bone, joint, and muscle disorders
Fibromyalgia
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
Established criteria A doctor's examination and testing to rule out other disorders Doctors suspect fibromyalgia in people who have the following: Generalized pain and tenderness Negative laboratory test results despite widespread symptoms Fatigue as a main symptom Doctors consider the diagnosis of fibromyalgia in people who have had widespread pain for at least 3 months, particularly when it is accompanied by various other physical symptoms such as fatigue. Pain is considered widespread when people have pain in the left and right side of the body, above and below the waist, and in the top of the spine, wall of the chest or middle of the spine, or low back. In the past, doctors based the diagnosis in part on the presence of tenderness at some of 18 designated tender points. Now, however, the number of tender points is not considered as important as the presence of typical symptoms, especially widespread pain not limited to the joints. There is no diagnostic test for fibromyalgia. However, doctors want to be sure that another disorder (such as Hypothyroidism , Fibromyalgia may not be easily recognized in people who also have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) or 