What exactly is fibromyalgia? How about chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease or Non-celiac gluten sensitivity? Are these “pain conditions” different, or could they all share a common thread? As chronic pain rates increase, it seems it gets more complex, with “new” diagnoses being introduced all the time. New developments in pain neuroscience may hold the answers, including implications for examination and treatment. Biologically and physiologically, many of these conditions are similar, including brain activation as seen on functional MRI scans. This course aims to delve into the complexity of various widespread pain and fatigue conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder and more. This clinical course will help clinicians see how various complex pain issues share some common features including threat activation, various biological and physiological defense mechanisms as well as changes in neurotransmitters and immune system function. This course will showcase the latest science and evidence associated with widespread pain and fatigue and is a must for each clinician. Furthermore, developing a biological understanding of these conditions, pave the way to understand the evidence for treatments such as education, exercise, pacing, graded exposure and more. This course is a must for clinicians working with widespread pain and fatigue. 

By the end of the course, a successful learner will be able to:

• Develop a biological and physiological understanding of widespread pain and fatigue.
• Distinguish the clinical features associated with each condition covered in the class.
• Analyze the latest evidence in regard to etiology, diagnosis, examination, and treatment.
• Employ the principles of therapeutic neuroscience education to help patients develop a greater understanding of their pain experience.
• Develop an evidence-based treatment plan based on the material covered in the class.