Page 6 - 2019 Fall CMTA Report

THE ST. LOUIS PATIENT/FAMILY CONFERENCE:

A Patient’s Perspective

BY KATHIE KERR

attended the CMTA Patient/
Family Conference in St. Louis
on September 7 and I’m glad I
did! The speakers and displays
Iwere very informative and
provided me with answers to
questions like “What’s next?”
for me in terms of treatment
options and orthotics. St. Louis Patient/Family Conference
Dr. Raghav Govindarajan,
director of the CMTA Center of Asked how medical marijuana and title I had not heard before:
Excellence at the University of CBD oil work to control CMT “physiatrist.” A physiatrist is a
Missouri, advised taking a holistic symptoms, Dr. Govindarajan said doctor who specializes in the
care approach to CMT, including that while there is no research on rehabilitation and physiological
healthful eating habits, exercise the subject yet, some of his treatment of patients with an
and mindful meditation. He rec- patients have reported a lessening illness or injury that affects
ognized that there are times when of pain. movement. These specialists have
pain has to be managed with med- Dr. Vovanti Jones from extensive knowledge of the nerves,
ication but encouraged listeners to University of Missouri Health muscles, bone, and brain.
seek alternative paths as well. Care introduced me to a specialty (continued on page 8)

THE NATIONAL CMTA PATIENT/FAMILY CONFERENCE

IS COMING TO ATLANTA ON NOVEMBER 2

6 THE CMTA REPORT FALL 2019