Is Fibromyalgia a Disease, a Collection of Symptoms, or is It All in Your Head?

For weeks you've been in pain from head to feet. You have no energy, can not concentrate and can not remember the last time you had a good night's sleep. You have been to the doctor several times already and all I can say is that you do not. You read about fibromyalgia and even talked to other people who have been diagnosed with the disease. However, until now, no one can tell if you have or not?

Sounds familiar?

Well welcome to the world of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. It is quite unfortunate that there is no cure or effective treatment for this disease significantly, but it is even more frustrating when it takes so long for anyone to tell you that the problems are caused by fibromyalgia.

It is not disputed the validity of fibromyalgia as a disease. In fact, the World Health Organization has recognized the disease for many years. This is the diagnosis that is debatable.

Fibromyalgia is a very confusing and misunderstood condition. It has been known by many different names for more than a century, but it was not called "fibromyalgia" until the 1970s. The term is derived from the actual experience of the condition. "Fibro" - which represents the fibrous tissues affected (ie ligaments and tendons); "Myo" - representing the muscular system; and "Algia" - which means "pain", which is the dominant manifestation of this disease. Essentially, fibromyalgia means being in pain everywhere.

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed by a process of elimination. In other words, before the complaint can be labeled fibromyalgia, you must first determine that there is another cause. If the appendix is ​​inflamed, you have appendicitis. If you fall and hit your head CT scan indicate if you have a concussion. But if it hurts the whole body and suffers from chronic fatigue for months, have difficulty concentrating and fight against anxiety and depression, you must first determine what you have, but what they . Because if you have fibromyalgia, there is no evidence to indicate that you have.

In other words, it is difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia.

This process is very contrary to the system of health care as it is currently structured. The optimal level of testing and analysis to arrive at a reliable diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be prohibitive. As a result, the symptoms of fibromyalgia can be easily dismissed as psychosomatic. Conversely, fibromyalgia can become the catchall diagnosis when there is resistance to go along way to a definitive diagnosis. Either way, the patient loses.

Sometimes a patient receives great relief when they are told that the problem is that even if a clear solution. Receiving a confidant diagnosis of fibromyalgia may not provide relief, but at least allows the victim to go to explore alternative treatment.

The American College of Rheumatology has made this process easier for the patient and the physician to develop criteria for fibromyalgia that can be used in the diagnosis of disease diagnosis. According to the criteria established by the ACR, a person is considered fibromyalgia if he or she felt widespread pain for at least three months in combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender points. While this may not be as definitive as a blood test or x-rays for other conditions, there is at least one guide on the diagnostic results with a high degree of confidence.

As for the treatment of fibromyalgia ... well, that's another story! (I will deal with treatments in a later article. Stay tuned.)

J. Terrence (Terry) McDermott is the developer and manager of a variety of websites offering information, resources and products related healthcare. Alpha Medical Supplies is [http://www.alphamedicalsupplies.com] and is a site that provides supplies and medical equipment, as well as resources for caregivers at home.