Diagnosing Fibromyalgia syndrome
As there are no tests of whatever kind available that would allow a conclusive diagnosis of Fibromyalgia syndrome, the established routine today mostly starts with excluding any other disorder that could be associated with similar symptoms and could be diagnosed with clinically better researched and generally more accepted tests.
Only after other disorders are excluded, a diagnosis of
Fibromyalgia syndrome will be seriously considered based on following findings:
1. General pain and tenderness on palpation of several out of a whole of 18 tender points. The traditional approach would demand for at least 11 painful tender points, but this has been reversed in the meantime. Modern clinic findings will also accept just over 5 painful tender points as an indicator for Fibromyalgia syndrome.
The pain has to be observed however on both sides of the body and on the upper half as well as the lower half of the body.
2. Fatigue as a predominant symptom.
3. Negative laboratory tests in all relevant parameters and a general constitution of the patient that is disproportionably better than normally to be expected under conditions of chronic pain and fatigue.