BY CARLA BASU

Due to the lack of cause and diagnostic tools, there continues to be a misconception surrounding the authenticity of Fibromyalgia as the cases of this invisible illness continues to rise.

So what is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder which will affect 1 in 20 people worldwide. This illness is said to causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping. However, scientists do not fully understand what causes this illness, leading to 3 out of 10 general practitioners report not diagnosing Fibromyalgia due to the absence of treatment and accuracy with the diagnosis.

Medical practitioner and entrepreneur, Dr. Efrat LaMandre, argues on her online vlog that patients should not accept Fibromyalgia as a diagnosis, and states that “If you receive the diagnosis, you’ll soon discover that the diagnosis of fibromyalgia makes you more invisible. Any medical provider will stop searching, you’ll be branded as ‘The patient with Fibro’, and you will become even more invisible… It is a default diagnosis”. In support of Dr. Efrat’s statement, Occupational Health and Safety therapist, Carolyn Quinn mentioned that genetics can play a part in the overall condition of Fibromyalgia, and that the illness can be more psychological than physical.

Mother of two, Sharon Henderson has recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, after living in pain, undiagnosed for over 13 years. When speaking with Ms Henderson, she stated that her mental health can be negatively affected by her condition, “It’s like I’m bruised all over, I’m sensitive to touch. I feel quite low a lot of days, because I’m in a lot of pain. So the depression comes into that”.

Chairmen of the Fibromyalgia charity, Fibromyalgia Action UK, believes that there is a stigma around Fibromyalgia, and that healthcare providers such as the NHS should be doing more to raise awareness of this invisable illness.

In 2020, studies showed that between 35% to 50% of patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia were not working. This is an indication that there should be more support from health care providers in order to prevent this drop in employment. If you believe you are impacted by Fibromyalgia, contact any of the following helplines for support.

National Helpline 0300 999 3333

Fibromyalgia Action UK 0141 370 3940