What follows is a section from the book that accompanies the
Fibromyalgia: Keys to Recovery video.
All content copyright Lance Productions, Inc. © 2004.
Forward
New Tracks in Fresh Snow
Not far
from my home
in Billings, Montana is a wild nature preserve
called Two Moon Park.
In the winter, I love to go cross country
skiing in this place before anyone else has made any tracks in the fresh
snow. There is something exciting and challenging about making your own
tracks rather than following the tracks that others have laid down.
I have
approached the making of this video and writing this book from the
perspective of making new tracks in fresh snow. Some of the theory and
advice contained in this book may seem off the track from conventional
medicine. I would say that while we may be on a different track we are
still in the same park.
This book
is a companion to the video, Fibromyalgia-Keys to Recovery.
Its purpose is to answer three important questions regarding fibromyalgia:
1.
What is fibromyalgia?
2.
What are the causes of
fibromyalgia?
3.
What can be done to recover
from fibromyalgia?
These
questions are answered from a physical therapist’s perspective. This book
contains common sense and insights that have helped many fibromyalgia
patients improve their health, take charge of their lives and begin the
recovery process from this painful and incapacitating condition. Much of
the information contained in this book has come directly from those who have
FMS. This book is not meant to be a scientific treatise regarding all
aspects of fibromyalgia, but rather a “Reader’s Digest” version of distilled
insights that will help you to conquer this condition.
As I have
been writing this book over the past couple of years I have had thoughts
come to me at a time when I was prepared to understand them. As you read
this book some things will be more meaningful to you when you have the
background to receive their full meaning. Another way of saying this is,
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” It is therefore
important to read this book more than once. Each time you read it you will
gain new insights and understanding.
The
famous author, Samuel Taylor Colridge, said that "the dullest of men could
write an interesting book if he would write about his own experiences and be
truly honest about his feelings." For this reason I have included my own
personal experiences and impressions. However, in writing some of these
things I have felt like you might feel in those dreams when you find
yourself in some public place dressed in only your underwear.
The Bible
encourages us to “Prove (Greek=Examine, Put to the test) all things; hold
fast that which is good.” 1 Thes. 5:21. The application to this book is to
try the things that are suggested and use that which is helpful for you.
This is good advice for any new ideas or information you obtain, especially
as it relates to healthcare. (Don’t forget to spit out the seeds!)
Albert
Einstein said, “Raise new questions, explore new possibilities, regard old
problems from a new angle.” My hope is that when you read this book you
will say to yourself, “I never thought of it that way before.”
The
people whom I have worked with over the past 28 years have given me the
insights contained in this book. If you follow the guidelines contained
herein, you will be on the road to recovery from fibromyalgia and chronic
pain.