[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 37 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RAISING THE AWARENESS OF FIBROMYALGIA

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                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 27, 1998

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise the 
awareness of a debilitating illness that currently affects more than 
five million Americans--fibromyalgia.
  Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, widespread musculoskeletal 
pain and fatigue disorder that afflicts two percent of the general 
population. There is no known cause for FMS, a disease whose symptoms--
in addition to the pain and fatigue--include chronic headaches, 
cognitive or memory impairments, and decreased endurance. FMS can be as 
disabling as rheumatoid arthritis, and while 24 percent of rheumatoid 
arthritis sufferers are classified as disabled, FMS is not recognized 
in the Social Security Disability Law.
  A majority of FMS patients are female, and symptoms may begin in 
young, school-aged children. The average person spends five years and 
thousands of dollars in medical bills just to receive a diagnosis--all 
because few physicians possess the education to diagnose and treat FMS. 
In fact, prior to diagnosis, often 60 percent of patients with FMS 
undergo costly and unsuccessful surgeries. Tragically, even with a 
diagnosis there is no single therapeutic agent capable of controlling 
the symptoms of FMS.
  Mr. Speaker, it is overwhelmingly apparent that awareness of this 
disease must be increased so as to ease the suffering of millions of 
Americans. Research funding for Fibromyalgia at the National Institute 
of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin disease measured out to only 0.6 
percent of their annual budget in 1996. Unfortunately, very little 
grant money is awarded because awareness of this problem is so low. The 
time has come to address this obstacle so that the proper attention can 
finally be given to fibromyalgia sufferers. I challenge the medical and 
research communities to work toward increasing awareness and promoting 
treatments for fibromyalgia.

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