by ghchealth on Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:29 pm
Fibromyalgia can be very difficult to diagnose and is generally considered to be a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that many other possibilities are ruled out first, and then Fibromyalgia is considered. According to the American College of Rheumatology’s 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia, someone must have the following:
1. A history of widespread pain- pain must be present in both the left and right side of the body as well as above and below the waist. It also must be present in the spine or chest.
2. Pain must be present in at least 11 of 18 specific “trigger points” which are actually palpated by the doctor. Both of these have to be on-going for at least 3 months.
Keep in mind that not every doctor uses these strict criteria, but this can give you a very good idea of what they are looking for. In addition to the pain, most people suffer from fatigue and from sleep disorders. Due to the overall pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep, many also suffer from depression and anxiety as well. Keep in mind that there are a number of other symptoms that FM patients can experience.
Regarding other types of tests that can be used, one that may be of particular use is called a QRib test. This test is very accurate when diagnosing the presence of the bacterium that causes Lyme’s disease. Although there is no general agreement as to the exact cause of FM, the similarities between this disorder and Lyme’s disease are remarkable; a recent study showed that a very high percentage of FM sufferers also test positive for the presence of Borrella Burdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme’s disease.
