How do I know if I have Fibromyalgia?

Wondering if your chronic pain and other symptoms might be fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is often called an "invisible illness" since those affected look healthy on the outside yet are suffering.

Getting an accurate diagnosis can provide relief and allow proper treatment. Here are some insights on recognizing fibromyalgia and getting diagnosed:

Signs and Symptoms

The hallmark of fibromyalgia is chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain lasting over 3 months that cannot be explained by other conditions. Additional key symptoms include:

• Fatigue, lack of energy, and flu-like malaise
• Nonrestorative sleep and insomnia
• Cognitive dysfunction - "fibro fog"
• Anxiety, depression, irritability
• Sensitivities to temperature, noise, bright lights
• Numbness/tingling, headaches, TMJ pain
• Abdominal discomfort, IBS, pelvic pain

The severity of pain and additional symptoms may fluctuate, with flares coming and going. Symptoms often begin after a physical trauma, intense stress, or a medical condition. Many patients also have related conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or IBS.

Getting Diagnosed

Since there are no definitive diagnostic laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia, diagnosis relies on a careful clinical evaluation by a doctor familiar with the condition.

Diagnosis involves:

• Medical history - discussing onset and evolution of pain, triggers, other symptoms
• Physical exam - identifying tender points and ruling out other issues
• Symptom review - evaluating severity of fatigue, sleep and mood disorders
• Excluding other causes - thyroid problems, inflammatory arthritis, polymyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome

Early diagnosis is important to guide treatment. Keeping a symptom journal and being prepared to clearly describe your health history and symptom experiences to a doctor can aid getting an accurate fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Some helpful links..

Fibromyalgia Action UK

Fibromyalgia Action UK is a registered charity administered primarily by unpaid volunteers. The majority of volunteers are also fibromyalgia sufferers who work extremely hard, despite their condition, in order to forward the cause of fibromyalgia. FMA UK was established in order to provide informat…

UK's National charity for fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.

nhs.ukNHS website

Basic information about fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million US adults, about 2% of the adult population. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but it can be effectively treated and managed.

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC

Fibromyalgia: Combination of treatments often required-Fibromyalgia - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic

<p>This complicated disorder amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. Medications, therapy and exercise can help.</p>

Mayo Clinic