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Identifying all possible conditions will help guide your treatment. If your symptoms suggest that you have another condition as well as fibromyalgia, you may need further tests to diagnose these. It's also possible to have other conditions alongside your fibromyalgia, such as: The extent of the pain used to be assessed by applying gentle pressure to certain "tender points", where any pain is likely to be at its worst. no other reason for your symptoms has been found.your symptoms have stayed at a similar level for at least 3 months.you either have severe pain in 3 to 6 different areas of your body, or you have milder pain in 7 or more different areas.The most widely used criteria for diagnosis are: Criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgiaįor fibromyalgia to be diagnosed, certain criteria usually have to be met. If you're found to have another condition, you could still have fibromyalgia as well. Tests to check for some of these conditions include urine and blood tests, although you may also have X-rays and other scans. multiple sclerosis (MS) – a condition of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) that affects movement and balance.rheumatoid arthritis – a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints.chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as ME) – a condition that causes long-term tiredness Other conditions commonly misdiagnosed as MS are fibromyalgia, nonspecific white matter lesions, psychiatric disorders and neuromyelitis optica spectrum.
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If your GP thinks you may have fibromyalgia, they'll first have to rule out all other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. Your body will also be examined to check for visible signs of other conditions – for example, swollen joints may suggest arthritis, rather than fibromyalgia. The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary and are similar to those of several other conditions.ĭuring diagnosis, you'll be asked about how your symptoms are affecting your daily life.
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Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult, as there's no specific test to diagnose the condition. If you think you have fibromyalgia, visit your GP.
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