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Diagnosis
Fibromyalgia is not new, but for most of the last century it
was difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem has been that the
condition could not be identified in the standard laboratory tests or
x-rays. Moreover, many of its signs and symptoms are found in other
conditions as well – especially in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Two Canadian doctors developed a way of diagnosing fibromyalgia in the
1970s and in 1990 an international committee published requirements for
diagnosis that are now widely accepted.
Once other medical conditions have been ruled out through tests and the
patient’s history, diagnosis depends on two main symptoms:
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widespread pain for more than three months together with
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pain in at least 11 out of 18 tender point sites when they are pressed.
“Widespread pain” means pain above and below the waist and on both
sides of the body. The “tender points”, or spots of extreme tenderness,
are rarely noticed by the patient until they are pressed.
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What is FM?