Fibromyalgia

Tests & Diagnostics

Diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires a history of a least 3 months of widespread pain, and pain and tenderness in at least 11 of 18 tender-point sites. These tender-point sites include fibrous tissue or muscles of the:

• Arms (elbows)
• Buttocks
• Chest
• Knees
• Lower back
• Neck
• Rib cage
• Shoulders
• Thighs

Sometimes, laboratory and x-ray tests are done to help confirm the diagnosis by ruling out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. The following conditions have been associated with fibromyalgia or mimic its symptoms:

• Cancer
• Cervical and low-back degenerative disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Depression
• HIV infection
• Hypothyroidism
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Lyme disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sleep disorders

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