Download or read book The Fibromyalgia Controversy written by Clement M. Hall and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2013-04-29 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As many as fifteen million American women, or 5 percent of the adult female population in the US, suffer from the disabling medical condition known as fibromyalgia. If one takes into account husbands, partners, children, and other close relatives, the proportion of the American population directly or indirectly affected by fibromyalgia could be as high as 10 percent, or thirty million persons.Nonetheless, the medical community is divided over the reality of this condition. One side argues, sometimes heatedly, that the patients are masquerading - pretending a disability they know they do not have. The other side counters, with equal passion, that fibromyalgia sufferers are abused by a society that fails to give them the support they deserve while painfully suffering from this severely debilitating illness.Without taking sides, Dr. M. Clement Hall presents six fictional, though factually based, case studies of typical patients from differing socioeconomic backgrounds and describes the varying investigations, diagnoses, and treatments they have undergone. Each of these case studies represents a composite of many years of clinical practice rather than one specific patient. Collectively, they cover the range of experiences fibromyalgia patients are likely to have encountered.By taking this unique approach, Dr. Hall presents an objective overview of the fibromyalgia situation today in North America. Patients, family members, and physicians will see themselves reflected in the descriptions and will gain a broader understanding of this challenging illness.M. Clement Hall, MD (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), now retired, was the director of continuing education in the emergency department of Scarborough Hospital. He is the author of Trauma Surgeon, among numerous other works.

Download or read book The Fibromyalgia Story written by Kristin Barker and published by Temple University Press. This book was released on 2005-06-30 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than six million Americans—most of them women—have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a disorder that produces musculo-skeletal pain and fatigue. In the absence of visible evidence, a well-understood cause, or effective treatment, many have questioned whether FMS is a "real" illness. Amidst the controversy, millions of women live with their very real symptoms.Rather than taking sides in the heated debate, Kristin Barker explains how FMS represents an awkward union between the practices of modern medicine and the complexity of women's pain. Using interviews with sufferers, Barker focuses on how the idea of FMS gives meaning and order to women beset by troubling symptoms, self-doubt, and public skepticism.This book offers a fresh look at a controversial diagnosis; Barker avoids overly simplistic explanations and empathizes with sufferers without losing sight of the social construction of disease and its relation to modern medical practice.

Download or read book Fibromyalgia written by Melissa Abramovitz and published by Greenhaven Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2011-09-20 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Author Melissa Abramovitz introduces readers Fibromyalgia, which is widespread muscle pain and tenderness. There are more than 3,000,000 cases of this condition per year in America. It has no specific causes and no known cure. Readers will learn about this disorder, and how it is diagnosed and treated. Alternative therapies and medical advances are also explained.

Download or read book Exploring the Experiences of Living with a Controversial Illness in Patients with Fibromyalgia written by Samantha L. Wheeler and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fibromyalgia is an illness of great controversy estimated to affect approximately 4% of the US population. There are no widely accepted etiological causes or clear physiological explanations of fibromyalgia. Only a few research studies have addressed the concept of illness uncertainty in patients with fibromyalgia. There are no current studies that examine how fibromyalgia patients experience, perceive, and understand their illness in terms of having a syndrome with an unknown etiology. This qualitative study, using phenomenological methods, explored the concept of unknown etiology as one factor in illness uncertainty. Ten participants, diagnosed with fibromyalgia from 2-15 years were interviewed. The findings from the study are divided into two parts. The first part presents a description of each participant case along with each study participant's understanding of the cause of his or her illness. The second part of the findings offers the results from the data analyses at the cross case level and describes commonalities of the fibromyalgia illness experience. The major findings of this study include the following: (a) common experiences of: pain, exhaustion, frustration, depression, cognitive difficulties, un-predictable and changing symptoms, not looking sick, and the experience of not being understood; (b) participants understood their illness as one that is invisible to others and one that is constantly changing; (c) the unclear etiology had either a continuing negative impact or negative impact at the beginning of one's illness course, whereas those diagnosed longer let go of worry about cause and shifted to a coping focus; (d) friends were perceived to be more supportive than family or members of the medical community; (e) specialists in rheumatology and pain management were perceived as having the best response regarding members of the medical community; (f) the response from medical practitioners is improving; and (g) achieving support varied depending on the person considered. Discussion of the study findings include relating the findings to existing research regarding fibromyalgia and illness uncertainty, implications of the findings for Counseling psychologists, and the strengths and limitations of the study. This study sought to provide helpful information through stories of fibromyalgia patients, with hope of contributing to the scarce body of knowledge regarding the subjective experiences of this controversial illness.

Download or read book Fibromyalgia written by Dawn A. Marcus and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-09-15 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Caring for patients with fibromyalgia requires an understanding of the complex nature of this condition. Fibromyalgia: A Practical Clinical Guide is a state-of-the-art resource designed to clarify the controversy about fibromyalgia and to provide clinicians with the latest information about its pathogenesis and clinical evaluation, as well as evidence-based guidelines for effective treatment. This comprehensive title includes fully referenced, practical information on this fast-emerging field and provides useful clinical suggestions and practical office tools for effectively managing patients. The good news for fibromyalgia patients and their healthcare providers is that a wide range of medication, non-medication, and non-traditional therapies have been proven to effectively reduce some of the most problematic and disabling fibromyalgia symptoms. Brief case vignettes help describe many of the common presentations, concerns, and complexities typically seen in fibromyalgia patients. Invaluable graphic aids -- boxes, tables, and figures – are used widely to provide quick reference for the busy clinician seeking information. In addition, clinic-proven assessment and documentation tools for evaluating and monitoring fibromyalgia symptoms and severity are provided, along with handouts for patients to provide guidance on pain management techniques, including detailed exercise and relaxation technique instructions. A unique addition to the literature, Fibromyalgia: A Practical Clinical Guide is an indispensable reference for all clinicians who care for patients with fibromyalgia.

Download or read book Fibromyalgia written by MD Daniel Clauw and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-04-26 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Characterized by chronic widespread pain, fibromyalgia presents complex problems in both its diagnosis and treatment. Fibromyalgia is a fairly common condition, affecting 2-4% of the population. The condition's prevalence has increased dramatically since 1990. The condition is not new, but has been known by various names, such as fibrositis and myofascial pain syndrome until 1990, when the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published new classification criteria and first used the name fibromyalgia. The absence of objective diagnostic testing and the overlap with other condition often leads to a significant delay in diagnosis. There is a general misconception that the condition is unresponsive to treatment. However, published research shows that diagnosing and managing fibromyalgia leads to meaningful improvement in the patient's symptons and quality of life. Patients with fibromyalgia often demonstrate symptons additional to pain and are consquently diagnosed with one or more co-occurring syndromes and conditions, complicating diagnosis and treatment. The comorbidities most commonly associated wtih fibromyalgia are sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. Another condition frequently demonstrated by fibromylgia patients is irritable bowel syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome also commonly co-occurs, and is often confused wtih fibromyalgia upon initial diagnosis. Numerous pharmacological therapy options exist to treat pain and related symptons of fibromyalgia. Achievement of desired treatment outcomes requires careful patient selection, drug administration and monitoring. Accurate diagnosis of chronic pain syndromes is critical, as some commonly used medications to treat many pain conditions are relatively ineffective wtih fibromyalgia. Despite increasing recognition as a relatively common cause of chronic pain, fibromyalgia continues to generate controversy among clinicians. Given the intricate and challenging nature of treating fibromyalgia and comorbid disorders, it is imperative to educate primary care providers on the initial symptons, complications, and treatment strategies for fibromyalgia, as most patients with the condition will see a primary care provider for initial diagnosis/referral, and follow-up-care. In the years since the release of the ACR criteria, increasing recognition and advances in research have provided key insights into the etiology of fibromyalgia, resulting in the use of several successful pharmacological, as well as non-pharmacological, treatment approaches. However, despite the efforts of professional medical organizations and patient care groups, awareness of the current state of clinical assessment and treatment of fibromyalgia by healthcare professionals continues to be lacking. This book is designed to provide a succint and practical guide to help primary care physicians, internists, specialists, and allied health professionals effectively diagnose and manage patients with fibromyalgia. This concise volume will provide an essential understanding of the pathophysiology of the pain, subtypes, and pitfalls in the diagnosis of this chronic condition.

Download or read book A Clinician s Guide to Controversial Illnesses written by Renée R. Taylor and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive guide for clinicians working with patients who present symptoms of these frequently misunderstood disorders. The authors describe their protocols for psychological and behavioral assessment, present innovative cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies, and offer other clinically informed approaches for helping patients with these perplexing illnesses. Reviews the numerous medical and alternative treatment approaches that have been advocated. Includes numerous case studies, empirical research findings, references, resources, and six informal assessment instruments. This important new work provides hope for those interested in helping patients who are not currently receiving adequate medical, social, or psychological support because of the current absence of clearly defined etiologies, established treatment protocols, or knowledgeable health care providers.

Download or read book Medically Unexplained Symptoms Somatisation and Bodily Distress written by Francis Creed and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-07-14 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medically unexplained symptoms and somatisation are the fifth most common reason for visits to doctors in the USA, and form one of the most expensive diagnostic categories in Europe. The range of disorders involved includes irritable bowel syndrome, chronic widespread pain and chronic fatigue syndrome. This book reviews the current literature, clarifies and disseminates clear information about the size and scope of the problem, and discusses current and future national and international guidelines. It also identifies barriers to progress and makes evidence-based recommendations for the management of medically unexplained symptoms and somatisation. Written and edited by leading experts in the field, this authoritative text defines international best practice and is an important resource for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, primary care doctors and those responsible for establishing health policy.

Download or read book Exercises for Fibromyalgia written by William Smith and published by Hatherleigh Press. This book was released on 2016-06-07 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Minimize Pain, Maximize Results, and Take Back Your Life Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition, yet medical opinions are divided as to its cause and how it should be treated. Is it a neurological or a physical ailment? Should you treat the muscles or the mind? The correct answer is to treat both. Improving overall fitness while reducing anxiety and stress is the key to reducing your fibromyalgia symptoms and improving your daily functioning. Exercises for Fibromyalgia is tailored to improve your fitness and energy levels without strain or stiffness. With a focus on exercises designed to relieve pain and improve sleep for fibromyalgia sufferers, you will find yourself feeling better each day, as your strength increases and your soreness decreases. Combined with effective techniques proven to relieve stress and improve your sleep habits, Exercises for Fibromyalgia makes sure your mind and body both benefit from a healthy lifestyle. Exercises for Fibromyalgia also includes: - An overview of living with fibromyalgia and the benefits of exercise - Clear, informative pictures of safe, effective exercises - Detailed instructions on how to perform each exercise - A complete exercise approach to reduce stress and improve fitness - A training log to track progress Having fibromyalgia doesn’t mean having to give up doing the things you love, or having to live with aches and pains for the rest of your life. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Download or read book Fibromyalgia written by Erin Lawson, MD and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-06-09 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This practical text provides a clinical overview of the etiology, diagnosis and treatment for fibromyalgia. Current evidence-based treatments and guidelines are emphasized along with lifestyle modification suggestions for the patient. Also included is a review of current literature, research and emerging developments on this prevalent pain syndrome. A range of healthcare specialties, including pain management, rheumatology, neurology, internal medicine and family practice, will find this comprehensive guide to be a valuable resource to their routine treatment of fibromyalgia and improve patient's quality of life.

Download or read book Galileo s Middle Finger written by Alice Dreger and published by Penguin Books. This book was released on 2016-04-05 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Galileo's Middle Finger is historian Alice Dreger's eye-opening story of life in the trenches of scientific controversy. Dreger's chronicle begins with her own research into the treatment of people born intersex (once called hermaphrodites). Realization of the shocking surgical and ethical abuses conducted in the name of "normalizing" intersex children's gender identities moved Dreger to become an internationally recognized patient rights activist. But even as the intersex rights movement succeeded, Dreger began to realize how some fellow activists were using lies and personal attacks to silence scientisis whose data revealed uncomfortable truths about humans. In researching one case, Dreger suddenly became a target of just these kinds of attacks. Troubled, she decided to try to understand more -- to travel the country and seek a global view of the nature and costs of these damaging battles. Galileo's Middle Finger describes Dreger's long and harrowing journeys between the two camps for which she felt equal empathy: social justice activists determined to win and researchers determined to put hard truths before comfort. What emerges is a lesson about the intertwining of justice and truth-- and about the importance of responsible scholars and journalists to our fragile democracy." --

Download or read book Medical Medium written by Anthony William and published by Hay House, Inc. This book was released on 2015-11-10 with total page 439 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: HEALING WISDOM THAT’S DECADES AHEAD OF ITS TIME Anthony William, the one and only Medical Medium, has helped tens of thousands of people heal from ailments that have been misdiagnosed or ineffectively treated or that doctors can’t resolve. He’s done this by listening to a divine voice that literally speaks into his ear, telling him what lies at the root of people’s pain or illness and what they need to do to restore their health. His methods achieve spectacular results, even for those who have spent years and many thousands of dollars on all forms of medicine before turning to him. Now, in this revolutionary book, he opens the door to all he has learned in over 25 years of bringing people’s lives back: a massive amount of healing information, much of which science won’t discover for decades, and most of which has never appeared anywhere before. Medical Medium reveals the root causes of diseases and conditions that medical communities either misunderstand or struggle to understand at all. It explores all-natural solutions for dozens of the illnesses that plague us, including: · Lyme disease · Fibromyalgia · Adrenal fatigue · Chronic fatigue syndrome · Hormonal imbalances · Hashimoto’s disease · Multiple sclerosis · Depression · Neurological conditions · Chronic inflammation · Autoimmune disease · Blood sugar imbalances · Colitis and other digestive disorders · And more It also offers solutions for restoring the soul and spirit after illness has torn at our emotional fabric. Whether you’ve been given a diagnosis you don’t understand, or you have symptoms you don’t know how to name, or someone you love is sick, or you want to care for your own patients better, Medical Medium offers the answers you need. It’s also a guidebook for everyone seeking the secrets to living longer, healthier lives. "The truth about the world, ourselves, life, purpose—it all comes down to healing," Anthony William writes. "And the truth about healing is now in your hands."

Download or read book Marijuana As Medicine written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2000-12-30 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some people suffer from chronic, debilitating disorders for which no conventional treatment brings relief. Can marijuana ease their symptoms? Would it be breaking the law to turn to marijuana as a medication? There are few sources of objective, scientifically sound advice for people in this situation. Most books about marijuana and medicine attempt to promote the views of advocates or opponents. To fill the gap between these extremes, authors Alison Mack and Janet Joy have extracted critical findings from a recent Institute of Medicine study on this important issue, interpreting them for a general audience. Marijuana As Medicine? provides patientsâ€"as well as the people who care for themâ€"with a foundation for making decisions about their own health care. This empowering volume examines several key points, including: Whether marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and appetite loss. The dangers of smoking marijuana, as well as the effects of its active chemical components on the immune system and on psychological health. The potential use of marijuana-based medications on symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other specific disorders, in comparison with existing treatments. Marijuana As Medicine? introduces readers to the active compounds in marijuana. These include the principal ingredient in Marinol, a legal medication. The authors also discuss the prospects for developing other drugs derived from marijuana's active ingredients. In addition to providing an up-to-date review of the science behind the medical marijuana debate, Mack and Joy also answer common questions about the legal status of marijuana, explaining the conflict between state and federal law regarding its medical use. Intended primarily as an aid to patients and caregivers, this book objectively presents critical information so that it can be used to make responsible health care decisions. Marijuana As Medicine? will also be a valuable resource for policymakers, health care providers, patient counselors, medical faculty and studentsâ€"in short, anyone who wants to learn more about this important issue.

Download or read book Healing Back Pain written by John E. Sarno and published by Balance. This book was released on 2001-03-15 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dr. John E. Sarno's groundbreaking research on TMS (Tension Myoneural Syndrome) reveals how stress and other psychological factors can cause back pain-and how you can be pain free without drugs, exercise, or surgery. Dr. Sarno's program has helped thousands of patients find relief from chronic back conditions. In this New York Times bestseller, Dr. Sarno teaches you how to identify stress and other psychological factors that cause back pain and demonstrates how to heal yourself--without drugs, surgery or exercise. Find out: Why self-motivated and successful people are prone to Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) How anxiety and repressed anger trigger muscle spasms How people condition themselves to accept back pain as inevitable With case histories and the results of in-depth mind-body research, Dr. Sarno reveals how you can recognize the emotional roots of your TMS and sever the connections between mental and physical pain...and start recovering from back pain today.

Download or read book Rheumatology for Primary Care Providers written by Yousaf Ali and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-11-08 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Current texts in rheumatology are very detailed and designed specifically for rheumatologists. This clear and concise guide is targeted at the busy clinician who comes into contact with both common and uncommon rheumatologic disorders. Many chapters presents a common clinical scenario and include a definition of the disease while outlining incidence and prevalence, common manifestations, treatment and pitfalls. A range of topics are included in the fifteen chapters including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, metabolic bone disease, gout and scleroderma, among others. Written by experts in the field, Rheumatology for Primary Care Providers is a definitive guide to rheumatology for the primary care physician and non-specialist.

Download or read book Improving Diagnosis in Health Care written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-12-29 with total page 473 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

Download or read book Muscle Pathology written by Reid R. Heffner and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: