Fibromyalgia For Dummies


Book Description

The pain you suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is not in your imagination. FMS is a real medical problem that can be as debilitating and demoralizing as it is mysterious. Fibromyalgia For Dummies, Second Edition, brings you the latest scientific findings on the symptoms and causes of this disease and guides you toward proven, practical steps you can take reduce or eliminate FMS-related pain. This plain-English guide is fully updated with the latest fibromyalgia treatment options, and evaluations of new medications that have shown great promise in reducing pain. You'll discover how to spot an array of symptoms and their possible causes, work with your physician to develop a treatment plan, and manage your pain at home and in the office. You'll learn how to: Identify your FMS trigger points Cope with chronic pain and sleep problems Find medications that work for you Locate a physician who can really help you Make healing lifestyle changes Use hands-on therapies to alleviate pain Find effective over-the-counter and prescription medications Choose among alternative therapies and treatments Reduce the emotional distress caused by FMS Help a child with FMS Featuring moving and inspiring stories from fellow FMS sufferers who share their stories and offer invaluable tips on working your way back to wellness, Fibromyalgia for Dummies, Second Edition offers serious and sensitive guidance to help you overcome FMS and start being yourself again.




Fibromyalgia


Book Description

Fibromyalgia is a severe musculoskeletal pain and fatigue syndrome that afflicts approximately 3 to 6 million Americans. Fibromyalgia: The Complete Guide from Medical Experts and Patients is a compilation of a diverse group of health care practitioners and a comprehensive guide for patients and families. The book provides authoritative, practical advice and answers to common questions about this condition to help patients and families achieve a greater understanding of all aspects of dealing with fibromyalgia. Physicians incorporate newest research on fibromyalgia. This resource offers material never presented in any other fibromyalgia book. the research presented by an experienced psychiatrist on ADHD, concurrent with fibromyalgia and chronic pain, Is innovative offering a piece of the puzzle that has been previously ignored and may offer new hope and insight to those with chronic pain. Patients give first hand accounts of how they have effectively improved their functionality and pain levels by incorporating suggestions outlined in the book. This valuable resource breaks down complex medical issues into understandable terms, and focuses on the most important things readers need to know to understand and manage fibromyalgia.




Mayo Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia


Book Description

Called the “invisible disease,” fibromyalgia is estimated to impact more than 10 million Americans. And yet, so much is still misunderstood about this chronic disorder. Mayo Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia is an invaluable resource for understanding fibromyalgia and its debilitating symptoms. Those living with fibromyalgia know it is an invasive disorder, one that can cause overwhelming fatigue, joint stiffness, sleep problems, migraines, digestive problems, and troubles with memory and concentration, a symptom so common it is often referred to as “fibrofog.” While it's believed that humans have suffered from fibromyalgia for hundreds, even thousands, of years, a delay in medical research means many people living with fibromyalgia are still in the dark, confused by their symptoms and what causes the painful disorder. By drawing upon decades of advanced research in studying and treating fibromyalgia, Mayo Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia combines anecdotes from real cases with expertise from Mayo Clinic’s rheumatology and chronic pain experts to provide an all-encompassing guide for understanding one of the most common chronic illnesses affecting Americans today. This book also offers reasonable, proven strategies—like worksheets to help readers craft a personalized daily plan—for managing common fibromyalgia symptoms, while serving as a comforting guide for those who may feel alone in their journey with fibromyalgia. This book breaks down what fibromyalgia is—and isn’t—in 4 separate sections: · Section 1 introduces fibromyalgia, the history and modern discoveries of fibromyalgia research, as well as common myths and misconceptions associated with the condition · Section 2 outlines the different treatment options available to those who suffer from fibromyalgia, including prescription medications, therapies, and forms of integrative medicine · Section 3 offers helpful tips for managing—and improving—chronic pain through diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management · Finally, Section 4 explains how to find guidance and support from your family, friends, and physicians to help you live a life unhindered by fibromyalgia If you’re struggling to advance past your painful fibromyalgia symptoms, get the book Publisher’s Weekly described as “the first [book] a newly diagnosed patient should consult.”




The FibroManual


Book Description

The most up-to-date, comprehensive treatment guide to fibromyalgia, by a renowned physician who herself has the condition If you suffer from fibromyalgia and are struggling to get help from your doctor, you’re far from alone. Ten million Americans experience the widespread muscle pain, profound fatigue, and fuzzy brain (“fibrofog”) that have long frustrated both patients and doctors. In this unique resource, Ginevra Liptan, M.D., shares a cutting-edge new approach that goes far beyond mainstream medical knowledge to produce dramatic symptom improvement. Dr. Liptan’s program incorporates clinically proven therapies from both alternative and conventional medicine, along with the latest research on experimental options like medical marijuana. Since many health care providers have limited fibromyalgia expertise, The FibroManual includes a thoroughly sourced “health care provider guide” that enables readers to help their doctors help them. Alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms in four simple steps (Rest, Repair, Rebalance, and Reduce) and you will • restore deep, restful sleep • achieve long-lasting pain relief • optimize hormone and energy balance • reduce fatigue This accessible and empowering resource provides essential information about understanding and treating fibromyalgia from a physician who, as both patient and provider, understands the illness from the inside.




The Truth About Fibromyalgia


Book Description

Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and restless legs syndrome are disorders caused by an inability of the brain to properly regulate pain and sympathetic nervous activity, according to rheumatologist Dr. Clay McCord. Dr. McCord presents evidence that a chemical imbalance in the brain disrupts deep sleep. Therapy that restores this imbalance improves sleep and alleviates symptoms. Failure to recognize these associations has led to misdiagnosis, mistreatment, referrals to multiple specialists and money needlessly wasted. This book attempts to put an end to misunderstandings as they relate to fibromyalgia and dispels myths that the disease either doesn't exist or is all in the patient's mind. No longer should patients suffer unnecessarily or fall victim to charlatans offering nothing more than "junk science." After being frustrated for years watching others profit off discredited theories, Dr. McCord feels revealing the truth is the only way to combat the deception and bring relief to those who suffer. TH Dr. Clay McCord practices medicine in southern California. He graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and is certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.




Chronic Pain For Dummies


Book Description

Proven exercises and techniques for dealing with pain Your compassionate guide to conquering pain and living a full life Do you suffer from chronic pain? This reassuring, practical guide helps you understand what causes pain and how to manage it with the newest pain-relieving techniques. You'll see how to track your pain triggers, weigh the benefits and risks of pain-reducing medications, improve your pain levels with diet and exercise, and determine whether surgery is right for you. Discover how to: Diagnose your pain Build an anti-pain medical team Prevent or minimize pain attacks Explore alternative therapies Make helpful lifestyle changes




Diagnosing Your Health Symptoms For Dummies


Book Description

Written by an experienced family doctor and packed with practical and sound advice, Diagnosing Your Health Symptoms For Dummies is a reference for everyone who wants to find out when they do and don't need to worry about their health. It will cover over 100 common, important, potentially serious and often worrying symptoms and emergencies, such as headaches, chest pain, dizziness, fever, bleeding, tiredness or stress. This reassuring guide will also include guidance on how to perform basic physical assessments, as well as a run through of key first aid techniques. Perfect for both allaying fears and encouraging those with serious symptoms to seek professional advice, this guide will be an essential family health bible. Diagnosing Your Health Symptoms FD includes: Part I: Spotting and Assessing Illness: The Basics Chapter 1: Thinking about Medicine Chapter 2: Dealing with Medical Problems Chapter 3: Conducting a Symptom Check Chapter 4: Looking for Out For Signs of Illness Part II: Looking at Emergencies and ‘All-Over' Symptoms Chapter 5: Coping with Medical Emergencies Chapter 6: Approaching Non-Specific Symptoms Chapter 7: Symptoms Affecting the Wider Body Part III: From top to toe: looking at specific areas of the body Chapter 8: Look at Me! Sussing Out Skin Problems Chapter 9: Trouble at the Top: Symptoms Around the Head and Problems with the Senses Chapter 10: Close to Your Heart: Exploring Chest Problems Chapter 11: Untangling Tummy and Bowel Problems Chapter 12: Getting Lower: Urinary and Other Disturbances ‘Down There' Chapter 13: Bones and Groans Part IV: Dealing with health problems in people close to you Chapter 14: Spotting Illness in Your Baby Chapter 15: Illness in Your Toddler or Pre-School Child Chapter 16: Problems in Your School-Age Kids Chapter 17: Dealing with Adolescent Problems Chapter 18: Understanding Women's Troubles Chapter 19: Looking at Some Specific Men's Issues Chapter 20: Dealing with Common Later Life Problems Part V: Spotting mental health problems Chapter 21: Tackling Anxiety, Depression and Stress Chapter 22: Approaching Unusual Thoughts and Behaviour Chapter 23: Addressing Alcohol and Drug Problems Part VI: The part of tens Chapter 24: Ten First Aid Essentials: Helping Yourself and Others Chapter 25: Ten Reliable Health Websites Chapter 26: Ten Medical Tests you May Need Glossary: 100 Useful Medical Terms




What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia


Book Description

Over a decade ago, Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, an experienced endocrinologist and UCLA assistant clinical professor, published his protocol for reversing fibromyalgia based on nearly half a century of research. This book offers Dr. St. Amand's latest research on guaifenesin, an inexpensive, safe, an incresingly available medication that can help reverse the disease. The authors have seen symtpoms eliminated and normal quality of life restored in an astonishing 90 percent of pateints they treated with guaifenesin. Updated and revised with more patient anecdotes and a deeper understanding of symptoms, treatments, and results, readers will find: --more information about the current treatment of fibromyalgia and what causes it --new results from Dr. St. Amand's studies about the efficacy of guafenesin treatment --changes in disease protocol --discussion of pharmaceuticals in treatment --and much more




The New Arthritis Cure


Book Description

This book reveals the true cause of arthritis and fibromyalgia. Up till now these conditions have been considered incurable. The reason for this is that doctors have not recognized the cause, and without knowing the cause it is virtually impossible to develop a cure. Recent medical research, however, has established a clear cause and effect connection. The underlying cause for all the major forms of arthritis and for fibromyalgia is now known. Drugs aren’t the answer. However, there are natural health-promoting therapies that do work and can stop the progression of the disease and encourage regeneration and recovery. In this book you will read about new groundbreaking medical research, fascinating case studies, and inspiring personal success stories. You will learn about a totally unique approach to overcoming arthritis and fibromyalgia called the Arthritis Battle Plan. More importantly, you will learn what steps you must take in order to stop the disease process and regain your health.




Living with Fibromyalgia


Book Description

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by pain in the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Other symptoms include fatigue, sleep problems, allergies, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, morning stiffness and problems with short term memory and concentration. Increasing recognition of fibromyalgia means that diagnosis and treatment are increasingly likely, but self-help is still key. As well as tried and tested advice on how to reduce pain, boost energy levels and help with regular sleep, this new edition includes the latest in treatments, such as the popular therapy guaifenesin (sic). It also looks at how pain is experienced, explores the possibility that fibromylagia may be due to a rogue gene, and clarifies the difference between fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Other topics include: fibromyalgia and immune dysfunction; links with hypothyroidism; psychotherapy; the vital importance of low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming diet; illustrated posture and exercise advice; pain and stress management; complementary therapies 'Having managed her own fibromyalgia, Christine now passes her experience and knowledge on to others so that they do not have to spend their precious time researching what she has already done. Progress has been made over the last few years and more medical professionals are recognising the symptoms, but there are still many who lack the knowledge to diagnose and treat fibromyalgia effectively. At present there are no national guidelines for treatment. This is one reason this book is so vital to those with fibromyalgia their families, friends and employers' Pam Stewart MBE, Fibromyalgia Association UK chair.