Hello, nerv-ga!
I have been working on your question for several hours. Taking your
criteria into account, which includes not traveling into the bustling,
nerve-wracking metropolis of greater Los Angeles (for which I don’t
blame you!), I believe I have found some suggestions for you! There
are not many, especially if you are strict in your requirement for a
physical therapist…..nevertheless, I have found some good referrals
for therapists that treat fibromyalgia.
I know you don’t want a “PT Mill.” Therefore, if one of the last two
clinics I suggested wants to “pass you around” to various therapists,
I would be up front from the beginning. Be forthright with your desire
to work one-on-one with the same therapist each time, and don’t be shy
about stating your desire to find the therapist that works best with
you. And don't be ashamed to say you don't want a therapy assistant!
After all, you are the client! They are there to serve you!
JDD Physical Therapy
Jeannie Davis, MPH, PT
P.O. BOX 4922
WEST HILLS, CA 91308
(818) 713-1603
“An expert rehabilitation specialist in the healing treatments of
fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, arthritis, and other chronic
pain conditions.”
“JDD Physical Therapy performs private comprehensive evaluations,
lifestyle analyses, and implements individual treatment plans in the
comfort of your own home. JDD Physical Therapy visits to the client's
home are scheduled for approximately one hour.”
(Serving Los Angeles Area, the San Fernando Valley, Malibu, Beverly
Hills & the Hollywood Film and Music Industry.)
http://www.jddphysicaltherapy.com/
Bell Orthopedic Physical Therapy
1044 S. Fair Oaks
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: 626.441.0751 Fax: 626.441.4705
“Treatment of patients with fibromyalgia, headaches, and stress
related disorders.”
“Bell Orthopedic Physical Therapy/MATRIX has provided quality
individualized care to Pasadena and the surrounding area for over 16
years. All of our Physical Therapists are members of the American
Physical Therapy Association and keep up with the latest treatment
techniques through continuing education courses. We believe that each
of us is ultimately responsible for our own recovery, and long-term
health. This is why our therapists place a strong emphasis on patient
education and home programs. Our goal is for you to leave us with the
skills and understanding to help you avoid further treatment for the
same condition and to prevent re-injury.”
http://matrix-rehab.com/clinics/7683.html
Care Center Rehabilitation and Pain Management
16550 Ventura Blvd First Floor
Encino, CA 91436
phone: 818 784-0990 ext 204
"Multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary pain center. Treatment
specialties: Musculoskeletal pain, Fibromyalgia, RSD, Failed Back,
Long term Chronic Pain Syndrome. Offering: Physical Medicine & Rehab,
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Aquatic Therapy, Acupuncture,
Biofeedback, Massage, Nutrition, Behavioral Therapy, Tai Chi, Yoga, &
Group Therapy all part of our Pain Management Program. Certified as
Medicare Rehabilitation agency. One of three certified pools in the LA
County area for aquatics. Pain Management Pioneer Dr. David Bresler is
Executive Director of our facility."
http://www.sppm.org/directorylist.htm
Possiblities for referrals:
I know you don’t want to travel to Hollywood, but I think the
following physical therapist is worth a call for a referral, or the
possibility of meeting in a clinic closer to Whittier: (especially
since she has published numerous articles on Fibromyalgia)
Mary Rosenberg PT
Hollywood Physical Therapy Associates
7080 Hollywood Blvd
Suite 815
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 957-9571
“Hollywood Physical Therapy Associates was founded by Mary Rosenberg
in 1991. She has been practicing physical therapy since 1977. As a
cancer survivor, Mary brings a perspective of compassion and
understanding to her patients. Mary has extensive experience working
in acute care hospital and private practice settings. In 1979 she
became one of the first Arthritis Foundation Allied Health
Professional fellows. She has published numerous articles on
fibromyalgia….”
http://www.hollywoodpt.com/IntroStaff.html
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign Organization
2415 N. River Trail Rd. Suite 200
Orange, CA 92856
(714) 921-0150
(If any organization might be aware of a physical therapist or other
practitioner offering the individualized therapy you are seeking near
Whittier, this one seems to be it!!!)
Part of the organizations efforts are directed at offering
“Continuing Accredited Education Programs for doctors, nurses, and
physical therapists, and multi-course "health: self help" classes,
workshops and vocational help for people with varying degrees of FM
symptoms.
Additional Information:
The Fibromyalgia Community at http://www.fmscommunity.org/ex.htm#ex
has a wealth of articles and videos concerning exercise and
stretching. A sample exercise program links follows:
http://www.fmsni.freeserve.co.uk/Exercise.htm
It may be worth looking at the exercise videos as well.
I sincerely hope these resources provide you with some help. As a
personal trainer and postural therapist, I know it is extremely
important to find someone whom you feel is competent, personable, and
willing to take your individual needs into consideration.
Please don’t hesitate to ask for further help.
umiat-ga
Google Search strategy
+fibromyalgia +"physical therapists" +pasadena
+fibromyalgia +"physical therapists" +orange county
+fibromyalgia +"physical therapists" +los angeles |
Request for Answer Clarification by
nerv-ga
on
20 Oct 2002 13:47 PDT
Hi umiat-ga,
Thanks so much for putting in the time on my question and providing
some leads for me. To let you know, I was already aware of "JDD
Physical Therapy" and had contacted Jeannie earlier in the year.
Unfortunately she does not serve my area and could not provide a
referral either. "Care Center Rehab and Pain Management" in Encino is
regrettably too far of a drive for me. If I only had to go once or
twice it would be one thing, but with physical therapy, they have you
come several times a week for several weeks, so the PT needs to be a
bit closer to my home. "Bell Orthopedic Physical Therapy" is
definitely worth checking into and I will do so. Thank you for that.
The links you provided as possibilities for referrals should also
prove helpful and I will contact all. Thanks much for those.
I'm actually open to other possibilities such as personal trainers and
yoga instructors (I actually wanted to ammend my post to state this,
but could not do so because the answer was already being worked on),
so long as they are experienced in helping people in my situation, and
are properly trained. If you could provide any leads in this area, it
would be greatly appreciated.
I am experienced with exercising and stretching and have been doing so
for many, many years. It's the only thing that has kept me somewhat
functional and I'm a firm believer in exercising! I even have a 6' x
6' heated therapy pool for exercising in (as well as other equipment).
My problem is that I will do well for awhile...gaining strength,
endurance, flexibility...and then innevitably I will injure myself
(micro injuries are common for Fibro patients) and will not be able to
recover without help. This can quickly lead to the loss of everything
I had gained prior, and I can end up doing pretty badly, as I am
now...barely being able to walk or crouch down etc. These periods can
last a long time...I'm approaching two years of doing poorly as it
stands now.....and I went for PT for a month in August! They were no
help at all....A PT mill...very common.
I need someone with whom I can build a relationship, who can get to
know my situation, and will be able to help me recover and then help
me to maintain my level of fitness, and help me through the rough
spots when they occur. I'm in a desperate state at the moment. I
hope to find someone using your leads. I can't spend much time on
research myself, because doing so will cause repetetive strain
injuries (!), so I'm thankful for your help.
Thanks much! Let me know if you have any more leads...
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Clarification of Answer by
umiat-ga
on
20 Oct 2002 20:35 PDT
Hi again, nerv-ga!
I want so much to find you a therapist (of any sort) that can help
you, but since I don't live in your area and don't have personal,
first-hand information about personal trainers or yoga instructors
that are familiar with fibromyalgia, I would be very hesitant to
recommend someone I found on the internet alone. However, I am not
discounting that route. I just think word of mouth or personnal
recommendations from another researcher or people in your community
(maybe through a fibromyalgia support group) would be a more
appropriate means to pass along a name. Personal trainers and yoga
instructors, unless they are well-studied and keep up with all the
latest research, might cause more harm than good. However, if you
could find one integrated with a clinic where they asssociate with
doctors who treat fibromyalgia, that would be a more comfortable and
reliable situation.
Now, for some more thoughts for your consideration:
The Co-Cure foundation, which deals with fibromyalgia and chronic
fatigue syndrome, provides a list of doctors in California who have
made the "good doctor list." With that said, they are not all in your
area, or necessarily within an easy drive for you. However, several of
them are worth calling for referrals. The list can be found at
http://www.co-cure.org/USA_CA.htm
The two I would call, in particular, for any referrals they might
provide, are:
Stuart L. Silverman, MD FACP FACR
Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology, UCLA
Medical Advisor, Fibromyalgia Rehabilitation Program, Cedars Sinai
Hospital
8641 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 301
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Tel: (310) 358-2234 Fax: (310) 659-2841
("In 1995, I spent three weeks at the Cedars Sinai Program and it
completely changed my life. I can't promise that everyone will respond
this well, but it really is a wonderful program, and Dr. Silverman
really knows his stuff!")
Peng Thim Fan, M.D., F.A.C.P.
12660 Riverside Dr., #200
North Hollywood, CA 91607
Tel: (818) 980-7010
("One of the top doctors who treat fibromyalgia in Los Angeles area
since 1980. Knowledgeable, caring, efficient, easy to talk to and he
listens. He's very supportive of patients participating in the area of
self-help and takes time to review information patients may bring to
him.")
The home page for Co-Cure is also very informative for general
information, and can be found at http://www.co-cure.org/index.htm
A massage therapist (just one aspect of treatment you might consider)
who may be willing to travel to your area is:
Stephanie Sheppard
Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley, CA
Telephone: (818) 220-9355 Pager: (818) 220-9355 Voice Mail: (818)
220-9355
e-mail: ssdesigns53@hotmail.com
"I specialize in treatment for FIBROMYALGIA, sports injury, stress
and pain reduction. Each session is specific to your injury and
recovery goals. I have over 20 years as a health care practitioner."
Found referral at http://danke.com/Orthodoc/direc-c.htm
The Fibromyalgia Personal Support Center at http://fmpsc.org/ has
numerous links for information. One possiblity for a referral for a
therapist near you is through the chat board, called the "Wall," at
http://fmpsc.org/wall/discussion.html. You might simply post a message
and ask if anyone on the discussion board has recommendations for
therapists near Whittier.
Another suggestion:
"So many of you want to find physicians in your area. You can
request that from this network, as well as support groups in or around
your area. Support groups are good in that you can meet others from
your area, and ask them who they see so you can begin your search for
a physician. The address is:
FIBROMYALGIA NETWORK
P.O. BOX 31750
TUCSON, AZ 85851-1750
# 1-520-290-550
Call 1-800-853-2929 (Fibromyalgia Network - located in Arizona) for
medical providers and/or support groups nearest you. They will ask for
your zip code and then provide you with a list of those closest to
you.
http://members.tripod.com/~Mamajaz/windancr/s-fibro.html
You might also try calling the "Center for Integrative Medicine at
the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center in Los Angeles" for a
referral. Please read the following article on massage therapy coupled
with fibromyalgia and back pain at
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1728.80700.
If interested, you might also try searching for certified massage
therapists in myofascial release on "The National Certification Board
for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)" at
http://content.health.msn.com/privacy?redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ncbtmb.com.
Most of all, I still highly recommend contacting the National
Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign Organization as listed in my first
answer, and search among exercise and stretching videos you can do at
home at http://www.fmscommunity.org/ex.htm#ex
I sincerely hope you can find some help! The answer may be a
many-faceted approach, with massage, physical therapy, and home
exercise. Also, have you ever tried any type of water exercise
classes, or working with an individual instructor in a warm pool? Even
arthritis water therapy classes might be beneficial. Just a thought.
Wishing you the very best!
umiat
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