Gilbert Clinic

As the number of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients (approximately 10-12 million in the United States alone) and their support groups has grown, the medical community has begun to take their conditions more seriously. Rather than attempting to treat the underlying cause, however, the emphasis was instead placed on treating the symptoms and then only with limited success.

These debilitating conditions have been extremely difficult to diagnose. There remains controversy on their exact definition. In fact many different associations and groups who are attempting to treat these two complaints emphasize different symptoms when giving their definitions. However this is what can be said for certain.

Pain and fatigue that has occurred for many months

Common secondary complaints include:

Irritable bowel syndrome
Sleep disturbance
Headaches
Anxiety and depression
Impaired memory and concentration
Dizziness

If you are undecided as to whether you have one of these two conditions, a visit to your doctor will help to make this clear. By ruling out other conditions that are often mistaken for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome – such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal arthritis, lyme disease, multiple sclerosis and hypothyroidism – you can then take the most appropriate action. If you are a sufferer of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, The Gilbert Clinic will help you decide on your best treatment options.

Because virtually all treatments for FM and CFS focus on symptom management, combinations of numerous medications have been prescribed in an effort to address the sleep disruption, pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue and other symptoms. Additionally, high-doses of stimulating vitamins, herbs, and/or “glandulars” are commonly advocated in an ill-fated attempt to stimulate the body to recovery.

However, if these symptom-focused approaches were seen as truly effective, chances are you wouldn’t be visiting this website.

Even worse, symptomatic treatment programs drive the problems of FM and CFS deeper. They also do not address the root-cause. Fortunately, a better alternative exists.

“Until recently, sufferers of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome not only had their disease to deal with, but a medical system that largely dismissed their complaints as purely psychological in origin.”