To My Patients,

Fibromyalgia: Highlights About an Often Miss-diagnosed Problem

Fibromyalgia is a condition that is categorized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain.  It is six to eight times more common in women than men with an onset of 40 to 60 years of age.  Additionally, features include multiple tender points at characteristic locations in muscle and soft tissue; fatigue; sleep disturbances; tingling; burning; headache; irritable bowel; mood disturbances; cognitive disturbances; psychological problems; and fluid retention.  There is no known cause for this condition.

First line therapy consists of patient education, reassurance, counseling, and behavioral modification.  This includes exercise with strengthening and stretching as well as cardiovascular training.  Low dose anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful including ibuprofen, naproxen, Celebrex, Vioxx, or Bextra.  Also, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants can be helpful, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, or Effexor.

If you have concerns that you may have this condition, please call our office at 281.893.1246 either for a consultation or referral to an Internist or Rheumatologist.

Reading a Chapter from Dr. Birken’s New Book

Dr. Birken has written a book that is a collection of inspiring clinical vignettes that is being reviewed by several publishers.   One of the chapters from Women Only: Clinical Stories by a Gynecologist has been published by an online journal entitled Dermanities and can be found at www.dermanities.com.

In addition, Dr. Birken has completed a collection of short stories entitled

A Harvard Death and other Stories that is being considered for publication.

Randy Birken, MD
www.gynfo.com