Fibromyalgia Tender Points - Where Are They?

Until recently the only method to determine the diagnosis of fibromyalgia in a patient was twofold . First, the doctor asks patients about general or specific duration of pain and secondly, to test the reactions to the patient's pain at certain points in the torso known as tender points of fibromyalgia. Diagnosis depends on the pain that results from the pressure in at least eleven of eighteen specific points on the body.

In the past two years , some doctors have diagnosed the disease without a complete count of eleven or more tender points of fibromyalgia are sensitive mainly based on other criteria, such as the symptoms of sleep disorders , irritable bowel syndrome and other problems attributed to fibromyalgia. Most doctors still need a complete list of the eleven most of these specific areas concerned before making a diagnosis , however.

Specific points of fibromyalgia are used to determine the diagnosis include from the knee to the slot and out of the elbow region . Sixty-five or more points have been located in the human torso that date may be sensitive to pressure resulting in severe pain or discomfort, but the main points of eighteen tender years of fibromyalgia are still used for the determination of a diagnosis in most cases.

In the upper torso , fibromyalgia points are in the lower cervical and occipital regions , which are left and right, front and behind the neck area, the insertion of low occipital muscles and space front of the transverse processes of the fifth to seventh cervical vertebrae , in that order.

In the shoulder region are trapezius and supraspinatus fibromyalgia tender points . These can be found in the back where the muscles of the back and upper middle abut the neck and near the corresponding medial suprascapular border. In the front of the body, the second chest fibromyalgia tender points must be located at the second costochondral junctions in the front of the chest.

In the region of the elbow, on the site of two inches to the lateral epicondyle are the two fibromyalgia points known as lateral epicondyles - on the left and right arm respectively . The left and right knee also contain fibromyalgia tender points named knee and these can be found in the fat pad near the median line of the joint, which could more simply through the knee joint .

The remaining four points of fibromyalgia are on the rear side of the human torso. The two access points are on the left buttock cheek and right upper quadrants and external . Finally , the last two areas that are used to diagnose fibromyalgia more left and right trochanter are named. They are located at the top of the left and right legs , the position of the protrusions of the trochanter .

With questions about the general and regional pain, you should expect a doctor to test your fibromyalgia tender points before making a diagnosis. They may ask more questions , to further confirm his suspicion that maybe you are suffering from fibromyalgia.

These may be related to other symptoms, such as sleep habits , general welfare , bowel functions and concentration problems and depression. Once the doctor has verified the information they need , they can inform a patient if they believe they are suffering from fibromyalgia or not.