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Fibromyalgia is a body-wide pain with various tender spots accompanied by fatigue and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed after at least three full months of widespread body pain in the joints and muscles with various tender spots. The tender spots must include 11 of 18 predetermined by specialists as those that are always present in the condition. The tender points are those of fibrous tissue. These are usually muscle areas in the buttocks, shoulders, rib cage, neck, chest, thighs, knees and arms near the elbows. It is possible to mistake fibromyalgia symptoms with those of arthritis. However, arthritis carries with it marked disfigurement of joints and swelling in affected areas that fibromyalgia alone does not. The pain in these tender spots especially is described as a deep and gnawing pain that radiated throughout the body from the tender spots. The pain tends to be worse upon awakening and then again before bed. Widespread pain in combination with tender spots (generally, a physician will want to identify 11 tender spots before making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia). Chronic fatigue. Fibromyalgia sufferers often describe an overwhelming sense of fatigue. Even after they've had eight or more hours of sleep (thought most Fibromyalgiapatients report difficulty getting a good night's sleep), they still often experience fatigue throughout the day. One thing that one must always keep in mind is the fact that in case of the disease under discussion, the swelling will never be in the painful areas. Yet, if one exerts pressure over the painful areas then the patient is sure to wince. While the disease has become well known for its mystery and the challenge associated with its diagnosis, health care professionals are more aware of the telltale Fibromyalgia symptoms than ever before. Using the 18 specific tender spots as guides and learning to identify pain by degress and location have helped enormously.
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