Best Books on Fibromyalgia
There are many, many books now available on the subject of fibromyalgia.
Some of the best books to read about the subject are as follows:
- Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Guide – Both authors are doctors and both have fibromyalgia. This comprehensive guide details the symptoms of the disease and provides insight into how to manage the conditions.
- The Fibromyalgia Advocate – This is a companion to the previously mentioned book, which expounds in more detail as to the specifics of the condition and treatments, how to explain the illness to your employer, how to fight for your rights and other information.
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- What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about FMS – A radical approach to treat fibromyalgia that includes claims of reversals of the disease and discusses suggested causes and treatment of fibromyalgia.
- The Fibromyalgia Help Book: Practical Guide to Living Better With Fibromyalgia – A comprehensive and practical handbook on fibromyalgia. Describes the disease, its crippling effects and current treatments.
- Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia – Details personal testimonies of fibromyalgia patients and their medical doctors. The testimonies relate to alternative treatments that address chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia.
- The Fibromyalgia Relief Book – This is a companion to the author's previous book, Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach. This book focuses on self-help, advice on pain control, sleep aids, diet and more.
Fibromyalgia: The Disorder
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) was first identified in 1815 by William Balfour, a University of Edinburgh surgeon. Over the years, it has been given different labels to include chronic rheumatism, myalgia and fibrositis. It wasn't until 1987 that the American Medical Association (AMA) recognized FMS as an official illness and cause of disability.
FMS is a rheumatic disorder that affects soft tissue and is distinguished by chronic, systemic pain and tenderness to touch. Some other symptoms may be moderate to severe fatigue, thermal regulatory system dysfunction, muscle tightness, hypersensitivity to touch, light and sound, sleep disturbance, numbness, dizziness, fibro-fog, muscle cramping, tinnitus and others.
To be diagnosed with FMS, eleven of the eighteen specific tender points must be evident in all four quadrants of the body – i.e., upper-left, upper-right, lower-left, lower right parts of the body. The diagnosis must include widespread, continuous pain for over three months. Tender points appear in pairs in various parts of the body and hurt when pressed.
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Fibromyalgia: Causes and Treatment
The causes of FMS are broad and varied. It may be due to an initiating event like a fall, infection, disease, pregnancy, a repetitive task, the flu, allergies, an auto accident, surgery or a period of trauma in your life that caused your muscles to be tightly and habitually clenched in a defensive posture.
There is currently no cure for FMS; however, it can be treated. The treatment of FMS may include the breaking up and eliminating of trigger points, diet modification, lifestyle modification and prescription medicines to reduce pain and to assist with sleep. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lyrica for the treatment of FMS. Lyrica is the drug of choice for health care professionals who use it to treat their patients for pain associated with FMS.
Many suffer from this disease and numerous support groups have surfaced to provide assistance. Below are a couple of suggested fibromyalgia support groups. For more, do a search on the Internet under fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia support.
American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association
P.O. Box 9699
Bakersfield, CA 93389-9699
805-633-1137
Fibromyalgia Network
P.O. Box 31750
Tucson, AZ 85751-1750
602-290-5508