| The first step in getting suspected fibromyalgia | | | | tenderness. The doctor will press on 18 specific |
| diagnosed is to find a physician, nurse practitioner | | | | areas of your body to test for tenderness. If you |
| or other health care provider who is | | | | have achiness all over and are unusually tender |
| knowledgeable and compassionate. Maybe it | | | | over 11 or more of these trigger points, they will |
| should be the other way around: compassionate | | | | usually conclude that you have fibromyalgia. |
| and knowledgeable. | | | | Even this is a bit tenuous, though, because, as |
| The only sure way to find the right health care | | | | you know, the pain of fibromyalgia comes and |
| provider is by trial and error. You can narrow the | | | | goes. There are many other trigger points over |
| field by talking to other people, especially people | | | | your body that may be tender. The ones that |
| with fibromyalgia or who suffer some kind of | | | | are used for diagnosis were chosen by |
| chronic pain, and asking for recommendations. | | | | researchers as the ones most commonly |
| Rheumatologists are specialists in treating | | | | affected. |
| fibromyalgia, but many times an internist or family | | | | Until recently, there have been no diagnostic tests |
| doctor is just as knowledgeable and helpful as a | | | | for fibromyalgia, other than trigger point |
| specialist. | | | | tenderness. A few tests are beginning to be used |
| Make an appointment with your chosen health | | | | now, though. Your doctor may or may not order |
| care provider and tell him or her your story. | | | | these tests; they are not widely used yet and |
| Describe your pain and other symptoms and tell | | | | their usefulness hasn’t been proven. The |
| her how long you have had them. Answer their | | | | tests are: |
| questions, and get a sense for how you are being | | | | * Cytokine levels, which are often abnormal in |
| treated. If you feel disrespected, or that you are | | | | people with fibromyalgia. |
| not being taken seriously, make an appointment | | | | * APA assay (antipolymer antibody). APA levels |
| with a different health care provider. Keep going | | | | are thought to be elevated in people with |
| until you find a professional that you can relate to. | | | | fibromyalgia. |
| Diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia is a | | | | * Sleep study. This may be done both because |
| partnership between you and your healthcare | | | | most FMS patients have sleep abnormalities, so an |
| provider, and you need to be able to work | | | | abnormal sleep test makes the diagnosis clearer, |
| together on this. | | | | and to identify and treat specific sleep problems. |
| You can expect that a health care provider who | | | | * MRI or PET scan. People with fibromyalgia have |
| is knowledgeable about fibromyalgia will take a | | | | abnormalities in both MRI and PET scan. |
| health history, perform a physical examination, do | | | | * EEG. Some researchers have discovered EEG |
| some blood work and perform a point tenderness | | | | abnormalities in people with fibromyalgia. |
| test. That’s the minimum. | | | | As more research is done, better, more definitive |
| The blood work will usually be to make sure there | | | | tests for fibromyalgia may become available. That |
| aren’t other problems, like rheumatoid | | | | would be a huge benefit for both patients and |
| arthritis, causing your symptoms. The real | | | | health care providers, because diagnosing |
| “test” for fibromyalgia is trigger point | | | | fibromyalgia would be easier and more certain. |