After reading a post about YouTube dancing sensation Matt Harding, reader Juliana Sadock Savino posted a simple comment.
“I recently, at the age of 54, took up tap dancing,” she wrote. “I swear it’s good for whatever ails you, though my big toe might disagree. To dance is joy!”
Intrigued, I e-mailed her and learned that she has fibromyalgia, an illness that has forced her to suspend her career as a professional musician. To her surprise, she has found renewal in dance.
But she is not alone. Dance therapy has been used to relieve anxiety, and researchers are studying the tango to help patients with Parkinson’s disease. Dance therapy has been shown to improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients as well.
“There is the fun that comes with feeling free to make a complete fool of myself, one of the consolation prizes of middle-age,” she told me. “I dance for myself and for the fun of being in class. My doc says I am the only tap-dancing fibromyalgia patient he knows of. Do my feet hurt? Sometimes. But as Sammy Davis says in ‘Tap,’ I want to die with my taps on. Actually I’m living with them on.”
To see more of Ms. Savino’s story, watch the video clip, “Coping With Chronic Pain,” and please join the discussion below.
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Despite the approval of a new medicine, physical activity has always been, and remains a mainstay of treatment for fibromyalgia.
This dancer with FM seems to have found a physical outlet that works for her. Yoga or cardiovascular activities seem to work best for FM.
— jackI too took up tap dancing at age 54, which was 3 years ago. I did it for exercise, but the pure joy it brought me was better than the exercise benefit. I found that no matter what ailed me, it was very hard to be depressed or in a bad mood when tap dancing!
— AmyJuliana Sadock Savino — you totally rock! Your story and the video brought a huge smile to my face! I’m getting out my dancing shoes right now.
— Cheryli loved this story and video, but if tap isn’t your thing, but dancing is, and you’re not familiar with gabrielle roth, check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYMdlKWaEEY
her classes, available on dvd, are great.
— chloeHi Tara,
Thanks for following thru and introducing us to Juliana!
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Dear Juliana,
You are an inspiration! The Joy that emanates from you is wonderful. My daughter and I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia for nearly 19 years. It’s an “every moment thing”, as you know.
Both of us have different ways to cope. She has adapted well to Pilates and I hope she will be able to continue with that now that she is newly pregnant, for the first time.
I spend too many hours at my computer, through necessity, and I find it has cost me in flexibility, but has helped me conserve my energy and keep ahead of the brain-fog.
I have not been physical enough, but at 62, I really have to meter-out my energy. I’ve always loved-to-dance and was good at it. Maybe this will be an informal way to just go-with-the-flow a bit more, and bring some Joy into my life, as my photography does.
I really appreciate seeing how well you are doing; you have inspired me to try. So, add “role-model” to your résumé!
As another way to say “thank-you” to both of you, here’s a site I have found that brings me some quality time during my day. It’s innovative, erudite, fun, eye-catching, provocative, high-caliber, edgy, with great writing. http://www.walkaboutjones.com and
http://www.walkaboutjones.com/forum/
I especially like its bent toward the Arts, yet there’s a niche for everyone there. It’s really very unique. Spread the word.
Best to all —
— EmWhat an inspiration!
I used to tap dance but gave it up with a busy schedule. I am going to retire in a year and I can hardly wait to take it up again at 64!
— VictoriaI take salsa cardio classes with my 60 year old aunt–she is definitely more energetic, passionate and dedicated to taking classes regularly than I am, someone half her age.
She definitely keeps me young!
— jenchanganyone suffering from chronic pain could be very well-served by reading the works of Dr. John Sarno, MD, and associate professor of rehabilitation medicine at the Rusk Institute, NYU school of medicine. his most recent book, “The Divided Mind,” is a culmination of ideas he has developed over about a half century of practicing medicine. He, of course, also sees patients-thousands of them, including me.
certainly some chronic pain is organic in nature and requires medications to obtain relief. other chronic pain, however, does not and can be fully dissolved or significantly alleviated through Sarno’s approach. before i saw him, about twenty years ago, nothing reduced my lower back pain. although my work required no “heavy lifting,” i was forced to take a leave of absence for about 1 year.
after seeing and being treated by Dr. Sarno i was and am fine. no meds. no surgery. no kidding. check him out.
this is a totally unsolicited panegyric to Sarno and to his work.
— stevenJuliana Sadock Savino,you are so awesome!
This proves once more that a positive attitude in life makes all the difference!Taking ones mind off the pain,by dancing,singing,laughing or whatever may work for you,helps a great deal.If it brings you fun and pleasure and helps manage fybromyalgia or other pains,just do it!
May I have the next dance with you!?
Come on let’s dance!
Meastro,music please!
PS Thanks TPP for looking beyond a comment made!
— Mr.Happie G.LuckeeNever have I been inspired so much by my own aunt. :)
d so much by my own aunt
— Molly C.I also urge you to read the books of Dr Sarno, especially “The Divided Mind”. And DON”T tell your doctor!
— Carl M.You may be in for a surprise. Wonderful story; you inspire.
I hope everyone with nerve pain asks their Dr. about Lyrica.
I was able to move off the opiates with Lyrica, for me it is a wonder drug.
— Organic GeorgeI truly enjoyed the NYTimes article on Juliana’s condition, as well as her wonderful life style choices. In our time as Monavie ACAI Juice distributors, we’ve learned that there are properties in this functional juice beverage that have benefitted Fibromyalgia sufferers, even though this juice isn’t advertised as a medicine. I would like to recommend it as a food supplement and let the results speak for themselves. Thank you Juliana for sharing this beautiful slice of your life to inspire others to follow in your delightful footsteps. http://www.russandmonica.biz
— Russ and Monica Rodriguezfibromyalgia was treated by Dr. Eugene J. Ratner at Fort Hamilton in the 1970’s. Ratner’s US Federal Personnel File is publicly available from John Malone by calling him at 312-440-2500 X2878. Ratner treated Mrs. J Edward Spike Jr. ’s causalgia/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy as witnessed by her personal physician Mark Altschule MD of Harvard as described in The Lancet p.106 (Jan. 14, 1978). You can do a pubmed search for ratner ej. Ratner is able to treat the cause of trigeminal neuralgia. He started his work under the auspices of the US Veterans’ Administration and continues working to this day. No one has ever explained the basis for why what he does works. He has treated Nancy Forde, former Director of Publications at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Ratner’s work and Ratner are known to the former head of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory James Watson. Idiopathic pain. Simple. Cases were treated at Fort Hamilton in the 1970’s and 1980’s during the Presidency of Jimmy Carter. The US is presently unable to treat what was being treated by Ratner at Fort Hamilton.
— william t beyhaWhen my wife got sick, the call was made to Brooklyn and the man was put on the plane to Walter Reed and did as I needed done. Sadly you do not have the ability to pick and choose as I did. You will find Ratner’s US Personnel File fascinating. I did not write it..
sincerely yours
william t beyha
Thank you for sharing such a positive story about living with Fibromyalgia. Juliana is my new role model for staying positive in the face of chronic pain. FMS is a real, painful illness, but it can be managed– with painkillers when necessary– and life can still be joyful.
— MeganJuliana is a good friend of mine and an inspiration to all. This video and blog post only shows a small part of the wonderful person she is. I speak from personal experience when I say that she is full of energy, and you would never realize in a million years that she has fibromyalgia. She’s one of the most energetic and active people that I know!
http://blog.cleveland.com/cluelessnewlywed
— Nikki FloresI TEACH TAP CLASSES IN FLORIDA TO ADULTS AND I AM GOING TO E-MAIL ALL MY STUDENTS AND TELL THEM TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO YOU ,ARE AN AMAZING EXAMPLE TO ANYONE SUFFERING WITH CHRONIC PAIN.
— LILLIAN FISHERI TELL MY STUDENTS YOU CAN TAP YOUR TROUBLES AWAY. YOU SURE HAVE HAPPY- TAPPIN-FEET
KEEP IT UP, SOME OF MY STUDENTS ARE 80 YEARS YOUNG
Thank you so much for sharing your fun story, and for being such an inspiration to people with chronic pain and fatigue. If I were not so clumsy, and knew my left from my right, I’d sign up for tap today!
— StaciI had a lot of these symptoms until i went on a strict anti- candida diet along with a anti- fungal/yeast herbal supplements.
Yeast over growth in the body runs down the immune system and causes many symptoms that have no explanation.
Terry
— TerryI’ve known Juliana through a couple of on-line communities for almost two years now. It wasn’t until recently that I learned she had Fibromyalgia. She’s always been so positive and cheerful in our interaction and you’d never know she was dealing with a chronic disorder. She always jokes about striving for mediocrity, but it’s clear from this feature that she’s transcended it and can be an example of excellence for so many.
— Fran MagbualOK, I’ll bite…
This story seems too good to be true, and not to discount this women’s powerful story of finding something she loves and having it change her life around, but she’s not the typical FM patient. In fact, I wonder why NYTimes decided to run a story about her exclusively, instead of bringing light to how FM affects the majority of people and highlighting this little known disease….I digress.
Anyways, how firm is her diagnosis of FM? Her pain responds to opioids. It was my understanding that neuropathic pain doesn’t respond to opioids, rather drugs like gabapentin and TCA’s. This woman’s success is almost incredulous!
— MWYou know what? I want to dance again. I want to tap again.
I have fibromyalgia, also, and can totally relate to the pain, fatigue and brain fog. I need exercise to manage but it’d be good to add a fun component.
I had a great dance instructor, Vince Carbone, while growing up who had tons of patience, but although I enjoyed it, I was horribly self-conscious. Older now, I can forget being self-conscious and simply enjoy as I help myself.
Gentle hugs, Juliana, for your joyful fearlessness and sharing your story. It would be great to sit side by each slipping on tap shoes.
Jeanne
— Jeanne KettererI took up tap dancing three years ago at 44. It is pure joy, and you get to turn your brain, off, too. Fellow New Yorkers, you’re in the tap dance capital of the world! Take one basic class and you may be hooked. People are from nine to ninety in the classes around town, and it’s all great fun.
— RobertHi Juliana,
— Rita GrobmanI was a friend of your Mom’s in Berea. We now live in The Villages, FL ( a large retirement community) and I started tapping in 2000 when we came down here. I danced for three years and then stopped until this year. I am in a few dance classes and one of the instructors has asked me to sub for her, teaching tap. I love tapping and enjoyed seeing you and your video. Keep up the good work!
HI JEANNE,
— LILLIAN FISHERIT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO GO BACK TO TAP CLASS. DUST OFF THOSE OLD SHOES AND FIND A GOOD ADULT CLASS . THERE ARE A LOT OF RETIRED DANCE TEACHERS AROUND THAT PUT THERE SHOES ON AGAIN AND TEACH ADULTS CLASSES .CHECK OUT LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS OR START YOUR OWN.
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY TAPPIN .
LILLIAN