Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterised by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). This book presents the research in this field.

FIBROMYALGIA Understanding Symptoms, Treatments, and Self-Help Strategies Are you or a loved one struggling with the challenges of fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia: Understanding Symptoms, Treatments, and Self-Help Strategies is your essential companion for navigating this complex condition and taking control of your health and well-being. Delve into the history and fundamental aspects of fibromyalgia, and gain a clear understanding of its diverse symptoms. Learn how to identify the signs and pursue an accurate diagnosis with confidence. From conventional medications to innovative therapies, this book covers a wide range of treatment options, helping you discover how to manage symptoms with the latest medical advancements and complementary approaches. Take charge of your health with practical strategies for diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management. Learn how to create a symptom tracking journal to better understand your condition and tailor your treatment plan. Find out how to maintain a good quality of life while managing fibromyalgia, with tips for balancing work, school, home life, and social interactions. Stay informed about the latest research and emerging treatments, and discover the promising advancements that offer hope for more effective management and improved outcomes. What You'll Find Inside: An exploration of fibromyalgia and its history Comprehensive overview of symptoms and diagnostic processes In-depth discussion of medications and treatment options Practical self-help techniques for managing daily life Strategies for balancing work, school, and home life Insights into the future of fibromyalgia research and treatment Resources and support networks for additional assistance Written with clarity and compassion, Fibromyalgia: Understanding Symptoms, Treatments, and Self-Help Strategies is designed for anyone affected by fibromyalgia. Whether you are newly diagnosed, suspect you might have fibromyalgia, or are supporting someone with the condition, this book provides the knowledge and tools you need to navigate your journey with confidence. Empower yourself with the information and strategies to take control of fibromyalgia and live a fulfilling, balanced life. Don't let fibromyalgia define you—embrace the journey to better health and well-being today.

More than six million Americans—most of them women—have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a disorder that produces musculo-skeletal pain and fatigue. In the absence of visible evidence, a well-understood cause, or effective treatment, many have questioned whether FMS is a "real" illness. Amidst the controversy, millions of women live with their very real symptoms.Rather than taking sides in the heated debate, Kristin Barker explains how FMS represents an awkward union between the practices of modern medicine and the complexity of women's pain. Using interviews with sufferers, Barker focuses on how the idea of FMS gives meaning and order to women beset by troubling symptoms, self-doubt, and public skepticism.This book offers a fresh look at a controversial diagnosis; Barker avoids overly simplistic explanations and empathizes with sufferers without losing sight of the social construction of disease and its relation to modern medical practice.

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints and surrounding tissues. As the disease develops it can cause severe pain and disability. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful, degenerative joint disease that often involves the hips, knees, neck, lower back, or the small joints of the hands. Treatment usually includes analgesics, topical creams, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (known as NSAIDs); appropriate exercises or physical therapy; joint splinting; or joint replacement surgery for seriously damaged larger joints, such as the knee or hip. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that usually involves the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet, or ankles. Focus on Arthritis Research brings together leading research in the field.

Fibromyalgia: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional / 2012 Edition is a ScholarlyPaper™ that delivers timely, authoritative, and intensively focused information about Fibromyalgia in a compact format. The editors have built Fibromyalgia: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional / 2012 Edition on the vast information databases of ScholarlyNews.™ You can expect the information about Fibromyalgia in this eBook to be deeper than what you can access anywhere else, as well as consistently reliable, authoritative, informed, and relevant. The content of Fibromyalgia: New Insights for the Healthcare Professional / 2012 Edition has been produced by the world’s leading scientists, engineers, analysts, research institutions, and companies. All of the content is from peer-reviewed sources, and all of it is written, assembled, and edited by the editors at ScholarlyEditions™ and available exclusively from us. You now have a source you can cite with authority, confidence, and credibility. More information is available at http://www.ScholarlyEditions.com/.

This year, six million Americans--most of them women--will go to their doctors, complaining of an illness they have no name for. The majority will be turned away or treated for depression; the few who persist will go to an average of four doctors before they receive the correct diagnosis: fibromyalgia. In their earlier Making Sense of Fibromyalgia, noted medical writer Janice Wallace and Dr. Daniel Wallace, a leading expert on this disorder, provided a comprehensive guide--for both patients and professionals--to this little known and poorly understood syndrome. Now, in All About Fibromyalgia, the Wallaces provide a thoroughly revised and updated version of that highly successful volume, incorporating a wealth of new information. This edition provides the current understanding of the disease as well as the latest drug treatments--all laid out in clear and accessible language. As in the previous volume, the authors provide a detailed, yet clear explanation of the disease. Fibromyalgia, they explain, is a form of chronic neuromuscular pain, a pain-amplification syndrome brought on by abnormal interactions between hormones, the immune system, neurotransmitters, and the autonomic nervous system. Sometimes the syndrome occurs spontaneously; in most cases, the authors write, it is associated with trauma, stress, such conditions as lupus and hypothyroidism, and over forty microbes, from hepatitis to Epstein-Barr to Lyme disease. Drawing on actual cases to illustrate their points, the authors help break through the isolation that patients often feel when doctors misdiagnose or simply ignore their symptoms. All About Fibromyalgia addresses a desperate need for information on this disease and offers reassurance to patients and their families.

Utilizing evidence-based research, this revolutionary source explores the difficult diagnosis and management of the controversial syndrome of fibromyalgia. Carefully guiding physicians through the steps leading to diagnosis, Fibromyalgia emphasizes targeting the underlying fibromyalgia syndrome rather than treating each of its symptoms individually

· The most comprehensive, up-to-date information available—including the latest preliminary diagnosis guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology · A-to-Z lists of prescription medications, herbal remedies, and natural supplements · Proven strategies for relieving symptoms—muscle pain, stiff joints, fatigue, sleep problems, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, fibrofog, sexual dysfunction, and more · Alternative mind/body therapies—acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, hypnotherapy, light therapy, massage, neurofeedback, and other methods · Crucial information on dealing with doctors, health insurance, employment issues, disability, getting pregnant, child rearing, weight control, support groups, and much more · Plus an easy-to-follow program of diet, exercise, and sleep that will help relieve your pain and restore your quality of life

Nearly eight million Americans suffer from it Cutting through the history and medical jargon found in more exhaustive and incomprehensible reference books, this guide focuses on the most important things readers need to know in order to effectively understand and manage fibromyalgia, especially important now, with 22 new fibromyalgia-fighting drugs on the market. This new edition teaches readers how to: • Communicate better with doctors and healthcare providers • Evaluate pain medications and non-medical therapies • Develop exercise and diet regimens • Identify and treat symptoms

Six million people in the United States meet the criteria for fibromyalgia, which is a disorder characterized by a combination of pain, fatigue, and related symptoms. On average, these patients see about four doctors before they are correctly diagnosed, and many are convinced they have a life-threatening illness such as an advanced stage of cancer. About $600 billion is spent annually in the United States to diagnose or manage chronic pain, including litigation fees, and it is estimated that fibromyalgia patients run up $20 billion in medical expenses annually. Despite these alarming numbers, there is a lack of understanding and a dearth of reliable information about fibromyalgia for patients. This fully updated edition of Making Sense of Fibromyalgia distills complex concepts and symptoms into an easily understandable narrative. Daniel J. Wallace, a leading rheumatologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Janice Brock Wallace, an expert medical writer, have updated the original classic resource, which has sold over 100,000 copies since 1999. Making Sense of Fibromyalgia provides clear answers to common questions, explains findings from the latest research, and discusses treatment options for complex symptoms. Detailed information is provided about topics such as who gets fibromyalgia and why; how stress, hormones, and your immune system interact and relate to fibromyalgia; what conditions are associated with it; why and how you might be misdiagnosed; how to overcome fibromyalgia; and how to understand your prognosis. The authors share all there is to know about the syndrome as well as how our understanding of it has changed over time. This comprehensive companion covers the entire spectrum of issues for those suffering from fibromyalgia, as well as their families, friends, caretakers, primary care physicians, and other health professionals.