Publications
APS Bulletin • Volume 16, Number 2, 2006
Resource Reviews
John D. Loeser, MD, Department Editor
The Fibromyalgia Cure
Reviewed by James Robinson, MD PhD
David Dryland, MD, David Dryland Publisher, soft cover, 172 pages, ISBN 0976649004, $16.95
The Fibromyalgia Cure is written for patients who suffer from fibromyalgia. The author is a rheumatologist who treats fibromyalgia regularly and who has also personally suffered from the disorder.
The book has a charismatic tone. Dryland asserts that he has a complete grasp of the pathophysiology underlying fibromyalgia, in contrast to ignorance by other physicians. The following quotations illustrate the tone that pervades the book:
“Although millions of people live with fibromyalgia, it is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed illnesses of our time . . . the prevailing wisdom in the medical community is that the pain originates in the fibers of the muscles . . . In this chapter, I’ll explain what fibromyalgia really is, address some of the most common misconceptions about it, and start you on the path to understanding and healing (pp. 7–8).”
“But this book isn’t just about relieving the pain of fibromyalgia; it’s also about curing fibromyalgia (p. 111).”
Dryland cites some research in the book; however, the citations are used to buttress his arguments, rather than to objectively explore the substantial literature that now exists on fibromyalgia. The selective nature of the citations can easily be seen by comparing The Fibromyalgia Cure to the recently published APS publication Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Adults and Children (American Pain Society, 2005).
Despite these limitations, Dryland’s basic thesis—that the fundamental problem in fibromyalgia is excessive autonomic arousal—is reasonable, yet unproven. The therapies he recommends for fibromyalgia are, by and large, sensible ones. However, because of its tone and its gross oversimplification of a complex area, The Fibromyalgia Cure cannot be recommended for pain researchers or clinicians who specialize in pain management.
Dr. Robinson is Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Dr. Loeser is Professor of Neurological Surgery and Anesthesiology at the University of Washington in Seattle.