Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes long-term pain, affects one in 50 people in the United States, according to Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, author of the eMedTV article “Fibromyalgia.” The National Women's Health Information Center adds that women account for 80 to 90 percent of fibromyalgia cases. Patients have pain in specific areas of the body, called pressure points or tender points.
Location
MedlinePlus explains that the tender points for fibromyalgia are areas of soft tissue on the body that feel tender when the person applies pressure to it. Tender points occur all over patients' bodies. For example, tender points toward the top of the body include the back of the neck, the outer elbows, between the shoulder blades, top of the shoulders, upper chest and sternum. Regions in the lower half of the body that are tender points include the lower back, upper hips, sides of the hips, shins and the inner knees. While no tender points occur in the joints, fibromyalgia patients can have pain that feels like it originates in the joints.
Description of Pain
With fibromyalgia, the pain starts at the tender points and spreads out through the body. The MayoClinic.com points out that patients can have widespread pain on both sides of the body. Patients with widespread pain also have pain above and below their waists. MedlinePlus notes that the pain at the tender points ranges from mild to severe. Some patients can have shooting or burning pain. Other patients may have a deep ache.
Aggravation of Tender Points
Certain factors can aggravate the tender points, causing a worsening of the pain. For example, MedlinePlus points out that fibromyalgia patients under stress or suffering from anxiety can have a worsening of pain. Changes in the weather can affect the tender points. Both cold weather and damp weather can make the pain worse. Patients may have worse pain after participating in physical activity.
Effects on Body
The pain from the tender points can affect patients' physical health. MedlinePlus explains that when patients wake up, they may have stiffness throughout their body, which may get better throughout the day. Schoenstadt adds that fibromyalgia can cause other symptoms, such as headaches. Patients can have trouble sleeping, which can lead to fatigue. Sensation changes, like numbness or tingling, can occur in the hands and feet. Some patients may develop mood changes, such as depression.
Diagnosis
When a doctor diagnoses fibromyalgia, he looks specifically at the tender points. The National Women's Health Information Center notes that patients need to have 11 tender points or more to have fibromyalgia. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia also requires that patients have widespread pain that lasts for three months or more.
