My Approach
With my training and expertise as a fibromyalgia specialist, I have learned to accurately diagnose the syndrome using a thorough history and targeted physical exam. Using these skills, my goal is to educate you about the syndrome and your options for treatment, and optimize your progress over time. Patients with fibromyalgia all have different problems and needs. There is no “one size fits all” approach to treatment, nor is fibromyalgia an illness that gets better quickly. I have experience with the different options that may work for specific issues. If a selected treatment proves not beneficial over time, we will work together to find a more effective treatment regimen. In my experience, the key to progress is the steady and objective evaluation of symptoms and their response to treatment.The Medical Community
There is still some skepticism in the medical community regarding fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome (FM/CFS). Some doctors do not believe FM/CFS actually exist as medical syndromes. Some believe the conditions are psychosomatic (a bodily symptom caused by emotional or mental disturbance). This notion is obviously very distressing to those of us who suffer from the syndrome because we know our symptoms are not caused by mental problems. This attitude often leads to a dismissal of our condition or a lack or appropriate treatment.Recent Studies
In the past 5 years, more and more results of scientific studies reveal that patients with FM/CFS have altered levels of chemicals in our brains and in our spinal fluid—which is one objective measurement of why we may feel pain more intensely. These results, coupled with recent brain imaging studies (where MRIs show regions of the brain in patients with FM respond to medium pressure as painful) will help skeptical doctors understand that we have biochemical differences in our nervous systems. These differences are a validation that FM/CFS is a true clinical condition.My Mission
My mission is to help you feel better. I want you help you be diagnosed quickly and chose a treatment plan that allows your health to improve. I want to educate your physicians (and the entire medical community) about how common fibromyalgia is, how easily trained professionals can diagnose it, and how our health can improve. In order to better educate and support you, Dr. Congdon’s team includes an Educational Consultant (Lyn) as well as an Assistant/Receptionist (Genesee). Both Lyn and Genesee have fibromyalgia and have improved dramatically using a variety of treatments. We look forward to helping YOU feel better!