Were you diagnosed after the Healthca... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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Were you diagnosed after the Healthcare Professional performed the Tender Point Test (TPT)?

Mdaisy profile imageMdaisy395 Voters
261
Yes
36
No
30
Diagnosed after a series of Blood tests
24
No tests performed before diagnosis
15
Other (please comment)
13
Unsure
10
Unaware of TPT
6
Awaiting diagnosis
43 Replies
nannyjenno profile image
nannyjenno

i had pain at most of the trigger points and the doctor said he thought it was fibro, and since then the rhumy doctor agreed with him and thats how i got the diagnosis

salanna profile image
salanna in reply tonannyjenno

I am just like you i have pain in every single trigger point i was also diagnosed with m.e at same time along with the other health issues that go along with it sending you gentle hugs and wishing you a good day Salanna x.

Mdaisy profile image
Mdaisy

For further information about the diagnosis of Fibro &Tender Point Test please see our website via these links

fibroaction.org/Pages/How-I...

fibroaction.org/Articles/Th...

Thank You

pip_r profile image
pip_r

My doctor thought I might have Fibromyalgia and referred me to a Rheumatologist. She found I was tender in all 18 points and diagnosed Fibro.

tabithaboots profile image
tabithaboots

I was diagnosed in Spain.Had scans blood tests,and then was told due to my ailments I had fibro

Ginsing profile image
Ginsing

I was diagnosed by the TPT and then blood tests followed by every consultant agreeing with the diagnoses . Interesting to see how many dont know about the TPT. gins

Devonie profile image
Devonie

My GP referred me to Reumatology after 6 years of my complaining of pain, tiredness, pins and needles in hands and feet, nausea, possible tia and referrals to every other department with everyone of them finding nothing wrong. Rheumy told me to read a leaflet about fybro then spoke to me about it 20 mins later. What I read was pretty much how I feel then and now. That was how I was diagnosed.

Kernowc profile image
Kernowc

I diagnosed myself from the tender points then went to my GP who agreed with me without any formal diagnosis. I was then prescribed Amitriptyline to see if it helped, as this did reduce the pain this then confirmed the diagnosos!

Same as grims :)

Hairytriker profile image
Hairytriker

GP originally suspected I had Fibro. Confirmed by Rheumatologist through TPT. Seconded By Consultant Anaesthetist who specialises in Fibro. He runs the Fibro clinic at our pain management centre.

Rob70 profile image
Rob70

The gp referred me to a Rheumatologist who did the following: blood tests, x rays, tender point test, reflex test, he looked at my range of movement, medical history of when the pain started. On the follow up appointment he said I had fibromyalgia until then I never heard of it.

I saw a second rheumatologist a few years later who knew more tender points then the 18. He told me that I definitely have full blown fibromyalgia :(

Lizzie559 profile image
Lizzie559

I had the test by 2 specialists and a doctor. But as I said afterwards they could have poked me anywhere and it would have hurt.

AriadneJones profile image
AriadneJones

I was having physio and wasn't responding so my physio did the tender points test and suggested I went to the doctor. My doctor laughed at me and said that everyone thinks they've got fibromyalgia just because I had lots of aches and pains at the same time it was coincidental. I booked to see another doctor who sent me to see a Rhumetologist who confirmed that I had fibromyalgia. I went to see Professor Davis in London and he confirmed the diagnosis.

jb1967 profile image
jb1967

Rheumatologist diagnosed me after loads of x-rays blood tests and finally, the TPT. But that was eight years ago. X J

jelleybaby profile image
jelleybaby

After several years seeing Pain clinic and staying in the sleep lab, I was diagnosed with facial allodynia in 2002, but the pain and muscle spasms spread and gp suspected FB as had most of the 18 points. he took bloods then the consultant rheumatologist asked a few questions, then did TPT test and diagnosed @ 2004

lia144 profile image
lia144

I diagnosed myself through a magazine article, someones testimony of her symptoms and diagnosis, then asked my gp for a referal to a rheumatologist, he said fibro was just a group of symptoms.He said go away and rethink it, and if i still wanted to pursue it he would refer me. I Chose not to go to my local hospital, because I had "been round the table" (something that happens if a diagnosis is not arrived at they throw it open at a surgeons meeting to see if anyone else can help) so many times i felt like every surgeon in the hosp knew about me, and also I had been a patient of one specialist after another for30 years non stop since my son was born. So i asked for a referal from Southampton to Salisbury. I was diagnosed my first visit. love always Lia144 xxx

Loopykaz68 profile image
Loopykaz68

Diagnosed after blood tests and X-rays come up with no results

He did test some off the tender spots witch I have some of them.

Tannels profile image
Tannels

I had been unwell for some time and my GP suspected Fibromyalgia. He referred me to a Rheumatologist and after a series of questions and a physical examination, including pressure of the tender points, of which I had all (18), I received a diagnosis.

Lima6MCT profile image
Lima6MCT

After a passing comment by an oral max consultant re my TMJ possibly being part of a larger problem like Fibro followed by a lot of nagging at my GP i finally persuaded him to refer me to a Rheumatologist. The Rheumy found all 18 points to be tender & diagnosed Fibro. In the last couple of years I've tried to see her again as it has gotten worse but she has declined to see me - she told my GP it would be a waste of time as there is nothing else that she can do!

MissVic profile image
MissVic in reply toLima6MCT

My doctor told me it was a waste of time seeing the Rheumatologist again as there was no point, even though I have requested it a number of times, the annoying thing is is that I had an ATOS medical recently and they ask you if you have been to see these specialists and when you say no because my Dr won't send me it makes it look like well it must be because you don't need to rather than my GP trying to save on her budget.

MissVic profile image
MissVic

After 15yrs of symptoms and my Dr thinking I was a Hypercondriac I changed Dr's, got sent to a Rheumatologist, had the TPT and they found Ihad all 18 points tender and was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Hadn't even heard of it before and although my condittion has got worse it was good to finally have a name for my "mysterious" illness that I had been complaining about for years.

maryharrison profile image
maryharrison

I was diagnosed after being treated for rheumatoid arthritis for 4 years. I also have cfs and under active thyroid and asthma.

Fibrofoggiest profile image
Fibrofoggiest

My GP did the TPT then was followed up by my rheumy. My GP told me fibro was most likely and I told him I'd been told I had "fibrositis" at which point he told me I had most probably had Fibro since I was 17 and it made so so many things fall into place over many years. It was such a relief as for years I thought I was slowly going nuts with all the pain and exhaustion, etc., etc....

CryBaby profile image
CryBaby

GP did the TPT, second GP did it too, blood tests done, Rheumy to confirm. Rheumy didn't do TPT and sent for more blood tests- Rheuny said Fibro is exclusionary, so couldn't confirm Fibro. More blood tests, scans, exercise programme, trial and error on medications. Sent to Neurologist too because of the Fibro fog being so bad. 3 out of 3 times got 18 tender points- reduced to tears twice.

rosaann52 profile image
rosaann52

I was pressure tested but only scored on 8 out of 11, but because of my medical history, the specialist said ' out of all propability.you have fibromyaligia'....and told to go away and live with it.....I've never had any follow up treatment other than hydro for a trapped piriformus muscle , Nortripyline and pain killers...I also have underactive thyroid and cfs.....

motzie profile image
motzie

i had so many tests that i think it was a info from them, i was eventualy told by my Dr that i had FIBRO, CFS/ME.

The last appointment i was at that confirmed it was a Neurologist.

stimpy profile image
stimpy

My GP carried out the TPT test after i went to him barely able to walk because the pain was so bad. he looked through my notes from the past 12 years with all the maladies he told me i was imagining, did the test then said 'i think i know what's wrong with you, you can go to a rheumatologist to confirm if you want but i am pretty sure its fibromyalgia'. i couldnt believe that after all those years of being told it was all in my head or normal growing pains that such a quick and easy test could diagnose me. i spent half my life undiagnosed when all it took was being prodded a few times. i havent seen a rheumatologist as to be honest i cant be bothered with yet more doctors.

I was diagnosed with Me then a futher 5 years later due to the extent of pain and the areas I was experiencing them told I had Fibromyalgia, it was 2 years after this that my tender points and lumps were mapped out. Didnt realise I had so many....

valann profile image
valann

When was the TPT test ? Ive had fibro about 20 years ??? and what exactly is it?

Mdaisy profile image
Mdaisy in reply tovalann

Please see 2nd comment on this thread that has an explanation about TPT.

Hope this helps

Emma

Sammicat15 profile image
Sammicat15

10 years into an RA diagnosis, my rheumy mentioned that my symptoms were all more fibro than RA, so I was sent on a pain management course and my cocktail of drugs tweaked regularly after that so instead of taking 2 different drugs per day, as I did for almost 10 years, I now take 5, plus steroid shots in my knees!

valann profile image
valann

Thanks mdaisy ! I think my mind is very foggy at the moment Ha! Ha! I have never heard it put down as TPT before ! I seem to forget that all words these days are shortend !!!!! I dont think a lot of Drs reconized Fibro 20 years ago

because they didnt want to, It was always something else . I was lucky I found the right Dr !!!!!

Anniex profile image
Anniex

I was told I was probably suffering from MS but was told I would have to wait 18 months to see a neurologist - so I went private - he told me it wasn't MS, then I still had to wait to see a consultant who carried out the TPT

clelle profile image
clelle

My diagnosis came after all blood tests were completed, and tender points tests were carried out..

gillyb59 profile image
gillyb59

I was diagnosed after seeing a rheumatologist in 2008 after a long proses of seeing doctors I was also under orthopaedics where I had an operation to un trap the ulnar nerve before being diagnosed with fibro I am still under orthopaedics for other problems in shoulder and hips

phoenix1951 profile image
phoenix1951

I was gong back and forth to my doctors for over a year complaining of severe tiredness seeral tests performed in the end I put burning feet into a search engine and fibromyalgia popped up on reading more i realised i had several otherassociated problems I went back to my GP and he referred me to a rhuematologist who did several tests and she diagnosed me with firomyalgia - i have decided its a very inconvienient complaint especially when i get the irratable bladder thing when im out !

justlilme profile image
justlilme

i had 18/18 trigger points - and blood tests

MrsOtter profile image
MrsOtter

I was diagnosed with fibro after taking gallons of my blood & sending me for numerous mri scans and xrays and then found out my grandma and her sister are sufferers too. Then they diagnosed me not long after. It did take over 4 years tho.

downeygirl profile image
downeygirl

While attending consultant at the hospital, I picked up a leaflet on Fibro. All the symptoms covered what was wrong with me and how I was feeling. I then mentioned this to him and he has now gone down this road with me.

lcm27 profile image
lcm27

My GP then had not got a clue but sent me to Rhuematologist. I gave her an A4 list of symptoms and traumas that I had had within the prior 3 years. She read the list and said 'without even examining you i would say you have Fibromyalgia' . She did examine me and gave me Tramadol and Amytiptriline to start with. I nearly cried with the fact I wasnt going mad and that there was a name for all this rubbish I had got. I think you can cope with most things if they have a name because you then have a focus. Its before you get diagnosed that you think you are going mad. I thought my fibrofog was the start of alzhiemers!

punkrockchick profile image
punkrockchick

3 yrs ago I had that done diagnosed with half hour of his time took my childhood doc to retire before I got answers finally mum couldn't believe how quick he was and took my other docs from 12 yrs old to come up with nothing .diagnosed at 30 yrs old by this other man x

Riles-17 profile image
Riles-17

As like others I was tender in all spots particularly the shoulder one where I nearly flew across the room as the rhumb consultant was standing behind me when she pressed it. My GP was goOd and had me on all the meds before I was diagnosed she just needed it confirmed. So for me a diagnosis was great so when people asked I could finally say what was wrong rather than people thinking I was just faking. It didn't make any diff to my life or pain just gave me more understanding.

Kellyk830 profile image
Kellyk830

After being in 3 motor vehicle accidents and 5 continuous years of pain management I had a TPT test done. 16 of my 18 points were excruciating the other 2 hurt but were manageable. I have full body pain numbness tingling 7 herniated discs tension and migraine headaches, hip torsion, patella femeral syndrome, a rib that pops out of place, insomnia, daytime tiredness (will barely sleep for a few days then crash for a day-all why being on 15 meds some of which are narcotics and could tranquilize an elephant). Guess I will be asking my doc about ME/CFS at next appointment too.

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