Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by widespread muscle pain and fatigue that affects 6-10 million people in the United States. Huge progress in research over the past decade has established dysfunction in sleep, pain, and the stress response in fibromyalgia. Current research suggests that the muscle pain of fibromyalgia may be generated from the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding each muscle of the body. As medical understanding of fibromyalgia has increased, so have our treatment options. With the unique perspective of a physician studying fibromyalgia "from the inside," Dr. Liptan explains the most up-to-date science and guides you to the most effective treatments from both conventional and alternative medicine.
Figuring out Fibromyalgia
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About the Author
Ginevra Liptan, MD, is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, and is board-certified in internal medicine. After developing fibromyalgia as a medical student, she spent many years using herself as a guinea pig in a search for effective treatments. She is now medical director of the Frida Center for Fibromyalgia, and an associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clear, concise and courageous. But bittersweet given the best advice for improvement.
January 7, 2012
By Gary Cote
Format:Paperback
In my opinion, Dr. Liptan does a great job at presenting information in a very clear and basic manner. It was apparent to me shortly into the book that Dr. Liptan is a true patient advocate and is certainly not out to recommend any fad approaches and take our money! She does not offer false hopes or make any unrealistic claims- and she does not hesitate from politely criticizing those professionals and others who are marketing products or services that are questionable and/or clearly do not work. Note: In addition to her professional credentials as a medical doctor and adjunct professor at a research university, Dr. Liptan developed fibromyalgia just prior to her second year of medical school.
Here are some often asked questions about fibromyalgia with corresponding answers as translated from Dr. Ginevra's book:
What is at the root of fibromyalgia?
A malfunction in the regulatory processes that occur deep within the brain. It is in this area that the that master controller to the body's pain and stress response systems is found. For the individual with fibromyalgia, these systems become stuck in an overactive mode. From the book:
"Chronic overactivation of the stress response in the brain starts a chain reaction leading to poor deep sleep, muscle pain, and fatigue. Ultimately, all the symptoms of fibromyalgia stem from abnormal activation of the fight-or-flight nervous system."
What are the likely causes of fibromyalgia?
The start of the fibromyalgia chain reaction is likely a genetic predisposition along with a triggering event or two (e.g. accident, PTSD, childhood trauma and major illness). However, she notes that some individuals cannot seem to identify a triggering event.
Can individuals' "stress response systems" be returned to their prior states? Can fibromyalgia be "cured?"
No. From the book:
"We have not found a way to reverse the fight-or-flight dominance in fibromyalgia permanently. Once we find that, I think we will have discovered the cure to fibromyalgia. The best we can do for now is treat the problems caused by fight-or-flight dominance and try and encourage the nervous system to shift into rest-and-digest mode whenever possible."
Dr. Liptan states that her fibromyalgia is only about 10% of her most severe level, though she is clear that her symptoms can worsen if she does not partake in her particular self-management steps.
Here's my note of discontent:
The drug that Dr. Liptan speaks so highly of (Xyrem or sodium oxybate)- in fact, the only drug noted to actually shut down the fight-or-flight system at night so that deep sleep is possible, is not available to the vast majority of fibromyalgia sufferers. Dr. Liptan's use of the drug for fibromyalgia was off-label; more important, the drug costs over twenty-thousand dollars a month! My inference from her writing is that she likely would not be where she is today in her recovery had she not had access to this drug. Dr. Liptan states how paramount (deep) sleep is as the foundation to system improvement and is the starting point in fibromyalgia patients. Sadly, for the vast majority of us without access to this medication, we are not treating the true source of the problem, and therefore are unlikely to produce significant symptom improvement.
Here are some often asked questions about fibromyalgia with corresponding answers as translated from Dr. Ginevra's book:
What is at the root of fibromyalgia?
A malfunction in the regulatory processes that occur deep within the brain. It is in this area that the that master controller to the body's pain and stress response systems is found. For the individual with fibromyalgia, these systems become stuck in an overactive mode. From the book:
"Chronic overactivation of the stress response in the brain starts a chain reaction leading to poor deep sleep, muscle pain, and fatigue. Ultimately, all the symptoms of fibromyalgia stem from abnormal activation of the fight-or-flight nervous system."
What are the likely causes of fibromyalgia?
The start of the fibromyalgia chain reaction is likely a genetic predisposition along with a triggering event or two (e.g. accident, PTSD, childhood trauma and major illness). However, she notes that some individuals cannot seem to identify a triggering event.
Can individuals' "stress response systems" be returned to their prior states? Can fibromyalgia be "cured?"
No. From the book:
"We have not found a way to reverse the fight-or-flight dominance in fibromyalgia permanently. Once we find that, I think we will have discovered the cure to fibromyalgia. The best we can do for now is treat the problems caused by fight-or-flight dominance and try and encourage the nervous system to shift into rest-and-digest mode whenever possible."
Dr. Liptan states that her fibromyalgia is only about 10% of her most severe level, though she is clear that her symptoms can worsen if she does not partake in her particular self-management steps.
Here's my note of discontent:
The drug that Dr. Liptan speaks so highly of (Xyrem or sodium oxybate)- in fact, the only drug noted to actually shut down the fight-or-flight system at night so that deep sleep is possible, is not available to the vast majority of fibromyalgia sufferers. Dr. Liptan's use of the drug for fibromyalgia was off-label; more important, the drug costs over twenty-thousand dollars a month! My inference from her writing is that she likely would not be where she is today in her recovery had she not had access to this drug. Dr. Liptan states how paramount (deep) sleep is as the foundation to system improvement and is the starting point in fibromyalgia patients. Sadly, for the vast majority of us without access to this medication, we are not treating the true source of the problem, and therefore are unlikely to produce significant symptom improvement.
58 of 61 people found the following review helpful
By Margo
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Since being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia I ordered and read any and every book from amazon with Fibromyalgia in the title. A lot of them are repeating what I already knew or outdated. This book does not do that. It was published in Jan 2011 making it extremely current. The information presented was thorough and easy to understand. It gave me hope and if you have Fibromyalgia you know how precious that is. Read it - I think it will help
53 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lots of people with fibromyalgia like to write about it. Unfortunately, many of the resulting books are overwritten, overemotional accounts of the writer's efforts to negotiate this condition. As someone with FM, I don't generally find that sort of book to be helpful or interesting to me, although I recognize that they may speak to others.
This book is different. Dr. Liptan writes succinctly and bravely about her experiences as a patient as well as a health-care professional, without becoming maudlin. Her discussion of research trends and opportunities -- including the potential of myofascial release therapy for FM management -- is comprehensive and easy to understand, even for this lay person. This can be a powerful tool for many patients, who are often intimidated into silence and pain by medical providers, family, and friends.
Dr. Liptan's book is exactly what I needed to find. I hope it helps you, too.
This book is different. Dr. Liptan writes succinctly and bravely about her experiences as a patient as well as a health-care professional, without becoming maudlin. Her discussion of research trends and opportunities -- including the potential of myofascial release therapy for FM management -- is comprehensive and easy to understand, even for this lay person. This can be a powerful tool for many patients, who are often intimidated into silence and pain by medical providers, family, and friends.
Dr. Liptan's book is exactly what I needed to find. I hope it helps you, too.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful. Very informative. I would highly recommend this book for...
Very informative. I would highly recommend this book for anyone with fibromyalgia. This is also a good book for family members, friends, etc. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Cinda L. Beeler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thank you
Very informative, good resources, well written, easy to understand, gives hope to people with fibromyalgia, reader able to look into making positive changes, thank you x
Published 14 days ago by Valerie Evison
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must for sufferers and those close to them
My wife has had fibromyalgia for a long time. She asked me to read this book, the copy she'd made notes in. Read more
Published 20 days ago by John Ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent resource for anyone with fibromyalgia!
I have fibro and I found this book to be enlightening about the process of the condition with great tips on how to help me manage this condition. Read more
Published 29 days ago by cathy kerska
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fibro help
I've had fibromyalgia for 25 years. This book gave me the most up-to-date info in a concise and great format. Thank you Ginevra.
Published 1 month ago by Shawn Charlene Garner
5.0 out of 5 stars
So helpful!
This book is so well written that the technical explanations of the body processes and the studies that have been revealing more information about the how and why of fibromyalgia... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Terri
3.0 out of 5 stars
book
To be very honest I have not read the book as yet, but am planning on doing so as I have been diagnoised with Fivromyalgia and would like to get a better Idea what I am up against.
Published 1 month ago by Colleen Berkabile-Stubbs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Written From Perspective of an M.D. Who Has Disease She Treats And...
Excellent book for patients and their families. Read this before embarking on costly and often dangerous treatments, particularly but not exclusively alternative treatments. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Recherche Proust
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative and helpful
This was the most helpful and intelligent information I have read about this chronic and painful condition. The author is both an MD and a Fibromyalgia suffer. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Diane D Rivers
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fibromyalgia
A good read for someone who has I st been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue . If you do suffer fro. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tammy J. Payne
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