Customer Reviews

Making Sense of Fibromyalgia

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Wallace gives a comprehensive explanation of what fibromyalgia is, what happens in the body as it is happening, and helpful information to cope with this debilitating problem. It is a book I can go back to again and again and learn something new about my condition. Just knowing more has helped me not to go into depression as a flare is occuring and to plan to do something for myself when the flare begins to subside. It is a comfort for patients and their families to know what's going on, that this pain and other symptoms are real and that the patient is not crazy (because it certailly CAN feel that way). I am very grateful that Dr. Wallace and Janice Brock Wallace wrote this book. Taking one's self out of the dark under the circumstances of having fibromyalgia gives one hope and the courage to carry on, include it in their life, and find something rewarding to do within the framework of being disabled with this condition. It is absolutely the best fibromyalgia book I have read and brought tears to my eyes to know that someone really understands this syndrome. Thank you, Dr. Wallace!

Making Sense of Fibromyalgia is roughly speaking divided into the science of fibromyalgia and the therapies to help control the disease. The second half of the book on improving the quality of your life is well worth reading. The book begins with an informative section on the history of fibromyalgia and its acceptance into the current medical classification system. While the authors attempt to provide an up- to- date overview which serves to legitimize the disorder it, for the most part, does not, in terms of severity, focus on the spectrum of the disease, leaving the beginning reader with the impression that this is a relatively mild, and controllable illness. I began reading the book with expectation and felt at first a sense of appreciation for the authors' attempt to combine the science of the disease with literary and historical references. It is some of the literary references, interestingly enough, that seem to speak to the debilitating aspects of the disease, almost as if the authors could not: Emily Dickinson talks about the unending pain. Nobel talks about the paralyzing fatigue.

I see numerous patients who have fibromyalgia. My skepticism began with the case examples. They have such happy endings. The authors focus primarily on relatively mild cases that respond to the treatment protocol and patients improve often to their prior level of functioning. The patients I see would wonder if they were reading about the same disease. Regarding treatment protocol, there is no discussion of first line, second line, and third line drugs which would be helpful to both patient and professional alike. Especially since in more severe cases, we enter the realm of needing different and more effective pain medications which then initiates into the discussion of treatment the hotly debated use of opioids.

A chapter is devoted to disorders that are not currently accepted as medical disorders which are often confused, according to the authors, with fibromyalgia. The authors warn potential patients about such suspect diagnoses. Given the fact that fibromyalgia was until recently also such a suspect illness and still raises skepticism among some, their attitude seems rather uncharitable. I agree with the reviewers who voiced some concerns about the book. One noted that the book was just too rosy in its outcome examples. The other observed that the authors still could not get away from the notion of a fibromyalgia personality and that stress causes the disease: "Severe emotional stress and trauma frequently triggers and aggravates fibromyalgia. There is little doubt the fibromyalgia can come about or be accelerated by the diminished ability to cope with life stress and traumas." (p.16). The latter is especially puzzling since the authors also often reassure the reader throughout the book that fibromyalgia "is not in your head." Indeed this was the reason for writing the book.

An entire chapter is devoted to challenging the idea that fibromyalgia is a psychological disorder and reviews the DSM IV classification system (the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as it might pertain to fibromyalgia. They list the psychological disorders that fibromyalgia patients do not have (such as hypochondriasis), give the definition of the psychological disorder and differentiate it from fibromyalgia symptoms. They note that fibromyalgia is not directly mentioned in DSMIV, but some of its symptoms are listed, according to them, under undifferentiated somaticization (They meant to write Somatoform.) disorder: these include, among others, myofacial pain syndrome, chronic fatigue, back and joint pain, etc. The authors claim that in the 1970's and 80's fibromyalgia patients were wrongly diagnosed under this psychological disorder. In my experience, psychologists have diagnosed fibromyalgia patients with this disorder well into the 1990's and continue to do so today. In the future, mental health professionals may stop labeling fibromyalgia patients with psychological disorders. In the meantime, they might make better use of the various categories of psychological disorders under the category called, "due to a General Medical Condition." Finally, at present the diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder (Chronic) might be the best DSMIV diagnosis and reflects the psychological reality of fibromyalgia.

I really appreciate the thoroughness of this book, and I am very puzzled by the July 4th review. Surely pointing out that trauma can trigger or aggrevate this syndrome--or that perfectionism sometimes goes along with it--is not blaming the victim. As the parent of a victim, I want every scrap of knowledge available. The last thing I want is for doctors or researchers to censor their findings. I highly recommend this book.

For those of us that suffer from this disease, many of the books available are full of mis-information and are not easy to understand. This book explains things in clear and concise terms, and I would recommend it to any one with fibromyalgia, or to their family members.

Perhaps the finest resource for fibromyalgia I have ever read. Dr. Wallace has done a fantastic job of explaining the nuances of this complex syndrome, and I recommend it to all of those who wish to learn more about fibromyalgia.

I found the book to cover the literature very well, but the authors' outcome claims made me (and probably makes others) feel like I must just be doing it wrong. The claim is made that the vast majority of people either improve significantly or even recover completely, while that has not been true for me, despite doing all the 'right' things (exercise, stretching, stress reduction, good diet, good sleep hygiene, meds to improve sleep, some supplements, etc.).

According to their section 'Can a bad outcome be predicted?,' such individuals 'tended to have severe mood or behavioral disturbances, received less than 12 years of education, or were older than 40 when their symptoms began.' Later, they add that persons with major mental illness or untreated substance abuse don't improve earlier.

Earlier in the same chapter, however, they state that delayed intervention (>5 years) also leads to poorer outcome, so there is some inconsistency here (I did not receive an appropriate diagnosis and treatment for over 8 years).

I believe this book could be used to blame many 'poor responders' for their poor outcomes. It becomes quite disheartening to be told that 'so and so is so much better since doing X.'

This is the best book on the subject which I have ever seen. Anyone interested in this disease should own it. It is well written and concise. What a pleasure to find such a difficult subject handled so adroitly.

I bought this book to further my understanding of the current research regarding FMS. I have had FMS for many years and always relish the opportunity to learn more. The book succeeds on the level of describing the biochemical imbalances that are present in FMS and their effects on the body. However, where it fails (and it fails miserably) is in the description of how these imbalances may come about. Dr. Wallace asserts that "there is little doubt" that FMS may be brought about or worsened by failure to cope with life's stresses. This is typical of an attitude that is all too pervasive in the field of FMS. It blames the patient for their pain. It is symptomic of an inability to recognize that before FMS (and its chronic pain, fatigue, and mental stress of not being believed) most patients probably dealt quite capably with what life may have dealt them. The other pernicious theory that is forwarded in the book is the concept of the FMS personality. Although Dr. Wallace doesn't call it that, he does state that FMS "may be" connected in some way with perfectionism. Yet another case of blaming the victim. While I will concede that MPS (myofascial pain syndrome) could be worsened and/or brought about by the tension and rigidity that some perfectionists may display, FMS is NOT MPS. Perhaps Dr. Wallace should review his facts.

I have the priviledge of being a patient of Dr. Wallace. I did not even know he had a book until he gave it me at my first visit with. He knows what he is talking about and I know first hand as I have followed his treatment plan. While I still suffer daily from fibromyalgia, I have accepted it and am able to have a full life, and work a stressful job. something that most fibromyalgia patients cannot do. I look forward to another book from Dr. Wallace soon.

I found Dr. Wallace's book to be extremely informative. He discusses the dynamics of fibromyalgia in layman's terms, as well as the mechanisms of the syndrome scientifically.
Being a health care professional myself, i appreciated the succinct nature of the book. I have read it twice from the library and it was so good that I feel it necessary have at home for reference. Also, I have recommended it to 3 women that I personally know with fm.