Surgeons, Especially Orthopedic Surgeons Should Know Fibromyalgia and Incomplete Form of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) and related syndrome (FMRS) often causes severe pain on any part of the body. This causes some kinds of problems. First, depending on the location of the pain, FMRS may be misdiagnosed with other diseases. In case that spinal surgery is performed, we should confirm that the cause of the symptoms is abnormality of the spine. Second, if patients with FMRS suffer from other painful diseases such as appendicitis, it is very difficult to find early other painful diseases. Surgeons have to make a final decision on the surgery. Third, surgeons often have to treat out patients. Treatment for spinal pain such as neck pain and low back pain without knowledge of FMRS is the same as talking about the American War of Independence without knowledge of George Washington. Forth, FM may be risk factor of complex regional pain syndrome. In case that patient with risk factor of complex regional pain syndrome undergo surgery, sufficient pain control is necessary.