Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition)

I am very glad I purchased this book. I am newly diagnosed and this book greatly helped me in understanding the scientific and medical aspects of what is happening to my body with FMS and CMP. I highly recommend this book to others who want to know more about how fibro effects the body at the most basic cellular levels. I'll be honest; I cried alot while reading this book...but they were tears of relief. It was not all in my head! For more than a decade I have suffered with many of the symptoms; the worst being the fatigue, heightened pain sensitivities, migraines, sinusitis, allergies and unexplainable weight gain which no diet would decrease. I went to dozens of dr's and spend untold amounts of money on diagnostic tools (mri's, xrays, cat scans ect)...all of which were wasted because none of these physicians believed in FMS or could put together the huge list of symptoms. Many told me to see a psychologist or therapist; which I did but was then told I never needed. Many just flat out could not help me. Finally a rheumatologist diagnosed me with FMS & CFS. This book brings to light the WHY's of the symptoms FMS, CFS and CMP sufferers endure. It also teaches you how to help yourself and your doctors to optimize your results. It provides invaluable knowledge on the underlying factors that contribute and add to FMS. It breaks down barriers of misconceptions and misunderstandings. It also provides the reader with peace of mind and resources in determining the best work enviroments or what steps to take if disability is an unfortunate option. Thankfully it also addresses the mental, physical and emotional stresses chronic pain causes for both the sufferer and their family. This book imo, is invaluable for the FMS, CFS and CMP sufferer. The only thing I wish it had more of is the dietary steps needed and foods required to cleanse, detox and purify your body...for long term lessening of symptoms and pain. More dr's should read this book.

If you buy one book, this is the one. I've been sick since I was literally 2 days old. I was diagnosed with narcolepsy at 15. I am always sick. Opportunistic infections. Weird unusual things. Adverse reactions. High tolerances to every medication, ones I've never been given. Long story. But the symptoms part is setup into questions. A lot of them. With explanations and diagrams by each one. I've looked into fibromyalgia when it was suggested 8 years ago. Then the best information only showed a few trigger points. Not much was known. When I read the questions, I answered yes to each and every one. It explained every weird symptom I've had whole life. 100 of them. No doctor can figure it out. I'm intelligent was going to go to vet school if didn't get narcolepsy with cataplexy. LITERALLY cannot stay awake in passive learning environment. I have spent my life trying to figure out what I have, there was so much conflicting information out there. And SO MANY doctors do not believe you anymore, especially if you are an informed patient. If you are your own advocate, which with over 17 years of an undiagnosed invisible chronic illness, many doctors treat you like you are an idiot asking dumb things you read online. I have spent my life researching. Have files and files. This book had the answer to the puzzle. I have FIBROMYALGIA. DEFINITELY. NO QUESTIONS. And it says that EVERY SINGLE OTHER DISEASE I HAVE OR AM SUSPECTED OF HAVING IS OFTEN FOUND IN PEOPLE WITH FIBROMYALGIA. HAVING THEM DOES NOT EXCLUDE YOU FROM HAVING FIBROMYALGIA AND CHRONIC MYOFAS COAL PAIN TOO. SEVERAL OF THESE DISEASES GO HAND IN HAND. MY SEARCH IS FINALLY OVER. I CAN FINALLY GO TO A DOCTOR AND SAY AFTER 17 YEARS OF NO ONE WITH A DEGREE FIGURING OUT WHAT I HAVE, I HAVE FIGURED IT OUT. THANKS TO THIS BOOK. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE IN WAYS I CANNOT EVEN COMPREHEND YET. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ IF YOU HAVE FIBROMYALGIA OR IF YOU ARE ALWAYS SICK AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY, IF YOU GET ODD UNUSUAL THINGS. REACT ODDLY TO MEDICATIONS. AND SO SO MUCH MORE. TOP BOOK OF ALL TIME

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition) was recommended reading for me by the doctor who diagnosed me with both eight years ago. I remember he told me that I would read it and see myself in the pages. I had previously suspected I had fibromyalgia but myofascial pain was a new one on me; there I sat as the doctor explained that I was suffering from both diseases accompanied by chronic fatigue syndrome. He assured me that the book would be a tool to help me find ways to treat my myriad of symptoms that were leaving me weak and mostly bedridden, including chronic pain, insomnia and GAD. Did it heal me? Well, no. Did it help me get out of bed? Yes, sometimes. Did it get rid of my pain? No, but I dragged it out every time I experienced uncontrollable pain in certain areas of my body; what I called hotspots. I would look up my hot spot in the index and read each bit of information listed about those particular muscles and myofascial knots and learn how to try and release painful trigger points; It often worked. My primary care provider and I utilized every treatment imaginable that Medicare would pay for... pain meds, antidepressants, nerve meds, injections and more, you just name it. But, I continued to use my Green Book, dog-earing pages, inking up margins with notations, and sticking post it notes on pages where they hang in a crumpled wad to this day. As Devin Starlanyl says, my Green Book is part of my tool box for feeling better. Would I buy this book again if I had a do-over? Absolutely! And I did so, only this time it was for a dear family member who suffers as I do. As with me, I don't think this book is the answer to a cure. I am hoping that, as it did for me, it might help to alleviate some of the debilitating symptoms of this awful disease and all the pain that comes with it.

This has to be one of the best Fibro books around. This edition is more technical than the original but somebody kept my copy of that, darn it. That one was easier for a foggy brain to read - but I remember one of the quotes it had off to the side: At first, I thought having Fibromyalgia was like having two broken arms. Then I discovered it was more like having no arms at all. That was exactly how I felt but all my doc said was, "Well...you aren't gonna die." This was the first book I read on Fibro (I was dx'd in 1996 - not much literature back then. The forum for Fibromyalgia at Cleveland Clinic had 49!!!!! people on it. Now there are thousands and thousands.) and I cried my eyes out because I FINALLY felt vindicated after all those years of docs looking at me like I was nuts or a hypochondriac. She also has an awesome website for sufferers, family members and physicians. And I'll tell you something else...since she has this disease, had to quit her work because of it....she understands in a way our own physicians never can or will. The more you know, the better off you are. I've had this 19 years now and I attribute much of my well being at this stage to learning what I learned about my body and how/what Fibro does many, many years ago from this book. I have bought many copies for others over the years.

If you only have CMP (chronic myofascial pain), and if that CMP is of relatively recent onset and you have the slightest clue as to what set it off, you probably don't need all the information in Starlanyl's book and would do better, presuming limited $$, with a good trigger point manual and a couple of tennis balls. Starlanyl is full of useful information that can help people who have found their conditions overwhelming, as is evidenced by all the ravingly 5-star positive reviews. OTOH, if you have a pretty good grasp of pain management, and maybe dietary adjustments, and possibly even various forms of bodywork, you may find yourself turning pages pretty fast. Then again, it's not that expensive (about the same as a generic pain prescription). I won't be returning it, but I'll be in Clair Davies' book (Trigger Point Therapy Workbook) a whole lot more and I coulda bought half a Theracane with the cost of Starlanyl.

This book is critical to anyone who has been dx with FM. I was at 18 and am now 40. There are two conditions that have been lumped together. Some people have neurological symptoms, the all-over pain. Many do not know the other aspect that is lumped in and most doctors still don’t recognize, understand or treat it properly. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction. This was researched and published decades ago by Dr. Janet Travell, the personal doctor of JFK. Knowing what CMPD is opens a whole other world for treatment and relief. This book allows the patient to learn and recognize trigger points, referred Pain and how to release the culprit taught or balled muscle on their own. It also helps to communicate with your doctor. The difference between FM and CMPD is significant but they often come together. Although this manual may still be hard to understand to a new patient, as the body and concept are complex, finding a doctor that recognizes the difference and is willing to learn or communicate via a guide like this will help many people tremendously, who are not finding relief via current FM treatment protocol. I am not a doctor or even in the medical field. Just a patient, along with family, that has been dealing with this for decades.

When I first found out that I had Fibromyalgia, I was lost. Aside from being in severe pain and suffering from a cloying fatigue, I didn't really know very much about the condition. I ended up joining an online support group and nearly everyone in the group recommended a particular book to me. Once I finally broke down and bought the book, my life changed for the better. I still had the condition, but I was armed with excellent information. They don't call this book the "Fibro bible" for nothing. This book is written by a doctor who actually has Fibromyalgia (although for some reason, she's removed the M.D. from her name for this edition...). This book covers everything that you need to know, whether you be a patient or the treating physician. It has a wonderful section that helps you to identify many of the strange and random-seeming symptoms of the syndrome. There are detailed body charts showing likely trigger points throughout the body. Other sections inform you of such aspects as gender, sleep and fatigue, age-related issues, chronic pain and various courses of action toward relief. Once you come to terms with having the disease, there are informative sections on gaining control over parts of your life again. There's a Wellness Recovery Action Plan, sections on mindwork, nutrition, medications, fibrofog, work, ability and disability...it goes on and on. If you only choose one book on Fibromyalgia, this should be the one. This is the second edition and picks up where the first edition left off. Both are excellent and considered necessity if you, or a loved one, have this debilitating condition.

The information in this book is priceless to me. I have gone to many doctors to treat the myriad of symtoms that come with FMS, it has been extremely frustrating. Most physicians have the opinion that it is "just in your head", or even say they are "overwhelmed" with the list of issues. This book identifies and breaks down all of this information in an easy to follow format (alot of medical terminology, but read it thru a couple of times, you'll get it). I actually took it with me to see my doctor, with hi-lighted areas, to point out that what I'm going thru is an actual "condition". I'm still reading, and there are great tips on what to do and not do on dealing with this syndrome. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for the info on how to get back on track to living healthy!!

This book is full of helpful information, not only for those who suffer from this syndrome but for their families, friends, and doctors. This is so often misunderstood and the explanations are easy to understand, make sense, and are better info than most doctors have. I recommend it for anyone who is going through this difficult bit of life.

I recommend this to anyone with Fibro! It was very informative and helpful in understanding this mystery illness. I love that it has a chapter on how to talk to your doctor, which is huge when dealing with doctors who don't know enough about it or how to treat it.

This book is amazing! A must if you suffer from any chronic muscle pain.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Manual This book is a really really interesting read. It has cleared up many of the questions that I've have had for many years, I have now found out why so many thing are wrong with me and whilst they cannot be 'cured' knowing really helps. Highly recommended. This is a book to keep handy as it's one I dip into all the time. If you have F MS and Myofascial Pain then this is one for you!

I have bought and read many books on fibromyalgia, usually recycling them before reaching the end. Not this one. I can't say it was cheap to buy but it has proved very good value and you only need buy this book as it is the ultimate source of information. Not a quick read but invaluable in understanding the condition and adjusting your lifestyle accordingly.