Learn how Fibromyalgia is diagnosed, including key symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and the tests used to rule out other conditions.
Today, I stepped back into a place I haven’t visited in a long time……One year to the day to be exact since I last ventured anywhere close. It wasn’t intentional or deliberate to visit on this day, it just kind of happened. It felt like taking a trip down memory lane. I was curious and I suppose I wanted to see if everything was still the same. Truth be told, it was and it wasn’t.…
Fibromyalgia and Agitation. You would be forgiven for thinking that these are two words that belong together. Well not in my world!! For those of you recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or those who may have an inkling that perhaps you are showing symptoms of having the condition, it is easy to allow some fear to creep in. When words like “incurable”, “chronic” and “heightened pain responses” are used it is understandable that an element of fear will…
This post may prove to be somewhat controversial but it comes from my heart and I believe I would be doing a disservice to my fellow “warriors” if I were to let it go unsaid. When I was first diagnosed 15 years ago, I was relieved that having already suffered for 10 years my condition was very real and had finally got recognition and more importantly a name. I remember leaving my doctor’s surgery and…
Our journeys with Fibromyalgia are often long and very lonely. It is difficult it seems for our loved ones, friends, and colleagues to contemplate ever feeling so awful and wracked with pain when in most cases you look surprisingly well. Doctors, if you get a sympathetic one, are busy and how do you pour your heart out in just a few minutes assigned to each patient? Finding your Fibromyalgia support network isn’t always easy. At times, I think…
Having the right fibromyalgia doctor can make the difference between struggling silently in pain or managing your disease confidently. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or feel overwhelmed by your massive list of prescriptions that seem to not do much, it’s never too late to do your research and change your fibromyalgia doctor. The five mistakes fibromyalgia patients make when choosing their doctor: 1. Choosing a general practitioner While a general practitioner is great to go to…
Fibromyalgia fatigue feels like a constant state of weariness that diminishes your energy and mental capacity. Fatigue is the second most prominent symptom of fibromyalgia and can be even more debilitating than the pain. The overwhelming tiredness makes our bodies feel heavy and weak. It contributes to brain fog increasing memory loss and forgetfulness. Studies have shown that the amount of fatigue a person with fibromyalgia experiences directly impacts the amount of pain they have.…
“The tender point test also has a gender bias because men may report widespread pain, but they generally aren’t as tender as women. Fibromyalgia may be under-diagnosed in both men and women because of the reliance on 11 tender points, and also due to failing to account for the other central features of the illness,” said Katz. Additionally, due to the confusion regarding the tender point test, the authors note that most primary care doctors…
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome defined by chronic widespread pain with multiple tender points, fatigue, sleep dysfunction, and abnormal pain processing. The syndrome can have many other associated symptoms as well but those can depend on person to person. The cause of the syndrome is unknown but theories have revolved around the idea of trauma or problem with the nervous system caused by injury, virus, or essentially an automatic nervous system dysfunctional condition along with…
The phrase “tender points” isn’t something you hear every day. But if you have fibromyalgia, you may be familiar with those words. In fact, your doctor may have used tender points to diagnose you. What Are Tender Points? In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) introduced criteria for diagnosing people with fibromyalgia. Part of the criteria included 18 possible tender points throughout the body. Tender points are small spots located around your neck, shoulders,…
Fibromyalgia affects about 5 to 6 million people in the United States, mostly women. Yet, so little is known about the condition and people with fibromyalgia often feel misunderstood. Here, three women share their thoughts about living with fibromyalgia. 1. The pain and fatigue are real. People understand pain and fatigue if they can see the cause, like a broken bone or an incision from an operation. Fibromyalgia is an invisible illness though, making it…