Fibromyalgia for Dummies [Paperback]

Roland Staud (Author), Christine A. Adamec (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2002 | Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)

Remember the body aches you experienced the last time you had a bad flu? Now multiply that pain times ten and you have some idea of what everyday life can be like for fibromyalgia sufferers. A chronic medical condition characterized mainly by pain in the muscles and tendons throughout the entire body, fibromyalgia is known to afflict more than 6 million people in the United States and millions more around the world. Yet, many people, including some doctors, think that “fibromyalgia” is just another word for “hypochondria.”

If you have fibromyalgia you have some idea of how frustrating it is to have your suffering dismissed by your friends, family, and coworkers, and how hard it can be to find professional help in managing your disease. Now for the good news: Written by one of the world’s leading experts on fibromyalgia, Fibromyalgia For Dummies is a complete, easy-to-use guide to coping with chronic pain and other symptoms associated with that disease. You get expert advice and guidance on how to:

• Determine if you have fibromyalgia
• Minimize pain
• Control fatigue and dramatically boost your energy level
• Sleep better
• Find the right doctor to help manage your problem
• Know which foods to eat and which to avoid
• Develop an exercise routine
• Manage the strains on your work and family lives

Dr. Roland Staud offers you immediate relief from the physical and emotional pain of fibromyalgia with. He fills you in on the latest science on what fibromyalgia is and how you get it, and he offers a wealth of practical information on:

• The pros and cons of traditional prescription medications
• Over-the-counter remedies and how to use them
• Alternative therapies that can help, including herbs, supplements, botox, acupuncture, aromatherapy and more
• Life-style changes that help ease your pain
• Managing the emotional stress associated with fibromyalgia

A gold mine of expert information and guidance, Fibromyalgia For Dummies will help you feel better and live and happier, more productive life—starting today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wonderful reference tool about fibromyalgia and how to help yourself." -- FM Aware Magazine, February 2003

Both newly diagnosed and long-time sufferers will enjoy reading [this] thorough guide to easing the pain. -- Fibromyalgia Frontiers, Volume 10, number 4, 2002

From the Back Cover

Identifies trigger points and treatment options

Cope with chronic pain and sleep problems

This easy-to-use guide will help you identify fibromyalgia symptoms, find the right doctor, and develop a plan of care. You get up-to-date information on prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as alternative therapies that will help you manage your pain while handling work and family life.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764554417
• ISBN-13: 978-0764554414
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Michael L. Johnson, February 28, 2004

By 

Michael L. Johnson (Sherwood, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fibromyalgia for Dummies (Paperback)

If you have been newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia, this is one of the first books you should read. This book is very informative and I use it in my lending library at my office along with a few others. Fibromyalgia is REAL!!! Patients are not "faking it to get attention" or "imaging their pain". If some doctors would simply check the FMS patient's neurological signs they(the doctors) would find out that a patient cannot "fake" these important neurological findings!! This is a great book.

Dr. Michael L. Johnson, author of "What Do You Do When the Medications Don't Work--A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions".

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars helpful reference., August 7, 2005

By 

Anne Gillingham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fibromyalgia for Dummies (Paperback)

When I came down with fibromyalgia, I didn't know what had hit me. My family members were equally scared, if not more. Getting answers was half the battle. Anxiety heightens fibro symptoms, and the immediate answers presented in this book reduced a considerable amount of aimless worrying.

The information in this resource helped explain the signals that my body was giving off, and make sense of the condition. They also give practical solutions. Their rehabilitation strategies draw from many branches of medicine, including complementary and alternative ones.

This book is well written. It is palatable, valuable and comforting to those who confront this condition. Incidentally, you can also bring it into your doctor's office, s/he might find their drug combination suggestions as valuable as you do.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Empathy and practical information, March 6, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fibromyalgia for Dummies (Paperback)

Fibromyalgia for Dummies has great info on what causes fibromyalgia, what it really feels like (with many anecdotes from people with fibromyalgia) and what you can DO about it, including medications, lifestyle changes, and much more. And if your doctor thinks fibromyalgia is a pretend problem (as some still do), the book tells you how to find a new doctor who understands and will help you. Written in the easy-to-understand style of the Dummies, the authors explain fibromyalgia in a caring and helpful way, with a thorough and illustrated discussion of key diagnostic terms, such as the tender points of fibromyalgia. If you have fibromyalgia or think that you may have it, you need Fibromyalgia for Dummies.