MAKING SENSE OF FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 12 May 2019

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– HELEN PRESTON BSC(HONS) MCSP

CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
My Story
“Honesty based practice”
C R E D I T: K J A R TA N V I B E F E R S U M , PA I N C L O U D 2 0 1 8
What is Fibromyalgia?

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=B6HKdZYylWs
 BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE
THE PROTECTION RESPONSE IS TO
ADDRESS THE MODIFIABLE FACTORS IN
YOUR STORY

WHAT ARE THESE?

ANSWER LIES IN YOUR OWN HEALTH

BEHAVIOURS
 What patients tell me
doctors and HCPs tell
them about fibromyalgia

• “I don’t believe in fibromyalgia”

• “Its in my muscles”
• “No-one can do anything about it”
• “There is no treatment”
• “I don’t understand it”
 Overprotective friend

Credit: @derekgriffin86 Derek Griffin

Paincloud 2018
Emotions affect chemistry
These become your
biology
What health behaviours
can we target to change
your biology?

• Sleep well
• Move well
• Eat well
• Think well
• Connect with others well
Credit Lars Avemarie
Beware mindful of “it
worked for me”
 “ Aw a r e n e s s i s t h e g r e a t e s t
a g e n t f o r c h a n g e ” E k h a r t To l l e
Evidence informed
practice
Evidence informed
practice
Evidence informed
practice
Evidence informed
practice
 Meaningful activity

“The pathway to physical wellness is not

about following a recipe but going on a
meaningful adventure” Todd Hargrove
“Breath is the bridge which connects life to
consciousness, which unites your body to
your thoughts.” Thich Nnat Hanh
 TOP TAKEWAY TIPS
1. Get the basics right. Smallest
investment, biggest win
2. View all interventions under the
umbrella: how will this turn me from
survive to thrive mode? Is it
addressing that from the inside?
3. Seek practitioner that helps YOU to
connect the dots
4. Breathe. View it as your life raft
5. Move to improve
6. Talk to yourself as you would a friend.
Work on your inner critic.
7. Discover your SIMS and DIMS
 Self compassion

“Unlike self criticism, which asks if

you are good enough, self
compassion asks whats good for
you?” Kristen Neff
Professor Peter O Sullivan @peteosullivanpt
Professor Lorimer Moseley @noigroup
Dr Derek Griffin @derekgriffin86
Dr Mary Welford @drmarywelford
Joletta Belton @mycuppajo
My patients
Thank you for listening
Helen xx