Customer Reviews

Fibromyalgia and Other Central Pain Syndromes

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Even though this book is a text book and as such is very technical in its presentation, the wealth of current knowledge and treatment options for Fibromyalgia (FM) and other Central Pain Syndromes (CPS) would be a valuable tool for anyone wishing to take part in their own treatment regimin or for clinicians and various practitioners involved in the treatment of these conditions.

It is a breath of fresh air to have a collection of so many esteemed practitioners come together and agree that FM and related conditions no longer deserve to be treated as "waste-basket" diagnoses and that those who struggle to come to terms with these issues are people who have a "real" clinical illness. So many of those with chronic pain issues have been made to feel guilty about their conditions; they have been told they need to "get over it"; they have been told they are "malingerers", "whiners", "drug-seekers", "weak", "crazy" and so forth. These conditions often do not have any outward physical signs so most people do not understand how a person can be in such pain and not have something "visible" wrong with them.

This textbook finally validates the clinical existance of FM and CPS with clear-cut scientific evidence. The subject matter is succinct and well-organized. There is a list of resources included for further assistance and education.

I would highly recommend this text for both the clinician as well as the layperson.

Note to those with FM and other CPS: This book may appear intimidating due to the amount of research data included and the medical terminology used, but there is a wealth of information to be found in this book to assist you in your coping with these conditions. The statistics and validation studies can be useful when presenting your case to your physician when you run into the "non-believer" attitudes. Also, if you are currently being seen by someone who is giving you that kind of attitude, I strongly suggest you seek another care-giver.

My background: I was diagnosed with FM in 1990. I have been a Registered Nurse for 20 years. I have specialized in pain management for the last 5 years with a focus on CPS.

An excellent text on Fibromyalgia, and you finish with a much greater understanding of chronic pain in general. Fibromyalgia, too often treated as a phantom illness, is defined and identified with unambiguous research.