Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a very challenging condition to diagnose. Patients can go for years without a proper diagnosis. There are no blood tests, scans or other laboratory tests that can help to confirm a diagnosis. Your doctor will need to evaluate your history of symptoms and do a physical exam to determine if you have fibromyalgia. Part of the exam involves testing for tender points on the body characteristic of fibromyalgia.
Number of Tender Spots
During the office visit your physician will examine you for tender points that are specific to those with fibromyalgia. Along with other symptoms, the National Fibromyalgia Association states that you must have tenderness in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points to help confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Front of the Body
In the front of the body there are eight tender points. They are located on the neck, upper chest, near the elbows and near the insides of the knee. With fibromyalgia these tender points are in the same basic area on both sides of the body (see Resources).
Back of the Body
The back of the body has 10 tender points. They are near the back of the skull, shoulder, shoulder blades, top area of the buttocks or hips and top of the thighs. The Fibromyalgia Network website claims that "the finger pressure that must be applied to these areas during a 'palpation' exam is roughly equivalent to the amount that causes the fingernail bed to blanch or start to become white." This small amount of pressure causes pain in those with fibromyalgia.
Pain
In addition to having a positive test in the tender points the National Fibromyalgia Association states that you must also have "widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months." Severe fatigue is another tell-tale symptom. According to the The American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association the pain and fatigue you experience with fibromyalgia can be disabling.
Other Symptoms
In some cases you may have fibromyalgia even though you test negative for the 11 required tender points. You may have fibromyalgia if you experience digestive problems, TMJ pain, problems with your memory or thinking clearly, numbness and tingling sensations, dizziness, sensitivity to temperature, light and noise and sleep disturbances. You may also experience chronic headaches and find that even mild exercise causes your symptoms to flare. Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, vision problems and difficulty maintaining balance may also occur.
