Fibromyalgia Syndrome

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 symptoms, either alone or in combination, from headaches and fatigue to widespread muscular pain or irritable bowel syndrome. The symptom which is common to all patients is 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 the wide variety of presenting symptoms many 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 those practitioners to recognise the syndrome and to plan effectively for its appropriate treatment and management.