I’ve posted about online resources, as well as mentioning some periodicals that are good offline resources. Now I want to share some of the books I recommend to others who are learning more about fibromyalgia.
The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Claudia Craig Marek is exactly what the title says. If you only check out one book, make it this one. You’ll get a decent overview of what FMS is and a good idea of the most common treatment strategies.
Two of Devin Starlanyl’s books, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition) and The Fibromyalgia Advocate, are an essential part of my library. They’re imposing books, but don’t let that intimidate you. They are excellent, encyclopedic references that everyone dealing with fibromyalgia should own and use.
The Arthritis Foundation has some excellent information about fibromyalgia, which is treated for the most part by rheumatologists despite being seen more recently as a neurological dysfunction. One book in particular, The Arthritis Foundation’s Guide to Good Living with Fibromyalgia, 2nd Edition, takes the reader through coping techniques and includes some very mild exercises which almost anyone can tolerate. Another, The Arthritis Helpbook: A Tested Self-Management Program for Coping with Arthritis and Fibromyalgia is a more in-depth book with a broader focus. It also adds an excellent section on adaptive devices.
New books are released every month, and over time I’ll be reviewing them and some of the others in my library. These books, though, should give you an excellent introduction to fibromyalgia and some common coping techniques.
