END THE PAIN PROJECT MIRROR THERAPY WORKSHOPS EXPAND TO SIERRA LEONE

Jean Luc Ngambre training Mondeh Abdulaziz

Cutting off peoples’ limbs, in most cases their hands, was one of the brutal strategies used by members of the Revolutionary United Front to terrify people to support them during the 1991-2002 civil war in Sierra Leone. 

Some 27,000 Sierra Leoneans are estimated to have been disabled or have had one or more limbs amputated during that time. Many of these amputees still suffer phantom limb pain years after the war.

End The Pain Project addresses this lingering problem with the training of Mondeh Abdulaziz on November 19-20, 2016 by ETPP Senior Trainer Jean Luc Ngambre in Burera District, Rwanda. 

 Mondeh Abdulaziz, Mirror Therapy Practitioner

Mr. Abdulaziz received certification as an ETPP Mirror Therapy Practitioner on December 5, 2016 and will offer the effective pain-eliminating therapy at peer-to-peer workshops for amputees  in Sierra Leone upon his return.

Sierra Leone now joins Rwanda as part of ETPP Pan-Africa headed by Jean Luc Ngambre.

New Use of Mirror Therapy Technique Showcased at Zabreb Croatia MT Workshop

At a 2-day Mirror Therapy Workshop organized by Mirror Therapy Adria  and Clinical Hospital Dubrava-Zagreb for 49 healthcare professionals at the Zagreb hospital, workshop leader Jasmin Avdovic presented the product of his latest research, a technique to treat facial nerve paralysis.

Using mirrors as shown in the photo creates a virtual reality. Simply put, incorporating the newly presented mirror information allows the client to re-structure the very section of the map inside the brain responsible for facial action. Just the commonly used frontal exposure to a mirror, only allows for working towards lifting one side of the mouth or one eyebrow to resemble the other side.

A facial nerve paralysis treatment based upon the same MT principals as behind brain remapping to bypass damaged neurons

Besides health professionals from Clinical hospital ‘’Dubrava-Zagreb’’ where the training took place, health professionals came from other institutions:

• University of Applied Heath Science (Zagreb-Croatia)
• Clinical Hospital Center ‘’Sestre milosrdnice’’, (Zagreb-Croatia)
• The Institute for Rehabilitation and Orthotic (Zagreb-Crotia)
• Clinical Hospital Center ‘’Rebro’’(Zagreb-Croatia)
• Institute for Treatment of Pain (Osijek-Croatia)
• Institute for Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (Osijek-Croatia)
• Clinical Hospital Center ‘’Osijek’’ (Osijek-Croatia)
• General Hospital ‘’Pula’’ (Pula-Croatia)
• Public Primary Health Care Institution of Canton Sarajevo(Sarajevo-Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Tobia-Patronage (Zagreb-Croatia)
• Private Policlinic and Physical Therapy at Home (Virovitica-Croatia)
• Private Physical Therapy’’Jadranka Brozd’’ (Zagreb-Croatia)
• Policlinic for Rheumatic Diseases ‘’Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Dr.Drago Čop’’(Zagreb-Croatia

Participants of Mirror Therapy Workshop at Dubrava-Zagreb Clinical Hospital

Now certified as Mirror Therapy Therapists:

Matea Perković, Jadranka Brozd, Maria Platz-Zagreb, Kruno Topolski, Jasenka Ivić, Marija Huljev Kolega, Danijel Bilandžija, Katarina Čajko, Andrej Matejčić, Ivana Žulj, Josipa Vidaković, Ivona Turalija, Ivana Nikolić, Bruno Ežbegović, Lea Gubijan, Slađana Serezlija, Nino Kecman, Dinko Remić, Lorena Skoko, Marković Martina, Jasminka Baturina, Miro Dragović, Krešimir Horvat, Majana Delić, Miloš Brodalić, Nikolina Delaš, Maja Kranjec Sušac, Mirjana Telebuh, Igor Maratović, Gordana Grozdek Čović, Hrvoje Matić, Silvija Grabar, Jelena Sedlovski, Ozana Katarina Tot, Vanja Matković, Andrea Stojić, Renata Magdalenić, Marica Salihović, Marijan Mašić, Tomislava Marijanović Vicić, Jelica Romić-Zagreb, Dubravka Bobek-Zagreb, Gordan Preskar, Maja Fotez, Matea Jurilj, Jago Lucić, ZlatkoSertić, Malkoč Azra

First Mirror Therapy Training Workship in Macedonia

Šejla Imamovic

Mirror Therapy Adria member, Šejla Imamovic, recently conducted a Mirror Therapy Training Workshop  as part of the official First Physiotherapy Congress of the Republic of Macedonia in the capitol city of Skopje.

Macedonian physiotherapists at Mirror Therapy Training Workshop

All twenty-five attendant physiotherapists participated interactively during this workshop, showing great enthusiasm for using this technique with both amputees suffering phantom limb pain and clients suffering hemiparesis.

Physiotherapists experience Mirror Therapy for themselves

Though the Republic of Macedonia suffered a only a brief time of conflict in the 90's, numerous land minefields were laid down, which caused some Macedonians to lose limbs.

According to its director, Jasmin Avdovic, Mirror Therapy Adria plans to certify physiotherapists from the Republic of Macedonia starting this this year, so that mirror therapy as initiated by End The Pain Project can continue to be spread throughout the former Yugoslavia.

Rwandan Amputees Volunteer for Peer-To-Peer Mirror Therapy Programs in Refugee Camps

Rwandan Kiziba Refugee Camp Amputees and Family Supporters

In a first for Rwanda, 17 refugee amputees volunteered to become active in a Peer-to-Peer Mirror Therapy Group for End The Pain Project. They were part of a group of 50 amputees and family members who attended a recent Mirror Therapy for Phantom Pain Workshop held at the Kiziba Refugee Camp.

The idea of the peer-to-program was introduced by ETPP Representative for Africa, Jean Luc Ngarambe, who sees it as an effective limited budget model that can be extended to the greater African continent.

On a scale of 1-10, with '1' indicating no pain and '10' indicating excruciating pain, most of the volunteers had endured pain levels that hovered around '8'. Those who had limbs chopped off during the Rwandan genocide have endured intense levels of recurring phantom pain for over twenty years. Practicing with mirrors for thirty days, their pain levels will now be lowered to the point where they can function more effectively, below the 5-level, or no longer experiencing phantom limb pain.

Kiziba amputee at start of Mirror Therapy demonstration

Amputees watch the Mirror Therapy demonstration

Family members take notes on how to support amputees

These are the courageous and generous KizibaVolunteers who will become Certified ETPP Trainers, leading other amputees in Rwanda's refugee camp away from suffering phantom limb pain.

Gentille M., 24, lost right arm as a child in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Jean Leo B., 39, lost left leg in car accident

Agnes M., 36, lost left leg as a teen in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Alexandre N., 40, lost right arm in accident

Donatha N., 31, lost right arm as a child in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Emmanuel S., 48, lost left arm in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Evariste G., 44, lost left leg in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Andre M., 44, lost right leg in car accident

Tite M., 33, lost left hand as a teen in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Gerome N., 58, lost right leg in Rwandan genocide 1998

Herman N., 55, lost right leg in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Jack H., 35,  lost right leg as a teen in 1994 Rwandan genocide

 Jean Bosco R., 45, lost left leg in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Jean Bosco H., 39, lost right leg due to disease

Felician M., 43,  lost left hand due to a car accident

Pierre M., 26,  lost right hand as a child in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Jean Bosco U., 56, lost left leg in 1994 Rwandan genocide

Pham Quy Thi upper limb amputee sheds 36 years of phantom limb pain with Mirror Therapy

Pham Quy Thi shares his amazing outcome with Robert Johnson PT

On November 23, 2013, Pham Quy Thi, a Vietnamese farmer, did not expect that his chronic phantom limb pain would be reduced just by concentrating on the movements of his intact hand in a mirror for ten minutes. Mr. Pham had lost his right arm in 1977 because of an exploding cluster bomb and suffered chronic pain in his phantom limb since then.

After just ten minutes of using Mirror Therapy, Mr. Pham exclaimed, "This is an amazing therapy! It is my very first time I have the chance to be experienced this and I know it works for me. I surely will bring this home and teach other survivors in my community”.

The fifty-eight-year-old was one of four land mine victims being trained by Robert Johnson of Achieve Orthopedic Rehabilitation and an Associate of End The Pain Project, to administer Mirror Therapy in a newly formed Peer-to-Peer program sponsored by Handicap International. The setting for this training workshop was the Mine Action Visitor Center run by Project RENEW in Dong Ha,Vietnam. 

Le Kien and Robert Johnson use a mirror to reduce Mr. Le's phantom limb pain

Mr. Le Kien was gardening in 1991 and struck a hidden cluster bomb. Not only did Mr. Le lose his left leg, he lost his baby daughter at the same time. Now a 55-year-old carpenter, he is a frequent guest speaker and story-teller at mine risk education programs for local school children.

In 1986, Hoang Xuan Phuong was tampering with an M14 mine also called a gravel mine in the vicinity of a former U.S. base when it exploded. Mr. Hoang was startled when he clearly 'saw' the mirror image of his lost arm. “It is the very first time, I can really recall my memory about my lost limb after more than twenty five years since the day I was amputated in a landmine blast”.

 Rear: Nguyen Thi Huong, Le Kien. Nguyen Xuan Tuan, Hoang Xuan Phuong, Phạm Quý Thí; Front: Phu Nguyen Thanh, Robert Johnson

The four volunteers at the Center also raise awareness of the many unexploded mines in Quang Tri Province and promote and advocate for the full application of the rights of persons with disabilities. 

This group was newly formed by Phu Nguyen Thanh, Facilitator/Support Staff at the Mine Action Visitor Center in August, 2013. Once the quartet have completed their own 30-day mirror therapies, they will go into surrounding communities to help other amputees still suffering phantom limb pain.

End The Pain Project's X-Border Wine Benefit A Success!

Jim Byrnes, Blues Guitarist

On August 10, 2013, residents of Point Roberts WA, a small resort town on the Juan de Fueca Strait, came out in droves to attend End The Pain Project's X-Border Wine Benefit and to enjoy the legendary blues guitar of Jim Byrnes.

Funding raised at this bi-annual event is dedicated to presenting Mirror Therapy Training Workshops in Bosnia this September and additional mirrors for amputees in central Vietnam.

A highlight of the benefit was Co-Founder Madeleine Anderson explaining the intricacies of Mirror Therapy to a rapt audience.

 

End The Pain Project acknowledges the support and generosity of its neighbors and the extraordinary efforts of volunteers who helped to make the Benefit a success.

Your Donation = A Pain-Free Life

Dear Friend,

That's Tanja H. smiling at you -- she's a Bosnian amputee, happy to be free of long-term Phantom Limb Pain after experiencing guided Mirror Therapy!

Over 80% of amputees in third world countries affected by land mines, war, and disease experience pain in the missing limb. This pain is called Phantom Limb Pain and can be agonizing, interfering with all aspects of life.This pain can be experienced decades after the amputation operation. Suffering is the same anywhere in the world.

Phantom Limb Pain can be safely eliminated in just four weeks with Mirror Therapy. The techniques are simple and non-invasive. The mirror's reflection of the patient’s good limb engaged in specific movements retrains the brain’s sensory pathways and releases the pain. Over 1,000 amputees have successfully undergone Mirror Therapy treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

    End The Pain Project (ETPP) trains and supports small grassroots teams of medical clinicians to deliver these non-invasive Mirror Therapy techniques and related information to amputees in hard-hit third world countries.

     In 2011-12, ETPP trained and certified 100 doctors, physical therapists and prosthetists in Vietnam and 36 physical therapists in Cambodia. This year, End The Pain Project brings mirrors and training workshops to Rwanda and Bosnia, where many survivor-amputees from the 1990 conflicts still suffer Phantom Limb Pain. Your thoughtful contribution to either project goes directly to logistical support, training, tools and other needs and is tax-deductible.

Consider honoring your Mom for Mother's Day with a donation to ETPP -- she'll be proud of you! Just click the yellow button on our ETPP website.

Thank you!

Moira Mann, Co-Founder
End The Pain Project
http://endthepainproject.org

Support End The Pain Project Mirror Therapy Training Workshops in Rwanda * Bosnia