TY - JOUR T1 - Drs. Shir and Fitzcharles reply JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 2839 LP - 2839 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.090709 VL - 36 IS - 12 AU - YORAM SHIR AU - MARY-ANN FITZCHARLES Y1 - 2009/12/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/36/12/2839.abstract N2 - To the Editor:We thank Dr. Sarkozi for his response to our editorial entitled “Should rheumatologists retain ownership of fibromyalgia?”1. We had hoped that our comments would stimulate thought and discussion on the issue of optimal care for patients with fibromyalgia (FM).The issue of debate concerns our differing opinions regarding the choice of healthcare professional that is best suited to provide care for patients with FM. Dr. Sarkozi believes rheumatologists should continue to manage patients with FM, based on a personal opinion that all FM originates as a result of generalized osteoarthritis (OA) or soft tissue rheumatism. This simplistic view of causality is put forward to rationalize the choice of the ideal treating physician. We reemphasize that the essence of our message is to examine strategies for the total care of these patients, who in addition to pain, have mood disorder, sleep abnormality, fatigue, and a multiplicity of other somatic symptoms. Therefore successful management of FM can only be achieved if all components of the syndrome are addressed, many of which are outside the scope of usual rheumatology practice. … Address correspondence to Dr. M-A. Fitzcharles, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada. E-mail: mary-ann.fitzcharles{at}muhc.mcgill.ca ER -