Rasa from Edmonton asks:  I have fibromyalgia, but I am having a difficult time getting in to see a rheumatologist.  Isn’t fibromyalgia treated by rheumatologists?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that presents with diffuse muscle and joint pain, poor sleep, and fatigue. Some patients also describe stomach ailments and have history of headaches. The symptoms may often be vague, but can be debilitating to patients with it.  Rheumatologists often see patients with fibromyalgia before a clear diagnosis has been made.  For some people, it is important to rule out other possibilities, including conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and other autoimmune inflammatory diseases which require a different treatment approach.

If a diagnosis of fibromyalgia has been established, there is no specific expertise a rheumatologist has compared to other physicians, including family physicians.  The first steps in managing fibromyalgia include a slow progressive increase in exercise, working on sleep hygiene, and learning more about fibromyalgia.  Please visit our webpage on fibromyalgia to learn more the condition and resources available in the Edmonton area.

Posted: September 7, 2016

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