Trouble getting diagnosed with Fibromyalgia

[Jools1402]

Please can anyone tell me how to get this properly diagnosed? Over a year ago GP said I had Polymyalgia. Took steroids for six months which helped at first but then stopped working. Was referred to Rheumy who then said I have osteoarthritis but my pain is incredible all over and I am worried I may have Fibromyalgia too but not getting anywhere with GP other than trying Gabapentin which is not covering my pain. I’m getting really anxious and feel I will have to quit my live in carer job very soon. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[ratoncita]

To my knowledge, the only way to diagnose #Fibro is by pressure points (tender points) of which there are 18. If you experience pain in 11 of these when pressure is applied, you likely to have Fibromyalgia. This is how I was diagnosed and as far as I know, they still don’t have a blood test. Doctors don’t know what to do for ppl who have it tend to prescribe opioids, antidepressants etc. if you can get your hands on “The Fibromyalgia Advocate”, I highly recommend. I bought one.

Hope this helped and “good luck “!

creakyjoints.org//wp-conten...

[Jools1402 in reply to ratoncita]

Thanks so much. Really appreciate your advice and guidance. Feeling very low but determined to keep trying for answers. All the very best to you too x

[Cat00 in reply to Jools1402]

They don't use pressure points to diagnose anymore.What I did may work for you, I took a print out of the description of fibromyalgia and said I think I have this bc of A,B,C etc. This was 25 years ago when they hadn't really heard of it.

So do they think you don't have Polymyalgia now then?

[Pixix in reply to Cat00]

Not disagreeing with you…but I’ve had fibromyalgia for 15 years, & this year the rheumy decided to test to see if I still have it. He used the pressure points & I had a score of 16 out of 18. It was also done 3 years ago & the pressure points diagnose system was used then too. I have polymyalgia, too, & the main diagnosis was the gp examination which took 20 minutes. Then I was put onto steroids for 2 weeks to see if they made a difference. It only took 72 hours for me to feel much better.

[Cat00 in reply to Pixix]

Yes some still test the pressure points they are just not part of the official diagnosis so if you don't get enough points on the pressure test you still can be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

[Pixix in reply to Cat00]

That’s fair. It’s just that you said ‘they don’t use pressure points’ & it was interesting that I’d seen two different consultants one last year & one this year, who did it!! I think it’s good that you can be diagnosed without them, but it’s such a quick & easy test, & I would have thought that every sufferer will have some pressure points positive.

[Cat00 in reply to Pixix]

Yeah they tested my pressure points too, you used to have to have pain in all four quadrants of the body but you know fibro it moves all the time, I never had pain in all four quadrants at the same time!

[Pixix in reply to Cat00]

I think it’s a very individual disease, tbh! I can get pain in all four quadrants, or just 1!! It would be good if they diagnose by symptoms, too!

[Cat00 in reply to Pixix]

My physio reckons they'll be a proper test soon, we can only hope!

[Pixix in reply to Cat00]

Now that is interesting news!! Hope so.