Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for Patients and Their Families

by Daniel J. Wallace, J. B. Wallace

Fibromyalgia is a form of chronic neuromuscular pain, a pain-amplification syndrome brought on by abnormal interactions between hormones, the immune system, neurotransmitters, and the autonomic nervous system, that afflicts six million Americans every year. Often misdiagnosed, and widely misunderstood, the majority of patients are turned away from doctors or treated for depression. This guide offers expert advice to sufferers of this painful syndrome and gives them the education they need to get the help they require but rarely get.

In their earlier books, Making Sense of Fibromyalgia and All About Fibromyalgia , noted medical writer Janice Wallace and Dr. Daniel Wallace, a leading expert on this disorder, provided comprehensive guides--for both patients and professionals--to this little known and poorly understood syndrome. Now, in Fibromyalgia , the Wallaces provide an inviting and succinct version of the syndrome they have studied, laid out in clear and accessible language. The authors provide a clear, concise explanation of the syndrome and its symptoms, and also outline the recent advances in treatments.

Fibromyalgia addresses a desperate need for concise, accessible information on this syndrome and offers reassurance to patients and their families.

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2003

About the author

Daniel Jeffrey Wallace is an American rheumatologist, clinical professor, author, and fellow. Wallace has published 400 peer reviewed publications, 8 textbooks, and 25 book chapters on topics such as lupus, Sjögren syndrome, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. He has the largest cohort of lupus patients in the United States (2000).

A full professor of medicine (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA), he is associate director of the Rheumatology Fellowship Program at Cedars-Sinai. His seminal contributions to research include being an author of the first paper to demonstrate vitamin D dysfunction and the importance of interleukin 6 in lupus, conducting the first large studies of apheresis in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and insights into the mechanisms of action of antimalarials.

Wallace's research accomplishments also include conducting many clinical rheumatic disease trials, examining the role of microvascular angina and accelerated atherogenesis in lupus, and work on anti-telomere antibodies which have garnered him 5 papers in The New England Journal of Medicine. Wallace's monograph, The Lupus Book, has sold over 100,000 copies since 1995.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book is somewhat dated and a lot of information has been learned about the condition since its publication, I found this book extremely helpful in outlining symptoms, diagnosis, its effects on marriage and family, etc. I would recommend this as another book good for those recently diagnosed or for their family members so they can understand fibromyalgia better.

It's more medical than some other books out there, so be prepared for a great deal of science!