Guidelines Summary

Guidelines on fibromyalgia have been issued by the following organizations:

Japan Pediatric Society ^[167]
German Pain Society (three guidelines: pediatric fibromyalgia, ^[168]drug therapy, ^[169]and multimodal therapy ^[170])
European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) ^[104]
Canadian Pain Society and Canadian Rheumatology Association ^[171]
Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany ^[172]
Israeli Rheumatology Association ^[173]

The Japanese and German guidelines on juvenile fibromyalgia recommend exclusively using nonpharmacologic treatments in pediatric patients. While the guidelines on adult fibromyalgia differ in specifics, all of them stress the importance of individualized treatment consisting of both nonpharmacologic (specifically patient education, aerobic exercise, and psychologic counseling if necessary) and pharmacologic therapies.

Medication

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Media Gallery

A neurophysiologist's view of pain. Courtesy of Alan R. Light, PhD.
Tender points in fibromyalgia.
Pressure algometer (dolorimeter).
Biopsychosocial model of fibromyalgia.

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Author

Chad S Boomershine, MD, PhD, CPI, CPT Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Principal Investigator, Clinical Research Solutions; Medical Director, Boomershine Wellness Centers, Elite Healthcare Alliance, Platinum Medical Group, and Spectrum Pain Clinic

Chad S Boomershine, MD, PhD, CPI, CPT is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Rheumatology, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Pfizer;<br/>Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Pfizer;.

Chief Editor

Herbert S Diamond, MD Visiting Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center; Chairman Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Western Pennsylvania Hospital

Herbert S Diamond, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Lawrence H Brent, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Chair, Program Director, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Albert Einstein Medical Center

Lawrence H Brent, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Genentech Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genentech Grant/research funds Other; Amgen Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Abbott Immunology Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Takeda Honoraria Speaking and teaching; UCB Speaking and teaching; Omnicare Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting

Kristine M Lohr, MD, MS Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for the Advancement of Women's Health and Division of Rheumatology, Director, Rheumatology Training Program, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Kristine M Lohr, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

John Buckner Winfield, MD Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine in Arthritis Emeritus, Department of Medicine, Senior Member, Neurosensory Disorders Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Consulting Rheumatologist, Appalachian Regional Rheumatology

John Buckner Winfield, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Immunologists, American Clinical and Climatological Association, American College of Rheumatology, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Pain Society, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, and North Carolina Medical Society

Disclosure: Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Honoraria Speaking and teaching