Newspaper articles

We know of two lengthy articles in newspapers this year about local people experiencing post-polio syndrome.  The first was in the Portland Sunday Telegram and the second in the weekend edition of the Kennebec Journal.  We find that such articles help bring awareness to both the general community, as well as to those who may be experiencing the late effects of polio but not know about the networking of the Post Polio Support Group of Maine.  If you are aware of other newspapers in your area that have published articles about polio and/or post-polio syndrome, will you please send them to our address listed on the front and back of this newsletter?  If you have not seen any recent articles , perhaps you may consider approaching someone at your local newspaper to compile a report.  One aspect to consider is that this is the 50^th Anniversary of the Salk Vaccine.

 

Getting away from the Pain Cycle – In an article from the Polio Epic of Tucson, Arizona, there was a reference about the Pain Cycle.  Pain ® inactivity ® increased weakness and loss of flexibility ® frustration and depression ® over-exertion ® increased pain ® possible eventual damage to relationships.  Do you sometimes find pain controlling your life, so that you don’t do as much activity, get weaker, and feel even more frustrated?  Some ways to avoid or get out of this Pain Cycle are 1) accept your condition may cause pain, 2) learn to relax, 3) let your feelings and needs be known, 4) keep problem solving –find new ways to do things and stay involved, 5) find a health professional that works with you, not against you.

 

Hypnotherapy and Pain Management - a summary of an article written by Susan Swan for the Southern Arizona Post-Polio Support Group)

             No two people experience pain in exactly the same way.  The psychological costs of under-treated pain are also huge, exacting a monumental toll on the well being of individuals and families.  Some of the most promising research of pain involves medical imagery.  PET scans (positron emission tomography) are snapshots of physical pathways the subject’s brain utilizes as the subject thinks, and FMRS’s (functional magnetic resonance imaging) is representation of the same process in a movie-like fashion.

             Hypnosis is an ancient practice first recorded in Egyptian documents from 3000 BC.  While often misunderstood and treated as fakery, several recent studies are showing its effectiveness in treating pain.

In research by Dr. Stephen Kosslyn and Dr. David Spiegel, they concluded that hypnotherapy works to control pain.  Dr. Spiegel reported that patients who learned self-hypnosis reported feeling less pain and used half the amount of pain medication.  In both a Consumer Report (1/05) and Newsweek (9/04) article, it was stated that hypnosis can help, and a growing number of research supports this ancient practice as an effective tool in the treatment of a variety of problems from anxiety to chronic pain.

             A number of health specialists are now using hypnotic techniques in therapeutic procedures, and several surgical procedures.  Hypnosis is not mind control, but is a naturally occurring state of concentration, where we enhance control of both our mind and body.

             (Editor’s note: If you are considering trying hypnosis, seek out a reputable hypnotist, or consult your health professional for a recommendation.)

 

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage – On January 1, 2006, Medicare prescription drug coverage becomes available to all beneficiaries who want it.  This fall, you should have received information about the various choices in your area.  Those with other forms of health benefits may hear from these providers about future drug coverage.  By October 2005, all Medicare recipients should have received the “Medicare & You 2006” handbook, and enrollment begins November 15, 2005.  You have until May 15, 2006 as the first open enrollment period, with possible higher premiums if you enroll later.  If you have any questions, you may contact your local SSA or Medicaid office, check the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213.

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