Nov 18 2009

What Are Fibromyalgia Tender Points?

Category: Fibromyalgia Symptomsadmin @ 5:42 am

figure1 300x289 What Are Fibromyalgia Tender Points?

Fibromyalgia Tender Points Diagram

Fibromyalgia Tender Points what exactly are they?


Fibromyalgia Remedies Presents information help you better understand fibromyalgia and how fibromyalgia tender points help medical professionals make a correct diagnosis

Fibromyalgia is a very complicated and unusual condition that for many doctors as well as patients can be difficult to diagnose. There are parameters or a list of symptoms that can point a doctor in the direction of a fibromyalgia diagnosis, for as of this time there is no blood test, CT scan, or other diagnostic test that can pin point an exact fibromyalgia diagnosis.


If you are have been feeling ill for quite some time you are probably aware of the term fibromyalgia tender points, but if you are just starting your search you may be confused by all the different and diverse symptoms that can be labeled fibromyalgia.


You are not alone, and believe me there a few doctors out there as well who are trying to come to terms with exact what fibromyalgia is.  There is one common characteristic that does seem to follow a large percentage of fibromyalgia patients, and that is the tender points.

As you can see from the diagram above that the fibromyalgia tender points are cover pretty equally both sides of the body.

•    Front lower sides of your neck
•    Upper chest
•    Inner elbows
•    Just above inner knees
•    Back of your head
•    Top of the shoulders
•    Upper back (at shoulder blades)
•    Upper buttock
•    Hips

It should be stated that the American College of Rheumatology in 1990 outlined criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia for medical professionals. The criteria determined that there are 18 tender points on the body that correspond with fibromyalgia. For a medical professional to diagnose you with fibromyalgia a person must not just display tenderness in these points as the name implies, but must feel pain when at least 11 of 18 tender points when they are pressed upon. Not every fibromyalgia sufferer will have all 18 tender points, and other symptoms can vary vastly from person to person.


In addition your doctor will be looking for widespread pain that usually lasts for more than three months.

Men and women can suffer with this chronic and misunderstood condition.  It can take many visits to a doctor or many doctors to get the right diagnosis as the symptoms of fibromyalgia do differ from person to person. It is unfortunate, but symptoms can mimic many neurological disorders, as well as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, ruptured discs, and other spinal problems. This can lead to misdiagnosis on many occasions.

You can find a more extensive list of fibromyalgia symptoms by clicking  on the hyper link.

Fibromyalgia

“It’s a common misconception that fibromyalgia is a manifestation of mental problems,” says Karin B. Jensen, postgraduate at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience.


Legitimacy of Fibromyalgia Still A Contentious Point

Medical literature has been slow to publish data on fibromyalgia. Recent studies have gone a long way in disputing the claims of Wolfe and Hadler.


Smoking may increase Lou Gehrig’s disease risk

The better-designed studies show consistently that smoking increases the risk of developing ALS, with some findings suggesting that smoking may be implicated directly in causing the disease.”


Fibromyalgia Discussions at DailyStrength

Barres added that other studies should investigate whether thrombospondin and ?2?-1 are involved in formation of synapses in the neuromuscular junction, since they are so highly concentrated.


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Aug 01 2009

The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Symptomsadmin @ 4:12 am


Characteristic Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Living With The Chronic Pain and Other Symptoms

What Are The Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia?

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia millions of people have been diagnosed, and there are many more with symptoms that have never been diagnosed, but are living with the debilitation chronic pain, and fatigue everyday looking for answers. It is a wide spread condition that increases as the population ages. You should be aware that the range of symptoms is vast, and fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because the disease mimics many other diseases. Most people will not have all the symptoms at once, but the norm is experiencing multiple symptoms and a variety of other chronic conditions at the same time. It can be difficult for health care professionals to treat, and the term fibromyalgia until quite recently brought on the connotation of an imaginary or hypochondriacs disease due to is difficulty in diagnosing. It is sad to say, but the majorities of practicing doctors do not have the patience, or time to help fibromyalgia untangle the intricate web of symptoms that can debilitate, and life altering. Many of you reading this now may be suffering with fibromyalgia for years, going from doctor to doctor searching for a name for the pain that haunts you day in and day out. The symptoms can be present for years before a diagnosis is made, and the primary symptom of this disorder is PAIN. The pain can be centered on any of the tender points, but it also migrates, not always staying in one location. You begin to wonder if you are going crazy, as the pain migrates from point to point; it can be stabbing, burning, shooting, a dull ache, or radiates out. Many describe it as feeling like you have the flu, or have been run over by a car. Stress seems to exasperate the symptoms of fibromyalgia, as does other conditions like weather changes, poor diet choices, menstruation, and hormonal shifts. The difference between fibromyalgia and other disease processes, is that it does not just affect a single body system, but instead can encompass  the whole body. The degree to which individuals are affected is a mystery as well. Some people will have only the pain, while others can check off every symptom on the list. Fibromyalgia symptoms can cause symptoms that mimic arthritis, and other neurological disorders. There are differences in the similarities; arthritis causes joint swelling and deformities, fibromyalgia does not. This chronic disorder can also resemble progressive neurological problems similar to multiple sclerosis, or symptom that resemble a ruptured disc or pinched spinal nerves. However, there is a list that is pretty consistent across a large expanse of sufferers.

Most Sufferers Seek Treatment For A Combination of These Conditions and Symptoms:

  • Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
  • Allergies
  • Anxiety – Panic Attacks
  • Can Also Include A History Of:
  • Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
  • Chronic Fatigue Symptoms
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Depression
  • Difficult Making Decisions
  • Dizziness, Tinnitus
  • Dry Eyes
  • Dry Mouth
  • Endometriosis
  • Extreme Fatigue
  • Flu like Symptoms
  • Headaches
  • Headaches & Pains Associated with changes in weather conditions
  • Hyper mobility
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypothyroid
  • IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Migraines
  • Mitral Valve Prolapse
  • Mouth Sores
  • Muscle and Joint Pain
  • Myofascial Regional Pan
  • Neuropathy of hands and feet
  • Parenthesis
  • Rashes
  • Restless Leg Syndrome
  • Reynaud’s Syndrome
  • Sensitivity to: Sight, Sound, Smells, and touch
  • Sleeping Difficulty-
  • Soreness
  • Stiffness
  • TMJ

Page Resources:

Artritis Symptoms

Arthritis Like Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Mayo Clinic Fibromyalgia Syndrome

The fibromyalgia diagnosis process can be frustrating.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome Symtoms

It can be concluded that vegan diet had beneficial effects on fibromyalgia symptoms at least in the short run.

NY Times Short Article

Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety.


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