Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a difficult disease to diagnose.  Its symptoms consist of a wide variety of pain, whether all over the body or just felt in particular places to sleeping disorders and fatigue.  Getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be a frustrating, uphill battle for the patient as they face numerous doctor visits with seemingly endless testing.

The problem with fibromyalgia from the doctor’s perspective is that the symptoms can mimic a wide variety of serious diseases such as cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis and lyme disease just to name a few.  The difference is, unlike these other health problems, fibromyalgia doesn’t have a specific indicating trait that would show up on x-rays, in blood work or after a biopsy.  There isn’t a lab test to provide a “yes” or “no” answer.  This leaves doctors having to run several tests to rule out all the serious conditions.  Once testing eliminates any serious conditions, your doctor will be able to focus on your symptoms to come to a diagnosis. Since fibromyalgia patients are sensitive to pressure in tender joints they are given a physical examination to see if their bodies respond to the pain. Pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months is a good indicator that you may have this condition.
 
For now, the only treatment available are prescription medications which will alleviate the symptoms.  The downside is there are negative side effects to taking the medication, one in particular is weight gain.