Fibromyalgia Syndrome
- A Practitioner's Guide to Treatment
(3nd edition + CD-ROM)
(Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier)
Paperback, 368 Pages , 140 Illustrations
Churchill Livingstone (2003)
ISBN - 97-0443069369
Chaitow – Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Third edition
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is still regarded as a “new condition”. It was only officially recognised and defined as a syndrome by the World Health Organisation in 1990. Since then much research has been undertaken and the pool of knowledge and understanding about the condition has grown rapidly although much remains unsolved. FMS is a complex syndrome and sufferers may experience a wide variety of debilitating symptoms, either alone or in combination, from headaches and fatigue to widespread muscular pain or and irritable bowel syndrome. The symptom which is common to all patients in is severe musculoskeletal pain. FMS is estimated to be the second commonest condition encountered in clinics for the treatment of chronic pain and it is now recognised that many people who initially present with chronic low back pain (the commonest presentation) may go on to develop FMS. This high prevalence of FMS in the general population is regarded as highly significant and has major implications for the provision and funding of relevant health care.
Because of its’ many presenting symptoms different clinicians and therapists become involved in the treatment and management of FMS patients. Fibromyalgia Syndrome – a practitioner’s guide to treatment aims to help clinicians and therapists involved in the treatment and management of FMS to better understand the syndrome, and to plan appropriate treatment and management.
Key Features
- Aims to help the practitioner to identify and understand the aetiology of FMS
- Provides a guide to all aspects of FMS management
- Presents a multidisciplinary view of FMS `associated problems, and the different approaches to management
- Outlines clearly those therapeutic methods which produce sustained beneficial outcomes
- Written by a well-known osteopath with contribution from numerous experts from other health-care professions
- References the latest research findings and relates them to clinical practice
- Contains information on current conventional and complementary approaches to treatment, including manual therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, dry needling, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, microcurrent, thyroid replacement methods, therapeutic touch.
New to this edition
- Clinically important new chapters on the Endocannabinoid system, Hydrotherapy, Therapeutic Touch, with expanded chapters on Differential diagnosis: myofascial pain syndrome, the thyroid connection, and Microcurrent therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia
- Includes a DVD containing video clips to explain management of FMS, as well as providing a complete electronic copy of the printed text.
In Fibromyalgia Syndrome – a practitioner’s guide to treatment Leon Chaitow and his contributors provide a comprehensive overview of this epidemiologically significant condition and describe the most effective multidisciplinary approaches to treatment. The multidisciplinary perspective they offer to this multifaceted and frequently encountered syndrome provides an invaluable source of information for all practitioners.
BOOK REVIEW by Dr. Devin Starlanyl
The information in this book from Leon Chaitow alone is worth the price. In addition to his fine writing, he brings together many authors who are blazing trails in fibromyalgia research. They offer many treatment options and perceptions.
As Dr. Chaitow explains, it is now recognized by many researchers and practitioners that fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)is often perpetuated by myofascial trigger points (TrPs). Most patients with FMS have TrPs as well, and treating the TrPs can significantly reduce the symptom load. Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain from TrPs are not the same. Many people have TrPs but do not have FMS. Knowing that the central sensitization of FMS is present in patients with both conditions will enable the practitioner to adjust TrP therapies accordingly. Dr. Chaitow is very clear about this.
Fibromyalgia is not yet curable, but it can be treated, and many of the components that add to the patient's burden can be minimized or eliminated with adequate treatment. This book is a toolbox full of ways to accomplish that task.
Dr Devin J Starlanyl (W. Chesterfield, NH USA)
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