The Fibromyalgia Story: Medical Authority and Women's Worlds of Pain (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781592131600)

More than six million AmericansOComost of them womenOCohave 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."

Author: Kristin K. Barker
ISBN-10: 1592131603
ISBN-13: 9781592131600
Publisher: Temple University Press
Language: English
Published: 07/20/2005
Pages: 252
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.14w x 0.82d

Review Citation(s):
Univ PR Books for Public Libry 01/01/2006 pg. 1 - Strongly Recommended