The article "Drugmakers' Push Boosts 'Murky' Ailment" is a disservice to the millions of Americans suffering needlessly with pain from fibromyalgia and reinforces the skepticism shown by a minority portion of the medical community.
Instead of focusing on the pharmaceutical companies' sales figures, Mr. Perrone should interview patients who are leading productive, quality lives because of effective treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for managing fibromyalgia.
While fibromyalgia continues to be misunderstood, it is real and is recognized as a legitimate medical condition by reputable professional groups including the National Institutes of Health, the American Medical Association and the American College of Rheumatology. The notion that fibromyalgia is a psychological condition and patients should receive therapy instead of medication to "unlearn their predicament" is absurd and frankly a dangerous statement.
Fibromyalgia is not caused by depression, but the symptoms of fibromyalgia can affect all aspects of one's life leading to symptoms of depression. Untreated chronic pain can exasperate symptoms and other health conditions making a diagnosis and effective treatment plan more difficult.
Although there are no current cures for diseases such as asthma and Alzheimer's, patients are prescribed medications to control symptoms and signs of progression. People living with fibromyalgia deserve the same level of care and legitimacy. Let's stop arguing about the name and if it is a disorder or disease and educate people with fibromyalgia symptoms and members of the medical community on available treatment options.
Will Rowe
Chief Executive Officer
American Pain Foundation Baltimore, MD
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=271939&src=
