Can you have fibromyalgia and no pain?
Can you have fibromyalgia and no pain?
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia People with fibromyalgia have a history of widespread pain with no evident cause that lasts three months or more. There may be multiple tender points on the patient’s body that are identified by applying pressure to these spots.
How did Randy Wold get diagnosed with fibromyalgia?
Randy Wold, 58, was an auto mechanic, an excellent golfer, and a bowler who never scored below 200. Then, nearly 10 years ago, when he was suffering from intense chronic pain, he received a surprise diagnosis. His doctor told him he had fibromyalgia. A disorder that causes chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia strikes mostly women.
Why are so few men diagnosed with fibromyalgia?
It’s uncertain what causes fibromyalgia or why so few men suffer from it. Certain types of viral infections, traumas such as car accidents, and emotional stress can trigger it. In some cases, though, it strikes without warning.
How does a doctor test for fibromyalgia?
A common test that doctors perform is to apply a fixed amount of pressure to what are called “tender points”: 18 specific points on the body, designated by the American College of Rheumatology, where even a light touch can cause pain. At least 11 of those spots must produce a significant pain response in order to merit a diagnosis.
Is there a connection between fibromyalgia and trauma?
There’s now a small but growing body of research that links these two conditions. Fibromyalgia and trauma is also a two way street. Even the mainstream medical community is beginning to recognize that one can feed the other. Not only can trauma cause pain.
Why does it take so long to get a diagnosis of fibromyalgia?
That’s why it can take a long time to go from fibromyalgia symptoms to a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals. As a result, your doctor will usually rely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis.
Randy Wold, 58, was an auto mechanic, an excellent golfer, and a bowler who never scored below 200. Then, nearly 10 years ago, when he was suffering from intense chronic pain, he received a surprise diagnosis. His doctor told him he had fibromyalgia. A disorder that causes chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia strikes mostly women.
Is it possible for a man to have fibromyalgia?
“It’s a tough deal for a man to have fibromyalgia,” says Wold, who is no longer able to work and can only occasionally hit the links or the lanes. “One of my best friends doesn’t believe I have it,” he says. “His wife, who is a doctor, told him men can’t get it, that it is in my head.
How many tender spots does it take to diagnose fibromyalgia?
In the past, at least 11 of these 18 spots had to test positive for tenderness to diagnose fibromyalgia. However, given that fibromyalgia symptoms can come and go, a person might have 11 tender points one day but only eight tender points on another day.