The symptoms of fibromyalgia vary, as do the severity. Common tell-tale
signs of this illness include:
Widespread pain:
Pain may begin suddenly and persist for several weeks or years. Typical
areas of the body that become painful include the neck, upper back, upper
chest, hips, knees, and elbows.
Fatigue:
Individuals with fibromyalgia also experience tiredness. Fatigue may
become so severe that it interrupts daily routine. In addition, sufferers
may experience sleep disturbance. This results from increased brain
activity that prevents deep sleep.
Other symptoms and signs of fibromyalgia include:
Restless Leg Syndrome
Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
Headaches
Depression
Dizziness
Anxiety
Difficulty
Concentrating
Morning Stiffness
Numbness
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. Those who suffer from the condition
exhibit a variety of symptoms, and there is no specific test that is able to
confirm the illness. Doctors can only diagnose fibromyalgia by examining a
patient’s symptoms. In most cases, patients will likely undergo a series of
test to rule out other illnesses that produce similar symptoms. These illnesses
include arthritis, lupus, Graves’ disease, and multiple sclerosis. Before a
diagnosis is made, patients will have a blood test, physical exam, and discuss
their family history with doctors. If laboratory tests are normal, and the
patient has experienced widespread pain for at least three months and has pain
in eleven of the eighteen pressure points, physician will diagnose the patient
with fibromyalgia. Although it is common for fibromyalgia patients to have pain
in at least eleven pressure point areas, some may experience pain in fewer
pressure point areas. This is common among those in the beginning stages of the
illness. Fibromyalgia is not life-threatening, nor does it cause permanent
joint damage. However, as sufferers become older, they may begin to experience
a greater degree of pain.