PROGRAM INFORMATION

	What is it about?	Who is eligible?		How do I enter?
	Where is it?	How long is it?		Who will I see?
	Physical demands?			What will I do?

What is it about?

The Fibromyalgia Program at St. Joseph's Health Care London is a multi-disciplinary treatment program for people with Fibromyalgia. The focus of the program is not medical. Instead we teach people to learn to cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Although many patients achieve a reduction in their symptoms, at present there is no known cure. Thus the goal of the program is to reduce the degree of suffering and life disruption associated with this disorder. Participants in the program must be ready to learn self-management techniques in order to:

• Increase their ability to participate in work, household and social activities without increasing pain.
• Modify their emotional reaction to pain and its consequences on self-esteem, marital relations, family life, ability to work and social involvement
• Achieve greater control over their symptoms

Back to Top

Who is eligible?

To be considered for the program, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• Have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia by a Rheumatologist
• Be available for a full-time four week interval
• Accept a treatment approach that is geared toward improved function and coping rather than short-term pain relief
• Be willing to eliminate the use of certain pain medications (e.g., those containing codeine) and tranquillizers (e.g., diazepam)
• Be willing to eliminate short-term pain relief methods (e.g., heating pads, massage, TENs, etc.)
• It is important that spouses or significant others and children (older than 13 years) be willing to attend one 90 minute session per week during the month a participant is in the program. These sessions are designed to teach family members how they can better help the person with Fibromyalgia.

Back to Top

How do I enter the program?

The first step in entering the program is a referral to one of our rheumatologists who will assess your medical condition and verify your diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. After that, arrangements will be made for you to see one of our psychologists who specialize in helping people cope with medical illnesses. If you, the rheumatologist and the psychologist all agree that the program fits your needs, you will be placed on a waiting list for admission.

Though generally accessible to all fibromyalgia patients, the Fibromyalgia Program has a specific track for Workers' Compensation cases. Accordingly, such individuals will receive preferential access to the program.

Back to Top

Where is the Program Located?

The program is located in the Monsignor Roney building, at the corner of Cheapside and Richmond streets, at St. Joseph's Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.

If you live outside of London, inexpensive accommodations are available at several locations near the hospital. Before entering the program, you will be provided with information regarding accommodations, costs and how to make reservations. It is your responsibility to arrange accommodation prior to entering the Program.

Back to Top

Who Will I See?

Our treatment team includes a number of health care professions:

• Psychology
• Physiotherapy / Kinesiology
• Occupational Therapy
• Social Work

We work together to help you get the most out of your experience in our program.

Back to Top

What are the Physical Demands of the Program?

In order to participate in the Fibromyalgia Program, patients must be able to tolerate the activity level involved. If you feel unable or unwilling to maintain this level of activity on a daily basis for the full four weeks of the program, you may not wish to participate at this time. Please consider your ability to meet this requirement carefully. A description of these physical demands follows:

1. You must be able to tolerate being active for a full 7½ - 8 hour day. Each day the program starts at 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. and continues until 4:00 p.m. Although some breaks occur through the day, most of the day is taken up by specific activities (e.g., physiotherapy, occupational therapy, group education/ therapy sessions, individual appointments, independent reading, etc.). In addition, some "homework" done most evenings.
2. Physiotherapy sessions are 1 - 1½ hours and occur daily. This time includes cardiovascular exercises, muscle strengthening exercises and stretching exercises. Although these start out at a low level, they are gradually increased as the program progresses. For example, you must be able to start at about 5 minutes on a treadmill (walking) and be willing to increase that to about 20 minutes by the end of the program. Similar goals are set for the stretching and strengthening exercises.
3. There is a graded activity component in occupational therapy sessions. These sessions are also held daily for one hour. During this time, you will be required to increase your tolerance for various activities using proper body mechanics for sitting and/or standing.
4. Pain management group sessions are educational presentations which teach various psychological coping techniques (assertiveness, attitude change, reducing pain "body language," etc.). These sessions require that you can sit for a period of 1½ hours. Although there is a 5 minute break in the middle and you can stand up and stretch when you need to, you must be able to sit for fairly long intervals.
5. Although participants are encouraged to "pace" their activities - interspersing rest and activities and changing from one activity to another - there is no opportunity to nap during the day. This will be a problem if you feel that you must nap during the day and cannot manage without it.
6. The program also requires that you are willing/able to concentrate for fairly long periods of time (e.g., during educational sessions). Although we don't expect participants to remember every detail, it is important that you can listen and understand the material being presented.

Back to Top

How Much Time is Required?

You are expected to be available on a full-time basis Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) for the four weeks of the program. After this intensive phase, participants are expected to attend four one day follow-up sessions (at one, three, six and 12 months) to review their progress.

Back to Top

What Will I Do?

Each day in the program will involve a structured series of sessions or activities in which you will learn skills to manage your Fibromyalgia and your lifestyle. Group sessions will involve training in the following areas:

• Education about Fibromyalgia
• Changing how you express pain and illness
• Communication Skills (Assertiveness)
• Cognitive Therapy (changing the way you think and feel about yourself, your situation and your future)
• Daily Exercise Program (cardiovascular, stretching, strengthening)
• Graded Activity Program (increasing your tolerance for activities while controlling pain and fatigue)
• Relaxation Training
• Education about proper posture and body mechanics

Each of these components of the program are viewed as an integral part of an overall approach to managing your Fibromyalgia. You must be willing to make a commitment to mastering all of these skill areas and to continuing their use on a long-term basis.

Back to Top