Fibromyalgia

Lesson 2: Medical Resources.

Assessing Your Current Doctor

Perhaps your current doctor is one that you are truly happy with - except that he can't seem to put his finger on your current problem. Do you want to continue under that doctor, or find a new primary care physician? Let's look at the type of doctor you have been using as your primary care physician. A general practitioner who is an M.D. is the most common, but you may be seeing a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), a Chiropractor (D.C.) or a Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.). Any one of these types of practitioners are fine primary care physician if they are sympathetic to fibromyalgia sufferers and willing to work with them. Test yours to see if they will do.

First Test: Suggest to your doctor that you have been reading a lot about fibromyalgia and wonder if that might be the problem. Support your "diagnosis" by bringing him a checklist of fibro symptoms showing how many of those you are suffering from. See Lesson One Symptoms or print out a copy of Devin's Diagnostic and check off the symptoms you know you have.

If he or she dismisses you - or dismisses fibro as something unreal, you need a new doctor. But if yours is willing to listen and to be educated - even to admit that he or she doesn't know much about fibromyalgia then you've got yourself a winner.

Lend the doctor one of your books- such as our text for this course, or others on our recommended list.. If your doctor is agreeable - and after a reasonable amount of time shows that he or she has indeed taken time to learn about fibro, you're probably on the right track.

Quick Test 2 Ask them about tender points. If they act confused, or if they start talking about sore points in your joints or muscles then they don't really know much about fibro that is very specific. They should know that tender points are part of the diagnostic tools for fibro. People with only a passing familarity with fibro often sonfise those tender points with trigger points. Trigger points are hyper-irritable areas in specific muscles, and can be found in muscles all over the body, whereas tender points have a very specific location.

However, if the doctor is willing to learn, point him or her to some good books on the subject. If they know what a tender point is and have passed the first test - you may well have yourself a good doctor.

But don't stop there. You should also see a specialist. Usually the specialist to see is a Rheumatologist. Your doctor should be able to give you a good referral. A rheumatologist is trained in proper diagnosis of fibro, and a diagnosis from one is often the only one that is accepted should you apply for disability benefits.

Personally, once you have a proper diagnosis, your next step should be to find a good neurologist. Since fibro is basically a problem with the way we process pain, a neurologist is best suited to dealing with the problem. .