Understanding the Fibromyalgia Points

 

With all of the difficulty patients have finally getting the correct diagnosis of fibromyalgia, it leaves the average person wondering exactly what has to be going on in order to finally be considered a member of this unfortunate club. A few people have a vague idea about what the fibromyalgia points are and some of the other criteria the American College of Rheumatology have constructed, but for many patients and their families, let alone the rest of society, the whole thing is pretty murky.  It certainly doesn’t help that many doctors don’t agree with the standards put forth and are actively trying to change the situation.  Here is a brief, and hopefully helpful, look at how people with fibromyalgia are diagnosed.

• Blood tests and X rays

• Examination of risk factors

• The points system

Much of figuring out whether or not a person has fibromyalgia is the process of deciding what the person doesn’t have.  The symptoms of fibromyalgia often mimic other diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.  Your doctor will first have to rule out all of those other things in order to figure out if fibromyalgia is even a possibility.  The most all of these tests and X rays can actually do is rule out possibilities, they can’t give an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  At this point in time, there isn’t one test that can do that.

Another diagnostic tool the medical community uses to assist in diagnosing fibromyalgia is the patient’s family history and other known risk factors.  For example women are more likely than men to have this nasty disease.  Problems with sleep or diagnosed sleep disorders are also an indication that fibromyalgia may be the culprit behind all of the patient’s problems.  When this disease decides to strike it often does so in the early or mid adult years, so age plays a role as well. The final risk factor for fibromyalgia that doctors are going to look at is if a family history of the disease is present.

When the fibromyalgia points are mentioned, it is a reference to the guidelines set up to help doctors diagnose fibromyalgia patients.  In a nutshell, the person must have no fewer than 11 points on their bodies that are tender or painful to the touch to be considered as having fibromyalgia.  Many medical professionals feel this criteria is too tight and that many people in need of help are falling in between the cracks.  The good news is while nothing so far cures fibromyalgia, there are treatment options available.