Synopsis

The welcome successor to Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome, this book offers readers a wealth of practical suggestions for dealing with an often skeptical medical establishment and getting the help and support they need. In four parts (Managing Your Health Care Team, Fighting for Your Rights, Dealing with Your World, Ammunition), Dr. Devin Starlanyl shows patients how to identify sources of help and assemble a functional healthcare team; explains how to maximize visits to professional caretakers; offers advice on dealing with the legal aspects of the healthcare system; and finds the best approaches to educate family and friends about the condition and enlist their help and support.

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is the most common cause of chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain, involving persistent fatigue, extensive aching,a nd multiple tender points. Chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), a related condition, is characterized by pain around knotted trigger points.

Biography

Devin J. Starlanyl specializes in the research and treatment of FMS/MPS and related conditions. She is one of the several support persons who assist FMS/MPS patients through the Internet support group at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Brattleboro, VT. Starlanyl has both conditions, so her books are written from the empathetic perspective of one who understands the disorder from the inside. She lives in West Chesterfield, NH.