Diagnosis
Fibromyalgia is quite difficult to diagnosis as there is no simple laboratory test that can be done. In many cases, fibromyalgia is diagnosed by ruling out other conditions. You may need to have blood tests and x-rays to help rule out these other conditions but they will not confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Guidelines have been established to help assess the condition. These guidelines specify that for fibromyalgia to be diagnosed the patient must have experienced widespread pain for at least 3 months and experience pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 tender points on the body.
These guidelines are not accepted by all medical professionals. Some doctors question the validity of a diagnosis by the tender points while others believe the guidelines are too strict and a patient can still be diagnosed with fibromyalgia without having pain in the required tender points.
