How To Know if You Have Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of widespread body pain and fatigue. There are signs and symptoms, including those shown below, that can help to identify and diagnose fibromyalgia.

1. The major, characteristic symptom of fibromyalgia is joint and muscle pain and stiffness. People with fibromyalgia will find that they experience widespread and severe body pain that is chronic (ongoing). The pain will affect the muscles and joints but will also produce “tender points” at places on the body where the muscles are attached to bones, at the joints. Some published diagnostic studies have suggested that fibromyalgia is better determined when a person is found to have at least 11 of the 18 possible tender points that can occur within the body. These are areas where pain will occur upon applying mild pressure to them, using a fingertip. The areas where these tender points may occur include the hip, knees, the back of the head near the base of the neck, upper areas of the chest, the upper back in the cervical spine area, the elbows and the shoulders.
2. People with fibromyalgia often suffer from severe fatigue and sleep disturbances. Fatigue is another major symptom of this disorder and is sometimes exacerbated by sleep disturbances that may also occur. The fatigue is usually relentless and proper sleep and rest does little to alleviate it. The circadian sleep rhythms that are supposed to normally occur become abnormal in fibromyalgia patients, which results in daytime sleepiness and feeling more awake at nighttime. Medical research, including that conducted by the National Institutes of Health, suggests that abnormal functioning of the adrenal glands is one possible cause of the disrupted sleep patterns, because the adrenal hormone “cortisol” is not regulated normally by the adrenal glands in people who have fibromyalgia.
3. Digestive disturbances and Irritable Bowel Syndrome may also occur in people with fibromyalgia. Patients may complain of severe indigestion and acid reflux but may also experience alternating spells of constipation and diarrhea, which would indicate that they are also suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Gastritis and bloating may also manifest as part of the digestive problems that can occur with fibromyalgia.
4. Those with fibromyalgia may also suffer from headaches and sensory disturbances. Many people with fibromyalgia experience frequent headaches and these may have a neurological aspect to them that they have not experienced previously. The headaches will sometimes have an unusual pattern to them or will affect the person’s senses as they occur. These sensory changes can occur with the headaches or may also occur without headaches. They include heightened sensitivity to light and noises, heightened sensitivities to odors and to the sense of touch as well.
5. Fibromyalgia often presents itself through emotional and mental symptoms as well. People with this syndrome may also experience symptoms of anxiety and depression and a change in mental functioning. The emotional symptoms may alternate between those of anxiety and depression or the patient may experience only one of these. A person with fibromyalgia may perceive this anxiety as an increase in chronic worry and fear, including the possibility of panic attacks. The depression may be perceived by them as a profound sadness, an emptiness and possibly even hopelessness. This demonstrates the importance in monitoring fibromyalgia patients for any signs of severely worsening emotional symptoms, which may require treatment as a separate issue, along with other treatments that are needed.

   Mental functioning may also become diminished in fibromyalgia patients; they may have difficulty concentrating, experiencing what is referred to as “brain fog”, a term to describe mental dullness or an inability to focus.

6. See a doctor. People who experience the symptoms described above need to see a qualified medical physician in order to confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or other conditions. Only then can a person truly reach a diagnosis and move forward with appropriate treatment.