title: Getting the point about fibromyalgia.
abstract: Invisible and incurable, this disorder can wreak havoc with your patient's life. Find out how to get her back on track. Fibromyalgia, a complex, chronic disorder of pain processing, is thought to be the most common cause of generalized musculoskeletal pain in women ages 20 to 55. This disorder, which affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, occurs in 3 to 6 million Americans, mostly women. Some patients are affected only mildly, but up to 30% have symptoms that seriously impair their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Deena Damsky
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dell
mesh_terms: D015984:Causality; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010173:Palpation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation