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Diagnosis
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A diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) often relieves a patient's fears of having a life-threatening disorder or one that could become more serious over time. The diagnosis eliminates the need for further invasive and costly diagnostic testing, and should help redirect efforts on the part of the patient and physician to manage symptoms and improve function.
There currently is no procedure or laboratory test that proves a patient has FMS. A diagnosis is based mainly on patient history, a report of symptoms, and a physical examination. If symptoms have been present for years and the physical examination (except for tenderness) is unrevealing, a diagnosis may occur without much additional testing. A more aggressive evaluation, however, may be warranted if symptoms occur suddenly with no apparent cause.
The following are the diagnostic requirements for FMS as established by the American College of Rheumatology in 1990:
- History of chronic widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body, plus the axial skeleton
- Pain in 11 of 18 specific tender point sites when pressed gently with the fingers
Please refer to your healthcare provider with any questions on how these diagnostic criteria may apply to you.
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