TAP Chronic Pain Conference

The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association
is pleased to announce:

Treating and Preventing (TAP) Chronic Pain Conference
October 8-10, 2015
For the People with fibromyalgia & chronic pain illnesses
AND Health Professionals who treat these conditions
Get Early Bird Tickets - Click here
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel - Arlington, VA

Good news! Extraordinary people are meeting at the inaugural TAP Chronic Pain Conference. The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA) and International Myopain Society (IMS) teamed up to design an outstanding two-day program with scientific research, education on treatments, and resources.

The NFMCPA specifically created opportunities for patients to learn from fibromyalgia and chronic pain experts about these conditions with time reserved to ask questions. The IMS program addresses health professionals who want to learn more about beneficial therapies and the science related to these illnesses. There is no substitute for learning from the experts in person.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
Welcome Address and Education: International Myopain Society President, James Fricton, DDS, MS: Meet Dr. Fricton, Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Senior Researcher at Health Partners Institute for Education and Research, and Pain Specialist at the Minnesota Head and Neck Pain Clinic. The current President of the International Myopain Society, Dr. Fricton has also served on the Boards of the American Pain Society and American Academy of Orofacial Pain. An avid researcher, teacher, and author, he created the "Preventing Chronic Pain – A Human Systems Approach" which is a University of Minnesota Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) education offering through Coursera.

Welcome Address and Administration: National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain President, Chambers-Jan

Jan Chambers: Meet Jan Chambers who advocates for fibromyalgia and chronic pain, is editor-in-chief of the Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain LIFE magazine and sits on a variety of national pain advocacy committees where she is a voice for people with fibromyalgia and chronic pain. The NFMCPA serves more than 100,000 constituents and 132,000 Facebook followers.

Key Note Address: Daniel Clauw, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Medicine (Rheumatology) and Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. A world renowned fibromyalgia and chronic pain researcher, he serves as Director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at U of M. Addressing the state of fibromyalgia and chronic pain research, Dr. Clauw will discuss its implications for patients and health professionals.

Friday Night Dinner Program: Lynn Webster, MD is the vice president of Scientific Webster-Lynn-Dr

Affairs of PRA Health Sciences and past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. He is the author of the Painful Truth, an intimate collection of stories about people living with disabling pain, their attempts to heal, and the challenges that we collectively face in helping them live meaningful lives. As a physician who treated people with chronic pain for more than thirty years, Dr. Webster exposes the difficulties that patients face in a society that is often shamefully prejudiced against those who are most in need of our empathy. He discusses how these biases also affect medical professionals who treat patients with chronic pain.

Presidents’ Reception on Thursday October 8: This unique two-day conference kicks off with the Presidents’ Reception on Thursday, October 8, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. TAP attendees can connect with friends, meet conference speakers, and begin this valuable learning and sharing experience.

TAP Conference education on Friday and Saturday, October 9-10, 2015:
1. Expert presentations discussing topics including:

- - A report on the NFMCPA Hydrocodone Rescheduling Survey and the benefits of marijuana in the treatment of chronic pain
  - The autonomic arousal system and its activation by cervical spinal cord compression, poor sleep (including sleep apnea), and lordosis (curvature of the cervical spine)
  - Integrative medicine (CAMs) approaches to pain management, including myofascial pain therapies, mindfulness and cognitive behavior therapy
  - Self-empowering techniques covering yoga and mindfulness, occupational therapy approaches, and an online course introduction aimed at 1) preventing chronic pain, and 2) self-managing symptoms with a variety of integrated medicine techniques
  - Small fiber neuropathy discovery in the palms of fibromyalgia patient’s hands; what it means and new information being uncovered by scientific discovery
  - A European imaging system that identifies trigger points before and after treatment
  - The neurological science of myofascial pain and its relevance to tenderness

2. Workshops: Saturday afternoon is reserved for a variety of workshops delving deeper into the topics listed above with health professionals in mind to learn about:

- - Hands-on techniques in myofascial release
  - Trigger point imaging and release
  - Positional cervical cord compression physical therapy techniques
  - A non-invasive rehabilitation program for people with fibromyalgia

Workshops designed for people with fibromyalgia and chronic pain to learn about helpful resources and information include:

- - The Mindful Health System: Using Personal Informatics to Reduce Symptoms in FM and Other Chronic Pain Conditions
  - Optimizing Exercise and Nutrition to Reduce Chronic Pain Myofascial Pain
  - Why Mommy Hurts: Helping Children Cope with the Challenges of Having a Caregiver with Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia or Autoimmune Disease
  - Reasonable Accommodation: Your Keys to Participating in Your Community and Utilizing ADA guidelines
  - And more!

3. Social Networking: Meet and make new friends with people who have common interests. Share your journey and learn new techniques to reduce your pain and other symptoms.

Although fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with no known cure, its symptoms can be improved by the right resources and healthcare expertise. Familiarity with science and treatments identified by the IMS and NFMCPA as tools for empowerment can foster better health care communication and consumer purchases for health services.

REGISTRATION AND TICKETS FOR CONFERENCE & WORKSHOPS:

1. Look through the detailed CONFERENCE AGENDA by CLICKING HERE.

2. CONFERENCE REGISTRATION is available by CLICKING HERE.

3. CONFERENCE TICKETS can be purchased by CLICKING HERE.

So, don’t wait! Seating is limited, and you don’t want to miss out on all this program has to offer. Register now for the TAP Chronic Pain Conference and sign up for Saturday afternoon workshops. The first 50 registrants will receive a free one-year subscription to the Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain LIFE magazine.

Note: Buy your tickets by September 1, 2015, and you qualify for the early bird rate. Presidents' Reception and breakfasts are included with ticket. Friday Dinner Program featuring Dr. Lynn Webster can be purchased with ticket.

Hotel Reservations: Make your hotel reservation by calling the Crystal Gateway Marriott at 1-877-212-5752.

- Ask for the TAP Chronic Pain Conference room rate of $135.00 per night plus taxes before September 11. Rates increase to $175 after September 11.
- You may also make reservations online at https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=13933532
- Key hotel amenities include:

-   Free airport shuttle
-   Fitness center
-   Indoor and Outdoor Pools with warm water Jacuzzi
-   Explore the entire Washington, D.C. area via the Metro which is connected to the hotel
-   Enjoy restaurants and shopping just steps away to underground amenities that are part of the Crystal City shopping center
-   Regan International Airport is just one mile from the hotel
-   Free Wi-Fi Internet service