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Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor will check for tender (trigger) points of pain in the body. These points are located around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow. Most healthy people have only a few tender points. People with fibromyalgia may have 11 or more when touched.

Blood tests may be done to look for other causes of the symptoms. This is because fibromyalgia is hard to diagnose. Many of the symptoms are like other health problems.

REFERENCES:

Diagnosis. National Fibromyalgia Association website. Available at: http://www.fmaware.org/about-fibromyalgia/diagnosis. Accessed August 11, 2020.

Fibromyalgia. American College of Rheumatology website. Available at: http://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Fibromyalgia. Accessed August 11, 2020.

Fibromyalgia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/fibromyalgia. Accessed August 11, 2020.

Fibromyalgia. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/default.asp. Accessed August 11, 2020.

Macfarlane GJ, Kronisch C, et al. EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Feb;76(2):318-328.

Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD