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Fibromyalgia symptoms or not? Understand the fibromyalgia diagnosis process
The sooner your fibromyalgia symptoms are diagnosed, the sooner they can be treated. Find out how to ensure you don't spend years searching for a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have widespread pain, you and your doctor may wonder if you're experiencing fibromyalgia symptoms. But determining whether you do indeed have fibromyalgia isn't an easy process. It's not uncommon to spend years going from doctor to doctor and undergoing tests for conditions as varied as rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism and mononucleosis before reaching a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
The fibromyalgia diagnosis process can be frustrating. Here's a look at why it may take so long to go from fibromyalgia symptoms to fibromyalgia diagnosis and what you can do to make the process more efficient for you and your doctors.
Fibromyalgia symptoms: Not always as clear
Fibromyalgia can't be easily confirmed or ruled out through a simple laboratory test. Your doctor can't detect it in your blood or see it on an X-ray. Instead, fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in the way the brain processes pain signals.
Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your symptoms to make a diagnosis. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia symptoms may vary widely from one person to the next.
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines for diagnosing fibromyalgia require widespread pain throughout your body for at least three months. "Widespread" is defined as pain on both sides of your body, as well as above and below your waist.
In addition, the ACR guidelines direct doctors to test 18 points on your body for tenderness. ACR criteria state that pain at 11 of the points may indicate fibromyalgia. Some specialists question whether these guidelines are useful because fibromyalgia symptoms may come and go, which could affect the number of tender points that would be painful during the test.
To further complicate the diagnosis, you may experience signs and symptoms that are seemingly unrelated to fibromyalgia. Chronic stomachaches or headaches combined with the pain you're experiencing may lead your doctor to suspect other similar conditions first.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Goldenberg DL. Differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- Q&A: Fibromyalgia. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/default.asp. Accessed June 3, 2009.
- Fibromyalgia. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/fibromyalgia.asp?aud=pat. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- 1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/publications/classification/fibromyalgia/fibro.asp?aud=mem. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- Assessment of a patient with fibromyalgia. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Co.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/141565918-3/0/1807/266.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10038-5--s0170_1097. Accessed June 4, 2009.
- Wallace DJ, et al. The fibromyalgia consultation and differential diagnosis. In: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for Patients and Their Families. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press; 2003:65.
- Fransen J, et al. Getting the diagnosis and finding a medical care provider. In: The Fibromyalgia Help Book: Practical Guide to Living Better With Fibromyalgia. St. Paul, Minn.: Smith House Press; 1996:31.
- Fransen J, et al. Building a relationship with your physician. In: The Fibromyalgia Help Book: Practical Guide to Living Better With Fibromyalgia. St. Paul, Minn.: Smith House Press; 1996:59.
