Conference on Chronic Pain and Fatigue, Fibromyalgia - Communicative Convergence of Doctors, Therapists, and Patients

Anyone interested in the subject of chronic pain should be interested in what we were part of this weekend in Berkeley, CA.  A group of professionals and people with chronic pain or family/friends with it, came together in the most inviting, open room of an art studio and shared our experiences and knowledge for 9 hours.   Two things were most striking for me: that people with chronic pain conditions would attend in such substantial numbers and be able to stay for such an event and that many of the presenters and crew had a history of chronic pain and are sincerely passionate about contributing to the global "fund of knowledge" available on the subject. 

Walking into the welcoming space of 4th Street Studio, I was greeted by some of 'the crew' supporting Charalambos Kesta  (artvdo.wordpress.com/crew/), a videographer who is undertaking an ambitious documentary series project about chronic pain.  "Lights, camera .... action" was in the air, as they were setting up their lighting and recording equipment from 3 areas of the room.   I stayed for every seminar and by the end of the day was realizing how brilliantly "Kesta" had invited presenters and gotten such a great group of people seeking information about chronic pain.  Having been a link for Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum's awareness of the event which thankfully led to his involvement, it was really quite a phenomenon how it all came together.  In meeting the owner of the studio, I was not the least bit surprised when she said 'I really like to create an energy to draw people here".  And 'here' we were! 

Wonderfully involved, intelligent, active people with chronic pain seeking continuing education and contributing through their comments and feedback with the presenters.  In order to bring YOU the information I've learned, I'll write about some of the conference topics and presenters this week, and then bring you up to date with the exciting developments Lumigrate's doctors have on the subject as well.  I'll devote one to my own seminar which was received nicely by the participants and other presenting professionals.  Kesta plans to have the video available online in a couple of weeks as well, and I'll certainly share that information here when I have it. 

I'm hoping to get Victoria's Secret to consider the microphone's pulling my top down and exposing the top of my cute purple bra as an endorsement opportunity!  We have always thought at Lumigrate that our 'outtakes' are going to be our best sellers, so I contributed this weekend to that, certainly.  And anyone who has been around me in front of a camera knows I'm much more comfortable behind the scenes.  But it's all for 'the cause'.  So if for no other reason that the entertainment value, you'll want to watch!

The conference also provided a relaxed opportunity in the evening reception and post-event nourishment time together for me to realize the passion and sincerity of Kesta and the doctors.  As the sidewalks of Berkeley rolled up from under us we continued conversations.  Jerry Rand, MD, Medical Director of Bay Recovery Centers and Medical Clinic was a veritable fountain of information about pain management and medication addiction recovery and offered to be a resource to Lumigrate, as did Dr. Teitelbaum, both of whom have histories of chronic illness or pain, as does Kesta and as do I.  Dr. Teitelbaum took the time to speak with everyone afterwards and thanked me for my involvement in his invitation, offering to provide content to Lumigrate as he recognizes our commitment to providing education to the public.   And at the end of the night, I realized that we'd all in our own way in our 'careers with chronic pain', done our personal bests in the interest of progressing the treatment of chronic pain for ourselves and others who have it currently or will have it in the future.  And THAT includes each person with chronic pain who turned up in person in Berkeley or is tuning in today reading this blog. 

Lumigrate's plan was to expand out after starting with video in our talented back yard in Grand Junction, Colorado -- a city mentioned in the June 1 issue of New Yorker Magazine for it's favorable health care industry outcomes (which I learned about from one of the pain participants at the conference -- confirming Lumigrate's foundation of providers learning from consumers).  We plan to provide a progression of products and services to people as the demands and opportunites lead us -- from chronic pain to how to be chronically well and healthy. So I thank you for reading this blog and encourage you to stay active with us -- post something in our 'forum' areas, contact us through the website, learn through a seminar perhaps and ask your providers to check us out too.   And certainly, help others you know by letting them know what's going on here if you believe Lumigrate will be able to help them with chronic pain issues and/or health care overall.