Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 2018 In Every Disability There is an Ability This year, the event aimed at supporting the FM patients will take place in Malta. Together with the local ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia alliance Malta, ENFA will host two events on 11th and 12th May: PARLIAMENTARY SESSION at Parliament building Valletta, and CONFERENCE at San…
DetailsFriday, June 16th 2017 A memorable day for people living with chronic pain such as Fibromyalgia patients. On that day, the Council of Ministers of Health of the European Union invited member states to evaluate access to treatment for patients with chronic pain. After the Council conclusions of 2014, during the Italian presidency where palliative…
DetailsHelen Cohen Abstract: Fibromyalgia (FM) is the most commonly encountered chronic widespread pain (CWP) condition in rheumatology. In comparison to inflammatory arthritis (IA), it can seem ill defined with no clear understanding of the pathology and therefore no specific targeted treatment. This inevitably raises controversies and challenges. However, this is an outdated view perpetuated…
DetailsThe Fibromyalgia group of the Cyprus League Against Rheumatism, organized an event for the Fibromyalgia Awareness day, on the 12th May 2017. During the event, ENFA President and Vice-President of CYPLAR Souzi Makri , presented in summary the main achievements of the Organization since its Inaugural meeting in 2003. The film MONIQUE, a personal story…
DetailsThe Fibromyalgia group of the Cyprus League Against Rheumatism, organized an event for the Fibromyalgia Awareness day, on the 12th May 2017. During the event, ENFA President and Vice-President of CYPLAR Souzi Makri , presented in summary the main achievements of the Organization since its Inaugural meeting in 2003. The film MONIQUE, a personal story of living…
DetailsFibromyalgia is common and an enormous clinical burden for both patients and society. It is a very complex disease with a variety of symptoms in addition to the defining symptom – chronic widespread pain. These include fatigue, non-restorative sleep, morning stiffness, irritable bowel and bladder, restless legs, depression, anxiety and cognitive dysfunction often referred to as “fibro fog”. All of these symptoms cause serious limitations in patients’ ability to perform ordinary daily chores and work and severely affect their quality of life. The burden on healthcare and society is high. Research in the UK has shown that diagnosis and positive management of fibromyalgia reduces healthcare cost by avoiding unnecessary investigations and consultations. Yet a recent global survey showed that healthcare professionals lack confidence in diagnosing and managing fibromyalgia. The average time from development of symptoms to diagnosis is over 2 years with unnecessary medical referrals and investigations. Educating the public, patients and healthcare professional to promote better recognising and management of fibromyalgia will benefit patient, healthcare providers and society.
Dr. Ernest Choy
Consultant Rheumatologist and Reader in Rheumatology
Director of Clinical Trials Unit in the Academic Department of Rheumatology
King’s College London
Fibromyalgia is common and an enormous clinical burden for both patients and society. It is a very complex disease with a variety of symptoms in addition to the defining symptom – chronic widespread pain. These include fatigue, non-restorative sleep, morning stiffness, irritable bowel and bladder, restless legs, depression, anxiety and cognitive dysfunction often referred to as “fibro fog”. All of these symptoms cause serious limitations in patients’ ability to perform ordinary daily chores and work and severely affect their quality of life. The burden on healthcare and society is high. Research in the UK has shown that diagnosis and positive management of fibromyalgia reduces healthcare cost by avoiding unnecessary investigations and consultations. Yet a recent global survey showed that healthcare professionals lack confidence in diagnosing and managing fibromyalgia. The average time from development of symptoms to diagnosis is over 2 years with unnecessary medical referrals and investigations. Educating the public, patients and healthcare professional to promote better recognising and management of fibromyalgia will benefit patient, healthcare providers and society.
Dr. Ernest Choy
Consultant Rheumatologist and Reader in Rheumatology
Director of Clinical Trials Unit in the Academic Department of Rheumatology
King’s College London
I have taken over the Presidency of ENFA due to personal circumstances that forced Mrs Pam Stewart, the former President of ENFA, to resign. I would like to thank Pam for her commitment and contribution to ENFA’s work over the years and wish her wholeheartedly the best in the future.
As President of ENFA I am committed to work with dedication and team spirit, together with other members of the Board, towards attaining the objectives of ENFA. My dream is to contribute towards raising awareness of Fibromyalgia on an European level and make this invisible condition recognized by all as a real, debilitating disease that causes a deterioration of the quality of life of patients.
I wish you all the best.
In love and light,
Souzi Makri
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