When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away: The Relief Handbook for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Muscle Pain [Paperback]

Gayle Backstrom (Author), Bernard Rubin (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

In this completely updated edition, Gayle Backstrom, who has FM, and Dr. Bernard Rubin explain and demystify this chronic muscle pain syndrome. Taking into account the latest research findings on fibromyalgia, Backstrom and Rubin seek to educate and assist the layperson in recognizing and treating this condition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A complete, up-to-date handbook that answers the most common questions about fibromyalgia in easy-to-understand language." -- Marty Cook, retired president, Northwest Texas Chapter, Arthritis Foundation, on the 1st Edition

"Although the handbook may not offer new information to the highly fibromyalgia-educated patient, it does provide a wealth of information to those newly diagnosed. In addition, it includes useful listings of fibromyalgia healthcare providers, resources, publications, support groups, researchers, and online sources." -- Jackie Yencha, September/October 1998 issue of Fibromyalgia Frontiers, newsletter of Fibromyalgia Association of Greater Washington

"An important book! It summarizes splendidly our knowledge about fibromyalgia. It is a useful guide to the understanding, management and successes that go hand in hand with fibromyalgia" -- Frederick Wolfe, MD, Director, Arthritis center, Wichita, KS on the 1st Edition.

From the Back Cover

The Classic Guide to FM Pain is Back in Its New Expanded & Updated Third Edition!

If you suffer from widespread muscle pain, stiffness, and fatigue, you are not alone. You may be one of the 10 million Americans who has fibromyalgia. Whether you have constant or intermittent pain, When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away is the groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind guide that tells you everything you need to know about fibromyalgia: how FM is diagnosed, basic symptoms and conditions, treatment options, and simple pain-relieving exercises. It also offers useful techniques for coping when FM affects your personal life and work performance, answers to the most commonly asked questions about FM, and much, much more.

When it first appeared in 1992, When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away helped thousands of people make sense of the frustrating and little-understood syndrome called fibromyalgia. It gave people with chronic muscle pain a reliable source of sensitive, sound information that they couldn't find anywhere else. Now, no longer seen as simply a musculoskeletal disorder, FM has been shown to impact the gastrointestinal, neurological, cardio/pulmonary, and automatic nervous systems as well. Completely revised and updated to include these recent medical findings, the third edition of When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away includes:
FM in children
The newest medications and therapies
Alternative medicine in treating FM
New information on raising FM awareness
An FM online information source list

In straightforward language, Gayle Backstrom, who has FM, and Dr. Bernard R. Rubin explain the latest findings in fibromyalgia research and demystify this chronic muscle pain syndrome.

If you think you have FM or know someone who does, there is no better resource to turn to!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 3 Rev Upd edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878339981
• ISBN-13: 978-0878339983
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,595,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND, June 5, 2000

By 

Gina D. Meldrum - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away: The Relief Handbook for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Muscle Pain (Paperback)

I read this book a few yrs. after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I cannot begin to describe the sense of relief and companionship this book brought to me. When friends, loved ones, & acquaintances are "diagnosed", This is the first "therapy" I recommend and/or purchase for them as a gift. It gives the reader a sense that she/he is not alone. The authors have a way of "validating" the person suffering, and helps the others in their lives understand and offer compassion. I have lived with fibromyalgia, and several other autoimmune disorders for 7+ yrs now. I still consider this book the best first step in treatment! Well worth the investment and time. The only thing I disagree with in the edition I still own, is that the use of narcotic pain medications is highly admonished...so often, and to a degree that can make the reader/sufferer that must rely on such medications to function feel guilty. Since fibromyalgia is so often accompanied by other rheumatic-like conditions, I would never want ANYONE to add GUILT to their endless list of problems and symptoms. There is a place for narcotics in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Many people (myself included) are unable to take NSAIDS, and the only other medicinal alternative is maintenance narcotics.(In addition to antidepressents, muscle relaxants, etc.) Research is finding that within the FM population, NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflamatories) are not well tolerated by the FM patient. This is one of the best FM companions available!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty helpful, September 23, 2001

By 

V. VanCamp "lovesbookslovesmusic" (Ithaca, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away: The Relief Handbook for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Muscle Pain (Paperback)

This book is helpful for people with chronic pain and especially for those with fibromyalgia. Gayle Backstrom writes this book with the idea that all parts of our body are connected (mind/body/spirit), therefore she gives helpful suggestions that include all areas.

Fair warning though, this book is a bit on the technical side. So, if you have 'fibro fog' it may be hard to get through and/or understand sections. I recommend reading it on days when you are clearer. Or, do what I did - have someone else read the section and then explain it to you. I had to do this with the research portion of the book.

Subjects covered in this book include, symptoms, latest research, physical treatment, cognitive therapy and support systems.

There are also many appendixes such as: a list of arthritis chapters, a list of resources, surfing the web and a list of fibromyalgia researchers.

I found this book to be helpful, though it wasn't one of my favorite fibromyalgia books. For my favorite ones you can check out my 'about you' area and look at the ones I have reviewed and my self-help book listmania list.

I read this book for more help dealing with fibromyalgia, but I found that I was giving my mom advice from the book,since she suffers from chronic pain in her back/neck, hips and wrist/thumb.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good resource book for Fibromyalgia., January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away: The Relief Handbook for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Muscle Pain (Paperback)

Defintely worth reading. A good reference book for those diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or those wishing to have a better understanding of FMS. I found the personal account of the author's experience very true to life. (I have Fibromyalgia.) This is real life, and those looking for a miracle storybook ending won't find it here. This book deals addresses the fact that Fibromyalgia is real and won't just go away, however it also deals with the many aspects of how people can deal with Fibromyalgia.