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HealthRoad Productions is dedicated to bringing you information on The Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)

This information on these pages is NOT meant to be a substitute for your physician's diagnosis and therapy. We do not diagnose or treat. This is informational only and you should discuss questions with your physician of diagnosis and treatment with you physician.

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic muscle pains. It is not a disease, but is a syndrome (a collection of symptoms characteristic of an illness) and is often abbreviated as FMS (the Fibromyalgia Syndrome). The symptoms of FMS may include:

Laboratory tests and X-rays are normal with pure FMS. It is not a disorder of the immune system and muscle function has been shown to be normal. Although it can be painful and at times disabling, it is not a fatal disorder and can respond well to proper therapy. FMS can often co-exist with many rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue disorders. It is of great importance to differentiate the cause of the various symptoms.

The exact cause of FMS is still uncertain. What has been clearly shown, however, is that it is a disturbance of the Mind-Body equilibrium. The pain is most likely due to central nervous system processing of sensation resulting in an abnormal increase in pain perception. Various stresses, both external and internal, are known to be involved in the production and perpetuation of FMS. Again – it is a disorder of the Mind-Body equilibrium and is not considered as a disease, but as an illness.

The essence of modern therapy is based on the restoration of the Mind-Body equilibrium. Some medications may help decrease the muscle pains, but they do not get to the basis of the problem. The program at KRH has been developed and refined since 1989 and is based on the RETRAIN program first developed by Dr. Paul Davidson and was the basis of his book “Chronic Muscle Pain Syndrome” in 1989. This program integrates Mind-Body function and is now widely accepted by the medical community. It involves traditional and alternative therapies in a multi-disciplinary approach, with the minimal use of medications. The goal is enable the patient to use self-help therapies to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of fibromyalgia while using the minimal amount of medications. The Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital Fibromyalgia Clinic utilizes three primary modalities of therapy:

Physical Therapy assists a fibromyalgia sufferer to develop an exercise routine that will not exacerbate their pain, but rather help reduce pain and conserve energy. In addition, pain management techniques include relaxation, acupressure, cranial therapy, reflexology, infrared light, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, ultrasound and heat and ice. Many of these techniques can be learned by the patient in conjunction with exercise and relaxation as a part of their daily routine to promote a greater sense of wellbeing and decreased pain while living with fibromyalgia.

The phrase “Occupational Therapy” (O.T.) can be misleading to some. The practice of O.T. is much more than providing therapy for the workplace. It is also an art and science that deals with multifaceted problems of chronic pain. Following are some of the therapeutic options that are offered at the Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital Fibromyalgia Clinic:

2. Self pain/symptoms management training as an ongoing process to manage Fibromyalgia

9. Electrical stimulation, splinting, kinesio-taping for pain and symptom reductions

Fibromyalgia can affect a person's life in a variety of ways, creating problems with relationships, limiting social activity, diminishing recreational interests, and severely affecting one’s performance at work. Having a chronic pain condition, particularly when the impact is severe, can increase one’s risk for depression and other mental health problems. However, each individual with fibromyalgia is unique and copes with challenges in different ways. As with other disabling conditions, individuals with fibromyalgia often need to make changes in their lives to maintain healthy relationships, to remain engaged in their interests and activities, and to be productive in their careers. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve quality of life and coping in fibromyalgia patients and other sufferers of chronic pain. Psychologists who specialize in working chronic pain patients emphasize the interrelationship between pain, stress, emotions, and behavior. The goal is to help people and their family and friends cope with the effects of fibromyalgia, to reduce stress, and to foster more adaptive ways of thinking, feeling, and dealing with the impact of chronic pain on one’s life.

At times medications can be of great value in helping to reduce the symptoms of FMS and many different ones are often prescribed. Lyrica was just approved in June, 2007 by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia. These medications work best in the context of a multidisciplinary treatment program as outlined above.

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The Fibromyalgia Clinic at Kentfield Rehabilitation Outpatient Center

The Fibromyalgia Clinic is located a half hour north of San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge, in Marin County. Organized in 1989, it has become an internationally known center for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

The Fibromyalgia Clinic offers a comprehensive therapy program for patients in the San Francisco bay area featuring evaluation, therapy and treatment recommendations.

The Fibromyalgia Clinic, Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital Outpatient Center, , 1125 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Kentfield, CA 94904, Phone: (415) 485-3644, Fax (415) 485-3595

Your Site for Information on the Fibromyalgia Syndrome!

The Fibromyalgia Clinic at Kentfield Rehabilitation Outpatient Center