Fibromyalgia
Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods/Tools
There is no specific laboratory or radiological tests
to diagnose FMS. However, some tests are performed to rule the conditions
that mimic FMS.
1. Thyroid hormone levels in blood rule out the possibilities
of hyperparathyroidism and hypothyroidism.
2. Calcium blood levels are obtained to exclude hypercalcemia.
3. Paget’s disease (a disease of bone) is confirmed
by blood alkaline phosphatase (a bone enzyme) levels in the blood.
4. An increase in Creatinine Phosphokinase (CPK)
(a muscle enzyme) levels in the blood indicates of Polymyositis
(a disease of muscle inflammation).
5. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) and liver tests
help in detecting hepatitis and other related infections (8).
Medical history and physical examination of the
patient are keys for diagnosing Fibromyalgia since there is
no lasting tissue damage. According to the American College
of Rheumatology (ACR) the criteria for diagnosing Fibromyalgia
in adults include:
1. Widespread body pain (both left and right
sides of the body above and below the waist) may persist for
atleast three months.
2. There are 18 tender points used for diagnosing
Fibromyalgia. These sites cluster around the neck, chest,
hip, knee and elbow regions. Pain and tenderness in atleast
11 of the specified 18 tender points indicates Fibromyalgia.
The pressure applied could be 4 kilograms (about 9 pounds).
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In children the criteria adopted includes:
1. Widespread in three sites without any underlying
cause for atleast three months.
2. Presence of 5-11 trigger points indicates of Fibromyalgia
in children. The pressure could be 3 kilograms (about 7 pounds)
(6).
Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com
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