Community Outreach & Education

Pain Connection has been busy appearing in the community and making the public aware about chronic pain issues. Presentations were held at: Winston Churchill High School, Potomac, Maryland; "Make A Difference" on channel 93 in May; WTOP's Hillary Howard Show in May; The Governor's Conference On Vital Aging II "Making the Invisible Visible May 2nd at the Baltimore Convention Center; Greenbelt Cable Television's "Ask the Expert" in June and in The Senior Beacon newspaper in the July issue. Check our website to see the events.

Viewing as the Mind Fights Pain

"My Pain, My Brain" written by Melanie Thernstrom, was published May 14, 2006. A new technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (f.M.R.I.) is now in phase two of a study being conducted by the Stanford University using individual volunteers with chronic pain and a new computer program designed to interact with M.R.I. machines to allow brain activity to be watched as it occurs. Dr. Sean Mackey, the director of the Neuroimaging and Pain Lab at Stanford reported to, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that phase one of the study revealed that subjects can learn to control their brain's response to pain by watching their brain and interacting with it in real-time". Now, in phase 2, volunteers take part in six sessions. During each session, the volunteers watch their brain activity in "real-time" using 3-D goggles and attempt to increase and decrease their pain levels by concentrating on the activity in the area of their brain that controls pain perception and modulation. Researchers also use the f.M.R.I. system to record the blood flow and nerve cell activity levels change in the various areas of the brain. However, to date, the meanings of the images are difficult to determine due to the lack of knowledge about the brain. Researchers believe that studying pain with the f.M.R.I. will produce the greatest progress in the shortest time. Since pain is the primary reason for doctor visits and holds more than 50 million people under its control in the United States, this research is being watched with great hope by the medical community as a potential means of relief for patients.

Summarization of article was written by Edith Banning.

Pain Connection's Wish List

• Premises for our center that will be handicapped accessible.
• Fundraisers and Volunteers to develop events.
• Journalist willing to help with publishing our newsletter.
• Accountant/Bookkeeper

We are recruiting community members to join our board of directors. We need people who are willing to help develop our programs, raise funds and promote our mission. Please contact our office if you are interested or can recommend someone.

Designated Founders For Contributions of $100 and over....

• Joan Hekimian
• Neika Garrison
• Dennis Clune
• Malcolm Herman

WE THANK YOU!

Support Group Dates

Montgomery County Support Group Dates - 1st Thursday
Dates: September 7, October 5, November 2, December 7
Location: Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, Maryland
Time: 1:30 - 3 PM

Prince George's County Support Group Dates - 2nd Wednesday
Dates: September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13
Location: Rexford Place, 9885 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD
Time: 1:30 -3 PM

Anne Arundel County Support Group Dates- 2nd Thursday
Dates: September 14, October 12, November 9, December 14
Location: West County Library, 1325 Annapolis Rd., Odenton, MD 21113 Meeting room B
Time: 1- 2:30 PM Call: 410-533-2999(Linda Girdner)

Howard County Support Group Dates- 4th Monday
Dates: September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18
Location: 8840 Stanford Blvd., Suite 4300 Columbia, MD
Time: 1- 2:30 PM Call: 301-873-3959(Mary French)

Washington DC Support Group
LOOKING FOR NEW LOCATION

Silver Spring Guest Speakers Series- 4th Monday
Sept. 25 - Dr. Brian Paris, Chiropractor,"Learn the Secrets of Dealing with Chronic Pain without Drugs or Surgery"
October 23 - Sarah Knowlton, Reiki Instructor. Talk and Demonstrations
November 27 - Jonathan Bromberg, Attorney, Disability Discussion
Location: Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, Md. 20901
Time: 1-2:30 pm

For Your Comfort Bring Your Pillows, Mats, Ice or Hot Packs!

COFFEE CLUBS

Montgomery County 3rd Tuesday of month at White Flint Mall Eatery, 11301 Rockville Pike North, Bethesda 11 AM

Prince George's County 4th Wednesday of month at Atlanta Bread Company, 5506-A Cherrywood Lane, Greenbelt, 11 AM

SPECIALIZED THERAPY GROUP STARTING SEPTEMBER 19TH:
Chronic pain therapy group will meet on Tuesdays,11 AM-12:15 PM, at Pain and Rehabilitation Medicine, 7830 Old Georgetown Road, Suite C-15, Bethesda, MD 20814. Some topics to be discussed: self management of pain, relationships, depression, redefining what is normal and the healing process. Relaxation, guided imagery and meditation will be taught. Group leaders are Clinical Social Workers: Gwenn Herman, 301-309-2444,and Mona Mendelson, 240-354-6704. The fee per session is $80.00. Many insurance companies cover group therapy. The extent of coverage depends on individual policies. To join the group contact Gwenn or Mona.

Information on Checking Drug Interaction with Medications by Medscape
http://www.medscape.com/druginfo/druginterchecker?src=rxlad

YOU CAN NOW DONATE ONLINE !

OUR UNITED WAY NATIONAL CAPITOL AREA CAMPAIGN DESIGNATION NUMBER IS # 8695. PLEASE DESIGNATE OUR NAME & NUMBER ON YOUR DONOR CARD AT WORK OR WHEN MAKING A DONATION! TELL YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

Volunteer Thanks to:
Ivymount School students and Keith Lester; Jean Shollenberger, Nancy Hadley,Geoffrey Manifold, Paula Mintzies, Jean Barlow, Colleen Kerich and Louise Hirsch.

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