Pressure points

[Dendarling]

I have all the pain, shooting, stabbing, burning pains. But when I press on them it doesn’t make it worse. Does anyone else have the same?

[Badbessie]

Pressure or pain points are not the best tool in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. On my first trip to see a rheumatologist I had 14, the next time 4. They come and go and some people do not have them at all. Doctors now reach a diagnosis by breaking the body into areas and if you have chronic pain in two or more areas than it can lead to a diagnosis.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Badbessie]

In the UK we are in a bit of transition with some doctors still using tender points and some using 2010 - 2016 criteria. We will have more using the current 2016 criteria as time moves on and this criteria can be found here: fmauk.org/acr2016

I would not think that 2 areas would be enough to achieve a diagnosis and the criteria does point to 4 of 5.

As to the tender points (not the same as trigger points) which may respond to pressure, there has always been an issue with them and they were originally intended for research classification in trials. Not for diagnosis but it was the best they had.

Males with different musculature were always under reporting so some people with one less point but all the rest of the symptoms were missing out on diagnosis and this went some way to explain the gender imbalance.

[Badbessie in reply to desquinn]

Your are of course correct. I must go over my answers before answering at 0330 in the morning.

[Dendarling in reply to Badbessie]

Hahahaha 🤣

[Dendarling in reply to Badbessie]

Thank you Badbessie, that is what I am getting.

[Patdoyle]

Yes me too. Touching pressure points makes my pain no worse. I told the rheumatologist this when I was diagnosed but she still diagnosed fibromyalgia so maybe we’re all different

[Dendarling in reply to Patdoyle]

Thank you Patdoyle , that’s reassuring. I have every symptom except the pressure points. I have another appointment with rheumatologist, I hope they diagnose me soon I’ve been suffering for years. Good to talk to people who understand 😌