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

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.

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.