Fibromyalgia Management at GP Centres

Fibromyalgia Management at GP Centres

Management at General Practice Clinic uses Care Planning and Patient Centred Targeted Assessments and Integrated Management (Australian GP Allied Health Continuous Care)

Effective management of fibromyalgia (FMS) starts with a correct diagnosis. A management program should be designed for each individual and be coordinated by a General Practitioner consistent with Australian Medicare GP Plus, Allied Health integrated care planning funding arrangements.

Management includes an integrated combination of the following:

  • Early Intervention and referrals to shared management.
  • Care planning and referrals to Allied Health (physiotherapy, sleep, diet, psychologist and education programs)
  • Education: one of the most important components of treatment. People with FMS need to understand their condition in order to actively participate in deciding an appropriate treatment plan for their individual circumstances, goal setting and coping strategies.
  • Outcome Monitoring: patients are encouraged to keep a journal and to monitor their symptoms so they can better communicate with their providers and provide valuable feedback.

Management team care arrangements and care planning referrals include:

  • Exercise/Movement assessments for an individually tailored exercise program: a gentle exercise program can have multiple benefits for the person with FMS and can assist in the management of symptoms such as pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance.
  • Medication: in combination with other strategies, medication may be used to manage pain, reduce stress and promote restorative sleep and prevent illness wind-up.
  • Pain Management: is a key to prevent further illness wind-up, to aid maintenance of normal activities and lifestyle, to maintain physical condition and to prevent a downward illness cycle.
  • Sleep Management: is important to recognise any sleep disturbances, to work towards restorative sleep and to minimise the vicious cycle of pain and sleep disturbance leading to further illness wind-up.
  • Sleep Management: is important to recognise any sleep disturbances, to work towards restorative sleep and to minimise the vicious cycle of pain and sleep disturbance leading to further illness wind-up.
  • Diet review and management: many FMS people report gut problems and that dietary management helps reduce symptoms and illness stability.
  • Psychosocial / community service interventions and support.