There is no specific test to diagnose fibromyalgia. Since people with fibromyalgia exhibit symptoms that overlap with other disorders, diagnosis is a process of elimination.
Pain does not show up on an x-ray or blood test, and there are no outward symptoms of fibromyalgia, other than the signs of fatigue on a patient’s face. This explains why reaching a diagnosis involves eliminating other conditions and may take some time – so try to be patient.
At the same time, when you are experiencing pain, especially widespread pain for an extended period of time, you want answers. You want a diagnosis so that you can begin treatment as quickly as possible. It is only normal.
Though there is no single test for fibromyalgia, it does have official diagnosis criteria, and your doctor will follow a procedure to diagnose your symptoms:
- Listen to your symptoms (the most important being chronic, widespread muscle pain for at least 3 months) and review your medical history.
- Perform a physical exam to determine if you have pain throughout your body and excess tenderness at certain tender points.
- Order laboratory and blood tests relevant to your medical history to eliminate other conditions and narrow in on an accurate diagnosis. The first test will likely be a simple blood test, to exclude infection or thyroid problems.
Other tests may be performed based on your specific condition.
It is important to remember that a diagnosis of other conditions does not necessarily rule out fibromyalgia, and visa-versa.
What you can do
Of course you cannot make a diagnosis without your doctor, but you can do a lot of the preliminary work to bring to your appointment. The first step is filling out the pain questionnaire, writing down all your symptoms and comparing them to the officially recognized symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Keep track of all the changes in your body and anything you notice that triggers, aggravates or improves your symptoms. Record any other types of symptoms you may experience, from headaches to digestion problems. Remember to bring the bottles of any prescriptions, vitamins or natural remedies you may be taking. Every small piece of information can help your doctor assess your situation and make a diagnosis.
