How to Know if You Have Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia, and how do you know if you have it? Fibromyalgia is an arthritis related disease that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. The disease has become well known for its mystery and the difficulty associated with diagnosis. Why is fibromyalgia so very difficult to diagnose? Much of the confusion associated with this condition is because so many of its symptoms resemble other forms of arthritis. Diagnosis usually consists of a long period of ruling out different conditions until fibromyalgia remains a viable diagnosis. Many patients do not receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia until four or five years after their first physician visit. Clearly, fibromyalgia can take quite a physical and emotional toll on patients.

Fortunately, the condition is becoming better known. Health professionals have become better educated about the condition, and are more adept at making an accurate diagnosis. While once this arthritis condition was relatively unknown and difficult to diagnose, it has now become famous precisely for its elusive nature. If you suspect you may have fibromyalgia, here is a list of the most common symptoms. Discussing your symptoms with your doctor is the first step toward a positive diagnosis.

Most fibromyalgia patients describe pain as their primary symptom. Unlike other forms of arthritis, the pain associated with fibromyalgia is not centered on a specific joint or muscle. Patients describe a feeling of all-over, widespread pain. Many patients described the pain as throbbing, sharp, deep, and widespread. Although the pain is felt throughout the body, many fibromyalgia patients do report 'tender spots' where pain is felt more sharply if the area is pressed. Doctors have narrowed down the number of tender points to 18 specific locations.

In order to receive a positive diagnosis, doctor and patient usually must identify at least 11 tender spots. In some cases, the patient may have less than 11 identifiable tender spots and still be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Along with the feeling of widespread pain, the other major symptom of fibromyalgia is fatigue. Patients describe it as crippling, overwhelming sense of fatigue. Even patients who receive eight or more hours of sleep at night, they may still experience severe fatigue throughout the day.

There are other symptoms that may be present. Along with pain and fatigue, the typical fibromyalgia patient may also experience stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning. Most fibromyalgia suffers report difficulty getting enough sleep. Researchers have found that most fibromyalgia patients have low serotonin levels, which may explain their ability to sleep. Low serotonin levels may also be related to the depression and anxiety experienced by many fibromyalgia patients. Most fibromyalgia sufferers also report experiencing frequent headaches and migraines. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia may include tingling in the hands, legs, arms, and feet, and swelling of the extremities. Some fibromyalgia sufferers also report symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Unfortunately, the difficulty of diagnosis can be compounded by the fact that fibromyalgia often appears in conjunction with other forms of arthritis. There are over 100 forms of arthritis, and any one of these can appear with symptoms of fibromyalgia. Most commonly, doctors report seeing patients who suffer from both rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.