Question:
Hi, I am a psychologist that specializes in Mind/Body Medicine methods, such as clinical hypnosis or self-hypnosis. In my constant pursuit of developing methods to help individuals with scleroderma, I am exploring feedback from persons that have experienced mind/body methods. And, I want to learn what they have found helpful in treating their symptoms of this condition. I am also interested in what has helped enhance their coping skills and emotional endurance too. I would be grateful for any information you might share with me in this regard. Thank you. Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. DrSt…@Tranceformation.com , or http://www.tranceformation.com
Response:
It may and this is not to be disputed but so do pafferin treatments w/ mind relaxtion techniques. Colleen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D." wrote: > >yep Ronni. Dr. Wigley said that very thing to me. That is seems to be > >useless to those with raynauds secondary to scleroderma. > >Sherry > Thanks Ronni and Sherry, > I too have seen that in the literature. But I have also seen > individuals with secondary Raynaud’s (specific to scleroderma) that have > been able to affect the warming of their hands and thus experience some > benefit. My wife had scleroderma for 12.5 years and she used mind/body > methods for pain and circulation in regard to lesions on her fingers. It > was very helpful to her. At Mayo clinic in Scottsdale, a rheumatologist, > discovering a lesion on her toe, gave her another prescription for > nifetapine to dilate the blood vessels in her feet, and she told him that > she would use her hypnosis/imagery to warm her feet as she had done with her > hands. He said, "well I guess that can’t hurt." She had such abnormally low > blood pressure to begin with, that the nifetapine weakened her greatly and > she didn’t take it. But she had to work at the mind/body methods… and > over the years, she did experience good results. So, I guess in short, I’m > saying that even though the literature or clinicians may give up on using > mind/body approaches to secondary Raynaud’s, I think that it may offer some > individuals benefit. > Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D.
Response:
Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. wrote in message
<926272557.546…@news.remarQ.com>… snipped >discovering a lesion on her toe, gave her another prescription for >>>nifetapine<<< to dilate the blood vessels in her feet, and she told
I think you mean "nifedepine." Keep in mind that though the outward and visible sign was the ulcer on her toe, the nifedepine would have been a systemic treatment, helping to dilate the smallest of the blood vessels in major organs as well as hands and feet. We tend to think only of blue fingers and toes because we can see them, but these systemic meds are also meant to help in our hearts, lungs, etc. Please consider in your research that conventional meds have their place _as well as_ alternative treatment. Personally, I use calcium channel blockers in conjunction with hot decaf mochas (taken internally) for my Raynaud’s 
I’m sorry for your wife’s death. Way too many really special people have been taken by this illness.
Response:
RSM USF <rsm…@aol.com> wrote in message > I know that biofeedback is used for treating the symptoms of Raynaud’s disease, > and the NIH funded a study for this. I’ve heard through the grapevine that > biofeedback has been helpful for some people with primary Raynaud’s, but not > secondary Raynaud’s (i.e., in which Raynaud’s is part of another disease such > as scleroderma or lupus). I tried biofeedback many years ago, before being > diagnosed with scleroderma, but didn’t find it helpful
yep Ronni. Dr. Wigley said that very thing to me. That is seems to be useless to those with raynauds secondary to scleroderma. Sherry
Response:
> I am a psychologist that specializes in Mind/Body Medicine methods, >such as clinical hypnosis or self-hypnosis. In my constant pursuit of >developing methods to help individuals with scleroderma, I am exploring >feedback from persons that have experienced mind/body methods. And, I want >to learn what they have found helpful in treating their symptoms of this >condition. I am also interested in what has helped enhance their coping >skills and emotional endurance too. I would be grateful for any information >you might share with me in this regard. Thank you. >Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. >DrSt…@Tranceformation.com , or >http://www.tranceformation.com
I know that biofeedback is used for treating the symptoms of Raynaud’s disease, and the NIH funded a study for this. I’ve heard through the grapevine that biofeedback has been helpful for some people with primary Raynaud’s, but not secondary Raynaud’s (i.e., in which Raynaud’s is part of another disease such as scleroderma or lupus). I tried biofeedback many years ago, before being diagnosed with scleroderma, but didn’t find it helpful. You might want to talk with Vanessa Malcarne, Ph.D., a psychologist/professor in San Diego, who has done studies about emotional factors and scleroderma. Perhaps the Scleroderma Foundation will give you an address at which you can reach her. Good luck! -Ronni- *********************************** Building Awareness for Scleroderma Is Crucial to Finding a Cure Scleroderma Foundation (1/800-722-HOPE)
Response:
>yep Ronni. Dr. Wigley said that very thing to me. That is seems to be >useless to those with raynauds secondary to scleroderma. >Sherry
Thanks Ronni and Sherry, I too have seen that in the literature. But I have also seen individuals with secondary Raynaud’s (specific to scleroderma) that have been able to affect the warming of their hands and thus experience some benefit. My wife had scleroderma for 12.5 years and she used mind/body methods for pain and circulation in regard to lesions on her fingers. It was very helpful to her. At Mayo clinic in Scottsdale, a rheumatologist, discovering a lesion on her toe, gave her another prescription for nifetapine to dilate the blood vessels in her feet, and she told him that she would use her hypnosis/imagery to warm her feet as she had done with her hands. He said, "well I guess that can’t hurt." She had such abnormally low blood pressure to begin with, that the nifetapine weakened her greatly and she didn’t take it. But she had to work at the mind/body methods… and over the years, she did experience good results. So, I guess in short, I’m saying that even though the literature or clinicians may give up on using mind/body approaches to secondary Raynaud’s, I think that it may offer some individuals benefit. Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D.
Response:
Thank you, Amelia, for the correction of the spelling for nifedepine. And your words about the value of conventional or allopathic medications are true. At the Program of Integrative Medicine we combine any and everything which may hold promise for benefit. this includes allopathic or conventional medication/treatments as well. Our major selection criterion for alternative or complementary treatments are that they must have some good empirical results that demonstrate a possible value. And thank you for your kind words about my Jody…. We had 31 wonderful years together, and even though 12+ of those were with scleroderma, the quality of our lives together was always terrific. Steven Gurgevich – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Please consider in your research that conventional meds have their place _as >well as_ alternative treatment. Personally, I use calcium channel blockers >in conjunction with hot decaf mochas (taken internally) for my Raynaud’s >I’m sorry for your wife’s death. Way too many really special people have >been taken by this illness.
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