Searching for a Goodenough treatment

It’s a pain searching for a good enough treatment.

That’s how it’s been for Rita Goodenough and her daughter, Lorie, of Fremont.

“I had pain in certain areas. I went to a couple different doctors,” Rita said.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia didn’t come right away. And when it did, she had never heard of the disorder.

According to the 2005 Arthritis Foundation publication, “Arthritis in Nebraska,” fibromyalgia is “a pain disorder characterized by fatigue, sleep disturbances and widespread pain in the muscles and tendons.” Pain typically occurs in the neck, spine shoulders and hips — with women being affected more frequently than men.

Lorie, diagnosed in 2000, is coordinator for the area Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Support Group. They met recently.

“I’ve had a lot of pain and fatigue — and I get migraine headaches with it,” Lorie said. “I have problems sleeping,”

A change in the weather can trigger the all-over pain.

Pain medications are just part of the treatment plan.

While there is no single treatment, Lorie finds staying active helpful.

“(While) walking, I measure the stress the muscles are feeling — then I know if I have to slow down,” Lorie said.

With fibromyalgia, patients should look at the body as a whole and what causes or increases pain — such as stress, weight gain or depression, said John Koenig II, certified physical therapy assistant at Fremont Area Medical Center.

“Most patients hear ‘you need to live with it — but you need to know how to manage it,’” Koenig said.

Support groups can help, Koenig added.

Yoga instructor Mitzi Monovitz of Fremont has a recommendation.

“Yoga in a chair is for people who can’t get on the floor anymore,” Monovitz said.

Benefits are relaxation and flexibility, Monovitz added.

Massage is sometimes beneficial.

Rita tried acupuncture.

“It’s temporary, it takes away the pain for a while,” Rita said.

Rita also tried traditional physical therapy.

“I couldn’t handle the pain,” she said.

But a new treatment has buoyed Rita’s hopes.

“I just started therapy with water April 25 at Fremont Area Medical Center,” Rita said.

“We try to manage pain in a pain-free environment,” Koenig said.

“It was a new thing for me. In the water I didn’t have pain — it was so different. The water carries you. The water was so soft and I did the exercises and it didn’t hurt,” Rita said.

“It’s an easy environment. Our therapy pool is around 95 degrees and it makes you feel good and relaxes the muscles,” Koenig said.

The hospital pool has a 4-foot platform and a deep area.

“Buoyancy will help support and assist movement. Water at chest height takes 70 percent of body weight off load-bearing joints. Movement is easier whether walking or exercising,” Koenig said.

One drawback can be overuse of underused muscles.

“I start them off slow — then build them up. Our goal is to transition them from the water to a land-based program they can continue to do at home,” Koenig said.  “We are trying to get them used to doing an activity so they can do more — and break through that pain cycle.”

That’s relief for Rita.

Good enough.