Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Before a dx of FM can be made many other diseases must be ruled out, such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, thyroid problems, Lyme disease and connective tissue disorders.

Symptoms Which Must Be Present for a DX of FM

a. Diffuse muskuoskeltal pain occurring above and below the waist and on right and left sides of the body for at least 3 months.

b. Pain in 11 of 18 tender points with application of about 9 lbs of pressure during medical exam. These tender points occur at the following bilateral locations:

  1. Insertion of suboccipital muscle
  2. Under the lower sternomastoid muscle
  3. Mid upper trapezius muscle
  4. Origin of the supraspinatus muscle
  5. Near the second costochondral junction
  6. 2 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle
  7. Prominence of the greater trochanter
  8. Medial fat pad of the knee

Primary syptoms of FM

  1. fatigue - mild to profound
  2. nonrestorative sleep

Common Symptoms of FM

  1. irritable bowel and \or bladder syndrome
  2. muscle twitches
  3. tingling and numbness of face and or extremeties
  4. headaches
  5. pelvic pain
  6. chest pain
  7. abdominal wall pain
  8. subjective swelling of extremities
  9. low-grade fever
  10. sub-normal temperature
  11. sicca symptoms (dry eyes or mouth)
  12. new or worse allergies
  13. new or worse PMS
  14. TMJ symptoms
  15. repetetive stress injuries
  16. vascuklar instability
  17. loss of fine motor coordination
  18. chronic cough
  19. tinnitus
  20. easy bruising
  21. loss of balance
  22. cognitive difficulties
  23. cold or heat intolerance
  24. sensitivity to high- or low-pitched noises

Web page design by Bill Jackson, © 1996.

Any comments? Send them to Bill Jackson at cfsdays@yahoo.com

Button pointing leftBack to FMS Index Page