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Northern Virginia (NOVA)
CFS/M.E., FMS & OI
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Speakers - Pocinki

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Alan Pocinki, MD

Speaker, Practitioner, Advocate


About Alan Pocinki, MD


Private Practice, Internal Medicine.  301-762-6777       ( New location!)
10110 Molecular Drive, #209
Rockville, MD 20850
http://www.alanpocinkimd.com/

Practice sometimes closes to new CFS and FMS patients. Ask for one-time consults in that case, perhaps for disability documentation.


Notes:
Dr. Pocinki began studying CFIDS at the National Institutes of Health in 1987.
Special interests in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Orthostatic Intolerance, Dysautonomia, joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Attended our 2005 kNOw MORE CFS conference.

Awards:
Patients voted him a Top Primary Care Doctor in Washington in a major consumer magazine
Peer honors include
       American Society of Internal Medicine's national Young Internist of the Year 1997
       D.C. Medical Society's Distinguished Service Award, 2003
       
A Washingtonian magazine "Top Doctors"
CSN (CFIDS Support Network) Action Champion Award by the CFIDS Association of America, 2000



Medical Degree:
   Cornell University Medical College.

Internship and residency:
   Washington Hospital Center.
 
Currently:
   Clinical Assistant Professor at George Washington University Medical Center,
   Fellow of the American College of Physicians

Previously:
   Service to the D.C. Medical Society in a variety of capacities, including as a Member of its Board of Trustees.
   Past President of the D.C. Society of Internal Medicine



The Cycle of Pain, Fatigue, Poor Sleep, and Depression in CFS and FM

A presentation by Alan Pocinki MD, to the
Nova CFS/FMS Support Group

Mason Governmental Center
Annandale, VA
April
21, 2007


Paraphrasing Dr. P:
My discussion will address the importance of treating all aspects of the cycle--sleep, pain, and depression--in order to improve fatigue. Helping one or two alone isn't enough--it's the holistic thing. You can't just fix one piece and expect the other pieces to fix themselves.  For sleep, and of course this applies equally to pain and other symptoms (and depending on time we can talk about them, too) I'll stress that different people have non-restorative sleep for different reasons, so sleep needs to be evaluated, eg with sleep study, to have the best chance of concocting an effective cocktail to improve it.



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Meeting Handouts

Handouts selected by Elly:


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Books & Other Recommendations by Alan Pocinki, MD
as reported by patients


Books


Hypermobility Syndrome Diagnosis & Management for Physiotherapists
by Rosemary Keer and Rodney Grahame.
Softcover. June 2003.
Amazon price as of 4/07 is $57

Description
Hypermobility syndrome (HMS) is an inherited connective tissue disorder affecting collagen that is characterized by a collection of features and symptoms. HMS is often encountered in patients, but it is easily overlooked. This practical resource educates readers to its presentation, what to look for, and how best to treat it. Following a brief description of the historical and genetic background of the condition, HMS is described in relation to other connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and the Marfan syndrome. Since HMS may occur in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy, or old age, each of these stages is covered in the book, with detailed information on the presentation of the condition and its management.

Book Info
Discusses the implications of generalized joint hypermobility, how to recognize it, and identify when the hypermobility syndrome is present. Describes assessment and management of the syndrome from children through adults. Includes sections on relevant ergonomics, rehabilitation, and fitness. For physiotherapists. 

From a CFSupport Member & patient of Dr. Pocinki:

Dear CFSupport,

Read your e-mail about Alan Pocinki coming to speak at the support group meeting.  He is my CFS doc.  Just wanted to share w/the group about how he has helped me, as it may help people to formulate questions/stimulate discussion. 


Dr. Pocinki has been more creative and interactive than my past doctors in helping me to find a combo of drugs that helps for sleep, despite my resistance to and fear of drugs.  It sounds as though he plans to focus mainly on sleep during the meeting, but he is also a/the? leading specialist on the link between hyper-flexible joints and CFS. 

He explains things in a way that gets you to understand the adrenaline / OI / mobile-joint affects of your body type and makes you feel 'less crazy'. 
[OI = orthostatic intolerance, poor circulation while upright. See our OI Q&A. ]


My experience with a sprained/partially dislocated arm and working with Dr. Pocinki and physical therapists has taught me so much about the physiological characteristics of my body that contribute to my illness.  He recommended a book to help me understand my hyper-mobile joints and to help me communicate with physical therapists, Hypermobility Syndrome Diagnosis & Management for Physiotherapists, by Rosemary Keer and Rodney Grahame.  This book is written for physical therapists, but it has also helped me to get to know my body much better, explaining more details than the doctors and PTs have time to, even though I don't understand all the technical bits of the text.  Am about half-way through the book now.  Will bring the book along if I can (hopefully) make it to the meeting 4/21/07.  - "H"

Web Links for Alan Pocinki, MD
Internal Medicine


General:
On this site / CFSupport:
Articles/video/radio quoting or mentioning Dr. Pocinki:

Articles, Letters, Research by Dr. Pocinki:

Speaking Engagements

  • October 19, 2011
    Autonomic & Sleep Disorders in Chiari Malformation & Ehlers-Danlos Patients
     By Alan Pocinki, MD, at Doctors Community Hospital
     Applies to CFS Patients as well.



  • September 2011
    Developing an Individualized Treatment Plan for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
     By Alan Pocinki, MD
     For Pain Connection in Rockville, MD



  • March 10, 2007
    Dr Pocinki spoke on Treatment of CFS at the NJ kNOw MORE CFS Seminar
     Info: njcfsa.org
    A DVD is available for rent from NJCFSA.
    Meeting Flyer at CFIDS.org
    "Dr. Pocinki will discuss how to work with a clinician to develop individualized treatment programs to accommodate the considerable variability in CFS symptom expression, in symptom severity and in the efficacy of specific treatment protocols."
     
     
  • April 21, 2007 - 2 to 4:30 p.m.
    The Cycle of Pain, Fatigue, Poor Sleep, and Depression, with extra detail about sleep.
    NoVA CFS/FMS Support Group
    Mason Governmental Center, Annandale, VA
    Paraphrasing Dr. P: My discussion will address the importance of treating all aspects of the cycle--sleep, pain, and depression--in order to improve fatigue. Helping one or two alone isn't enough--it's the holistic thing. You can't just fix one piece and expect the other pieces to fix themselves.  For sleep, and of course this applies equally to pain and other symptoms (and depending on time we can talk about them, too) I'll stress that different people have non-restorative sleep for different reasons, so sleep needs to be evaluated, eg with sleep study, to have the best chance of concocting an effective cocktail to improve it. See above.

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Updated January 20, 2016