This page has now been archived with no additional posts planned at this time, Ken.
Most of the illnesses that we have covered so far are well documented and generally speaking, are not controversial. But, this is not the case with the two illnesses in this post. In fact, we are not even sure if they are totally physical problems, or if they are based in a mental health construct. The first is fibromyalgia and can be defined as: Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome in which a person has long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, depression, and anxiety. The second is chronic fatigue syndrome: Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to severe, continued tiredness that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.
If these definitions seem vague and lacking in substance, you would be right in dismissing the descriptions as being misleading. But, if you are a person experiencing these symptoms, you would be more willing to believe that the syndromes as real. The problem seems to be in the medical community itself as there is no consensus as to the etiology of either illness. Both conditions have been called related to one another, totally different from each other, and non-existent! Even the drug companies like Pfizer, that market Lyrica on nationwide TV are careful not to define fibromyalgia or make a specific claim as to how it functions: “Fibromyalgia, thought to be”, “is believed to relieve”. This form of marketing simply muddies the already unclear waters that underlie these controversial conditions. And, unfortunately I am unable to provide a clear and concise image of these two concerning illnesses. My reason to post this issue is to bring to light the need to recognize that we have many areas in health studies that require better understanding and dialogue. There are many sources to search on the web and this one can at least get you started. Healthcare Reports Pittsburgh here.
Most of the illnesses that we have covered so far are well documented and generally speaking, are not controversial. But, this is not the case with the two illnesses in this post. In fact, we are not even sure if they are totally physical problems, or if they are based in a mental health construct. The first is fibromyalgia and can be defined as: Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome in which a person has long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, depression, and anxiety. The second is chronic fatigue syndrome: Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to severe, continued tiredness that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.
If these definitions seem vague and lacking in substance, you would be right in dismissing the descriptions as being misleading. But, if you are a person experiencing these symptoms, you would be more willing to believe that the syndromes as real. The problem seems to be in the medical community itself as there is no consensus as to the etiology of either illness. Both conditions have been called related to one another, totally different from each other, and non-existent! Even the drug companies like Pfizer, that market Lyrica on nationwide TV are careful not to define fibromyalgia or make a specific claim as to how it functions: “Fibromyalgia, thought to be”, “is believed to relieve”. This form of marketing simply muddies the already unclear waters that underlie these controversial conditions. And, unfortunately I am unable to provide a clear and concise image of these two concerning illnesses. My reason to post this issue is to bring to light the need to recognize that we have many areas in health studies that require better understanding and dialogue. There are many sources to search on the web and this one can at least get you started. Healthcare Reports Pittsburgh here.
