorders
d.	Chronic fatigue
e.	Chronic headaches
f.	Poor peripheral circulation

The disabling pain, inability to function throughout a full day and many 
other debilitating symptoms result in widespread stress and frustration. 
 Neither of these emotions are positive and simply bring on more disease 
related symptoms.  According to medical science relaxation is the best 
medicine for FMS.  Ridding oneself of daily stresses is desirable but 
not practical.  Many FMS sufferers must continue to work and want to 
have help in continuing an able life style.  Neurotechnology along with

Biofeedback can provide substantial help in this area.  Lifestyle 
changes are suggested by many physicians treating FMS.  This may become 
necessary as time and disease progress but it may not be the first 
choice that should be considered.  Less work, less activity, less 
activity more worry and stress, more stress, more symptoms.  It is a 
Catch 22 for many sufferers of this disease entity.

Traditional treatment is geared towards improving the quality of sleep 
as well as reducing pain.  In the laboratory setting we are finding that 
the best relaxation for some patients with FMS is a low alpha, high 
theta program.. This may explain why the patient who tries sleep tapes, 
slow music and meditation are not able to sleep.  It is simply that they 
are working through the wrong areas of their brains to gain the results 
desired.  When we use neurotechnology with beta brain wave programs deep 
rest and relaxation takes place and a rested feeling is experienced by 
the patient.  It is possible that a trance state using an anchor could 
be developed to make stage 4 sleep available to them whenever they call 
on the stimuli,


The lack of moderate to high peripheral temperature is another 
outstanding symptom of Fibromyalgia.  Cold extremities add to the pain 
burden already being carried by the sufferers of this disease.  With 
neurotechnology relaxation programs coupled with biofeedback training we 
have reached rises in peripheral temperature of over 19+ degrees during 
treatment.  When the patient learns to recreate this state he/she can 
bring on the warming response whenever necessary.  The increase in 
temperature signals the presence of increased circulation.  The increase 
of circulation should signal the decrease of pain.  This 
"self-activation" ability adds feelings of self-control to patients 
suffering daily stress from pain.  The same approach is used with the 
person suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome when feelings of 
helplessness arise stemming from chronic fatigue.  Using biofeedback 
procedures the person can visualize positive and active brain states and 
actually see good results as they happen.  It is to be hoped that, later 
on, when this feeling arises they will call on the visual images that 
help them gain emotional control.  In the OPNET offices we are able to 
gain such control within 7 to 1 0 sessions.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is much like, yet differs from Fibromyalgia in 
that the sufferers of this disease experience continuing fatigue, rash 
like symptoms, pressure headaches in the occipital area, hyperinsomnia 
and low grade fever.  Rest and complete relaxation are an important 
treatment for these patients.  However, stress robs them of any ability 
to handle difficult situations and relaxation is an impossible skill for 
them to obtain without guidance and direct treatment.  All victims of 
these two disease entities suffer depression, insomnia, with STRESS 
being the consummate enemy credited with part responsibility for cause 
and continuance of the disease itself.  This is the ideal involvement 
for biofeedback and other fields making a difference in patients by 
lowering stresses and improving self-control abilities.

It is important to mention the anxiety and depression levels of these 
two like disease entities.  Fatigue also is a component of both 
syndromes. In fact there is no doubt that chronic fatigue is a common 
component of Fibromyalgia and that Fibromyalgia is one variety of 
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Both may be late manifestations of multiple 
and various pathologies.  Much has been already learned but there are 
gaps in understanding that will be closed only after years of research 
and the acceptance that CFS and FMS are the results of complex 
interactions among viruses, the immune system, the brain, stress, 
hormones, neurotransmitters --and pain perception.  Very little is known 
about cause and even less about treatment with anything other than 
pharmaceutical products.  People with these diseases are being warned to 
stay away from alternative treatment.  However, after much endeavor we 
have prevailed upon the "powers that be" to include biofeedback and 
biofeedin light and sound in treatment regimens.

The fields of Neurotechnology and Biofeedback in the OPNET Method, will 
provide measurable positive results in relieving many of the 
overpowering symptoms and everyday struggles with sufferers of Chronic 
Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.  The patients are grasping for any 
help and the medical field is ready to embrace alternative fields.  
After four years of combining neurotechnologies we are able to prove 
conclusive results as to positive changes occurring when the modalities 
are used in combination.  It is now time for the two fields to merge in 
the case of FMS and CFS.  We can make a difference and there are thirty 
million people in the world waiting!

The PLI biofeedin instrument is utilized in the relaxation regimen for 
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue.  It is possible for this system to be 
used in the home.  The kit includes an instruction book, an audio 
cassette tape and recording sheets to send in the data periodically to 
the OPNET Center for evaluation.  It is important to remember that 
RELAXATION is the goal.  This method was not devised to replace any 
medically prescribed instructions but to over help to those persons so 
desperately needing calmness and relaxation to cope with each day.



Copyright: Rayma Ditson-Sommer, Ph.D.  January 1995.

For more information contact James Singleton e-mail jamesp at goodnet.com.