Fibromyalgia Treatment in San Francisco
You deserve a doctor who listens, believes you, and builds a real plan.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive difficulties. It affects an estimated 4 million adults in the U.S., and is one of the most misunderstood and mismanaged conditions in medicine. Too many patients spend years bouncing between specialists, receiving dismissive care, or being told their symptoms are “all in their head.” They’re not. Fibromyalgia is a real, recognized disorder of central pain processing, and it deserves expert, compassionate treatment.
Why Concierge Rheumatology for Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia cannot be managed in a ten-minute visit. It requires a physician who takes time to understand your symptom patterns, sleep quality, stress triggers, exercise tolerance, and the emotional burden of living with chronic pain. Our concierge model is purpose-built for conditions like this. With extended appointments, we build a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses pain, sleep, mood, and function together. Between visits, you have the ability to communicate directly with your rheumatologist — no waiting weeks when symptoms change or medications need adjustment.
Conditions & Symptoms We Treat
- Widespread chronic pain and tender points
- Chronic fatigue and unrefreshing sleep
- Cognitive dysfunction (“fibro fog”)
- Anxiety and depression co-occurring with fibromyalgia
Our Approach
Thorough Evaluation
We start by ruling out mimics — thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory arthritis, sleep apnea for example — then confirm the diagnosis using established clinical criteria and a careful symptom history.
Pain Management
We combine FDA-approved medications with non-pharmacologic strategies — tailored exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene. Fibromyalgia treatment often requires more than a single intervention alone.
Sleep & Fatigue Optimization
Sleep disturbance is both a cause and consequence of fibromyalgia. We assess sleep architecture, screen for underlying sleep disorders, and develop targeted interventions to improve restorative sleep.
Mind-Body Integration
Stress amplifies central sensitization. We integrate mindfulness-based stress reduction and guided exercise programs into your treatment plan to address the full spectrum of fibromyalgia.
What Patients Ask Us
Answers to the most common questions about fibromyalgia diagnosis, treatment, and care.
Q: What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. It is believed to result from abnormal pain processing in the central nervous system — a phenomenon called central sensitization — where the brain and spinal cord amplify pain signals.
Q: What causes fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not fully understood, but it appears to involve a combination of genetic predisposition, physical or emotional trauma, infections, and ongoing stress. These factors may trigger changes in how the nervous system processes pain, leading to heightened sensitivity.
Q: How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
There is no single blood test or imaging study for fibromyalgia. Diagnosis is clinical, based on a history of widespread pain lasting at least three months, along with other symptoms like fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and unrefreshing sleep. A rheumatologist will also run tests to rule out other conditions that can mimic fibromyalgia, such as hypothyroidism, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Q: Should I see a rheumatologist for fibromyalgia?
Yes. Rheumatologists are trained to diagnose and manage fibromyalgia, rule out overlapping autoimmune conditions, and develop comprehensive treatment plans. Because fibromyalgia often coexists with conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatologist is uniquely positioned to manage the full picture.
Q: How does concierge care improve fibromyalgia outcomes?
Fibromyalgia requires time, patience, and a personalized approach. Concierge care provides extended visits to explore symptom patterns in depth, direct physician communication to fine-tune medications between appointments, and the continuity to build a treatment plan that evolves with you over months and years.
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