Fibromyalgia Myth: Fibromyalgia Comes with a ‘Catchall’ Diagnosis
The Truth – Fibromyalgia is a condition that has its own diagnostic criteria courtesy of the American College of Rheumatology.
A lot of people would assume that fibromyalgia is considered a “catchall” diagnosis since there is not any test or clear symptom that can be used for diagnosis.
When diagnosing fibromyalgia, there’s a very little amount of data to check during a physical exam. Furthermore, laboratory tests are often unreliable.
According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), fibromyalgia is a condition that’s diagnosed based on the following:
- There are no obvious causes for the symptoms.
- Symptoms that will last for at least three months.
- Multiple areas in the body are in pain. Usually, in the waist area, either above, below, or both sides.
- Additional symptoms, such as poor sleep, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating or thinking.
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