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e-1579 (Fibromyalgia)

E-petition
Initiated by Diana Khbeis from Mississauga, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • Fibromyalgia is the second most common rheumatic disorder behind osteoarthritis and is now considered to be a lifelong central nervous system disorder, which is responsible for amplified pain that shoots through the body in those who suffer from it;
  • Fibromyalgia was originally thought to be a rheumatologic condition because—like diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis—it is characterized by musculoskeletal pain;
  • In 2015 World Health Organization identified Fibromyalgia as a legitimate disease and allotted an official ICD code "M797" under "Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue; Chapter XIII ICD-10-CA", which Canada adopted; and
  • Research has since shown that there are no abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system in people with fibromyalgia. Instead, the problem appears to lie in the pain processing pathways of our central nervous system.
We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to lead the way medically by officially recognizing Fibromyalgia as a long-term neurological disease rather than musculoskeletalone and properly re-locate the disease of Fibromyalgia in the ICD-10-CA from “Diseases of Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue; Chapter XIII ICD-10-CA” to “Diseases of the Nervous System; Chapter VI ICD-10-CA”, under sub-category of “G90”. In doing so, the benefits to the country will be two-fold: (a) allow a clearer treatment plan for all sufferers allowing them to maintain as good of a quality of life as possible, and (b) allow proper treatment of symptoms neurologically, rather than just administering opioids to improperly treat “muscular pain”.
Government response tabled on January 16, 2019 (Sessional Paper No. 8545-421-230-01)
Open for signature
March 13, 2018, at 4:49 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
July 11, 2018, at 4:49 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Gagan Sikand (Mississauga—Streetsville)
November 19, 2018 (Petition No. 421-02911)
Government response tabled
January 16, 2019
Photo - Gagan Sikand
Mississauga—Streetsville
Liberal Caucus
Ontario