The Fibromyalgia Story : Medical Authority And Women'S Worlds Of Pain

Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1. The Diagnostic Making of Fibromyalgia Syndrome; 2. The Woman Problem and the Feminization of Fibromyalgia Syndrome; 3. Similar-but-Different: The Fibromyalgia Syndrome Illness Experience; 4. The Symptomatic Self and the Life World; 5. In Search of Meaning; 6. Diagnostic Transformations; 7. Self-Help and the Making of a Fibromyalgia Syndrome Illness Identity; 8. Ties That Bind and the Problem That Had No Name; Conclusion; Appendix A: The Fibromyalgia Syndrome Biomedical Literature; Appendix B: The Interviews; Notes; Bibliography/Works Cited; Index.;More than six million Americans-most of them women-have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a disorder that produces musculo-skeletal pain and fatigue. In the absence of visible evidence, a well-understood cause, or effective treatment, many have questioned whether FMS is a "real" illness. Amidst the controversy, millions of women live with their very real symptoms. Rather than taking sides in the heated debate, Kristin Barker explains how FMS represents an awkward union between the practices of modern medicine and the complexity of women's pain. Using interviews with sufferers, Ba. More than six million Americans - most of them women - have been diagnosed with the controversial medical disorder fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Because of the absence of definitive physiological markers, a well-understood cause, or effective treatment, FMS is controversial. Many have questioned if FMS is a "real" illness or if women sufferers are modern-day hysterics. Amidst the controversy, millions of women live with their very real symptoms. Rather than taking sides in the heated FMS debate, Kristin Barker explains how FMS represents an awkward union between the practices of modern medicine and the complexity of women's pain. Using interviews with sufferers, Barker focuses on how the idea of FMS gives meaning and order to women beset by troubling symptoms, self-doubt, and public skepticism. This book offers a fresh look at a controversial diagnosis, avoids overly simplistic explanations, and empathizes with sufferers without losing sight of medicine's power over our lives More than six million Americans-most of them women-have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a disorder that produces musculo-skeletal pain and fatigue. In the absence of visible evidence, a well-understood cause, or effective treatment, many have questioned whether FMS is a "real" illness. Amidst the controversy, millions of women live with their very real symptoms.

Rather than taking sides in the heated debate, Kristin Barker explains how FMS represents an awkward union between the practices of modern medicine and the complexity of women's pain. Using interviews with sufferers, Barker focuses on how the idea of FMS gives meaning and order to women beset by troubling symptoms, self-doubt, and public skepticism.

This book offers a fresh look at a controversial diagnosis; Barker avoids overly simplistic explanations and empathizes with sufferers without losing sight of the social construction of disease and its relation to modern medical practice.

Contents ......Page 6 Acknowledgments ......Page 8 Introduction ......Page 12 1. The Diagnostic Making of Fibromyalgia Syndrome ......Page 26 2. The Woman Problem and the Feminization of Fibromyalgia Syndrome ......Page 55 3. Similar-but-Different: The Fibromyalgia Syndrome Illness Experience ......Page 75 4. The Symptomatic Self and the Life World ......Page 84 5. In Search of Meaning ......Page 101 6. Diagnostic Transformations ......Page 120 7. Self-Help and the Making of a Fibromyalgia Syndrome Illness Identity ......Page 149 8. Ties That Bind and the Problem That Had No Name ......Page 177 Conclusion ......Page 200 Appendix A: The Fibromyalgia Syndrome Biomedical Literature ......Page 212 Appendix B: The Interviews ......Page 216 Notes ......Page 222 Bibliography/Works Cited ......Page 236 Index ......Page 254 1. The Diagnostic Making Of Fibromyalgia Syndrome -- 2. The Woman Problem And The Feminization Of Fibromyalgia Syndrome -- 3. Similar-but-different : The Fibromyalgia Syndrome Illness Experience -- 4. The Symptomatic Self And The Life World -- 5. In Search Of Meaning -- 6. Diagnostic Transformations -- 7. Self-help And The Making Of A Fibromyalgia Syndrome Illness Identity -- 8. Ties That Bind And The Problem That Had No Name -- Appendix A. The Fibromyalgia Syndrome Biomedical Literature. -- Appendix B. The Interviews. Kristin K. Barker. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-242) And Index.