Persistant Debate

Source: The National  (11/16/09)

This article touches on many aspects of fibromyalgia that Dr. Hendricksen discusses in detail...

"a recent article in the British Journal of General Practitioners, speaking on behalf of the nation’s doctors, described CFS thus: “The prevailing view in UK primary care has been that somatisation of mental illness is the basic problem.”"

That's right ... CFS and fibromyalgia are being classified by many as a psychiatric disorder.  This is particularly harmful because it leads patients down the wrong path of treatment, often to psychiatric drugs!

However, the article also goes on to say that,

"There is no known biological cause, although fibromyalgia may occur after viral infections, exposure to toxins or emotional or physical trauma (whiplash suffered in a car accident is thought to be a common trigger)."

... which is an example of the "Stress Event Theory", discussed extensively in Dr. Hendricksen's free eBook, Facing the Fibromyalgia Diagnosis!

Other key points:

"Adding to these patients’ misery, says Friedberg, is the fact that in many cases their physicians remain sceptical and unhelpful, because there is neither a biological cause nor a simple cure."

"Those suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia are significantly more likely than healthy people to have experienced depression, anxiety, physical abuse or a life-threatening stressful event before the illness developed."

For more information about XMRV, click here for Dr. Hendricksen's blog entry on the subject!