Fibromyalgia treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. A doctor on Maple can help you manage previously diagnosed fibromyalgia. Once you describe your symptoms and condition to the doctor, they’ll be able to provide any necessary prescriptions and recommend an appropriate course of treatment. If the doctor suspects you have a more serious problem, or is unable to help, they may suggest for you to go to a clinic for a thorough physical examination.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes widespread muscle and joint pain, as well as fatigue and sleep, memory, and mood issues. 

Typical symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Overall aching
• Muscle pain, burning, tightness, or twitching
• Lowered pain threshold and tender points
• Extreme fatigue
• Trouble concentrating and remembering
• Sleep disturbances
• Feeling nervous, worried, or depressed
• Headaches
• Dry mouth, nose, and eyes
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Sensitivity to cold, heat, light, or sound
• Numbness or tingling in face, hands, feet, legs, and arms

For some people, fibromyalgia symptoms can fluctuate and worsen at certain times. They are more likely to experience flare ups during periods of high stress or pressure. Flare ups can also be caused by changes in diet, hormones, sleep, schedule, weather, or treatment.

Because fibromyalgia is a complex condition, it requires a clinical evaluation in order to be diagnosed properly. The diagnosing doctor will look for certain criteria before diagnosing you with fibromyalgia. These criteria include: persistent pain for at least 3 months with no physical abnormality; fatigue or non-restorative sleep; cognitive dysfunction and mood disturbances; and a number of pain-related factors. The doctor will speak with you about your symptoms, discuss your history and experience, and may conduct some tests to rule out other causes.

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, some medications can help reduce fibromyalgia pain and improve sleep. Common over-the-counter pain relievers can be very helpful (think acetaminophen and ibuprofen), but the doctor may suggest a prescription pain reliever such as tramadol, although narcotics are best avoided, as they are addictive. Antidepressants can help with pain and fatigue symptoms, and muscle relaxants can help with sleep. Finally, some anti-seizure drugs are often useful in helping with fibromyalgia symptoms. The doctor will help you decide the best course of treatment.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.