It’s Not ‘All in Your Head’

For thousands of women in Israel, the daily struggle begins before they even open their eyes. Chronic pain that persists around the clock, constant exhaustion even after a full night's sleep, and above all, a deep frustration of feeling misunderstood. They hear the same infuriating sentence again and again, "Your test results are fine, you look great," while inside, their body is on fire.

Hillel Yaffe Medical Center decided to take things a step further, out of genuine recognition of the frustration and physical and emotional pain these women experience. They recently launched a specialized treatment group for women with fibromyalgia, guided by a simple but powerful belief: "We see you. Your pain is real."

Under the promising name, "Living Well with Fibro," the group is supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialists from the hospital's Physical Therapy Service and Pain Clinic. The group is led by Dr. Ayelet Midbari, Pain Clinic Director, and Yael Krebs, Physical Therapy Service Director, at Hillel Yaffe. Together with a team of physical therapy specialists and a psychologist, the two have created a comprehensive professional support system that treats each woman as a whole - body and mind.

"We know this is not just fatigue," said Dr. Midbari. "This is daily physical pain, which is why our goal is to share the latest research findings with participants to help them understand what is truly happening in their bodies, and above all, to provide them with practical tools for effectively managing their quality of life despite the pain."

"The combination of knowledge and personalized physical activity is the key to success," added Krebs. "Throughout the program, we provide ongoing support to participants, with the goal of helping them begin to lead active, meaningful lives and not just 'getting through the day.'"

A specialized fibromyalgia treatment group jointly operated by the Pain Clinic and Physical Therapy Service at Hillel Yaffe

Open dialogue and ongoing support

This is a three-month program that provides intensive support and includes adapted physical activity, mindfulness sessions - teaching relaxation techniques designed to help the women work with their body rather than fighting it - along with lectures and open discussion on understanding pain mechanisms and giving participants tools for daily management at home and at work.

"Knowing that other women are on the same journey, combined with access to professional support all in one place, makes the challenge feel less daunting and allows these women to reclaim control over their own lives," Midbari and Krebs concluded.