Fibromyalgia Symptoms Checklist : 20 Painpoints Used to Diagnose the Disorder
Many people face extreme fatigue coupled with sleep issues, joint pain and headaches on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes they go away on their own, other times they turn chronic. Whatever maybe the case, experiencing such aches and pains on different parts of the body isn’t something that you should ignore. They might be an indication of an underlying health disorder.
Fibromyalgia is one such condition that causes pain in the soft tissues. Since the pain experienced in this disorder varies from person to person, so doctors have compiled a fibromyalgia symptoms checklist. It becomes very effective in helping you decode the signs of fibromyalgia and reach for help before the condition deteriorates further.
What Are the First Signs of Fibromyalgia?
Caption: Woman experiencing headache, Credits: Pixabay
Fibromyalgia is a condition that comes with ample signs and symptoms that increase and decrease in intensity according to your stress levels, weather, and your activity. Although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of this condition, it is within our knowledge to give an answer to the commonly asked question of what are the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Pain that spreads throughout the body
Jaw stiffness and pain
Extreme sensitivity to the pain
Mental confusion and fatigue
Frequent headaches
Pain during menstrual periods
Gasterointestinal disorder like IBS
Numbing and tingliness experience in feet and hands
Restlesness and twitching in legs
Difficulting in concentration (fibro-fog)
Sleep issues
Depression
Blurred vision
Weight gain and nausea
As you can see, the list of symptoms is almost endless. It is what makes fibromyalgia so difficult to diagnose in patients.
Tender Painpoints in Fibromyalgia Patients
Caption: An illustration of pain, Credits: Pixabay
There are numerous painpoints in areas like back of the spine, neck, elbow, and knees which are used to confirm he presence of fibromyalgia health condition. Fibromyalgia leg pain, hands pain, and feet pain is extremely common. If you feel pain or tenderness in any of these points, you should immediately consult your doctor.
Back of the neck
Front of the neck
Elbows
Hips
Lower part of back
Knees
Shoulders
Upper part of the back
chest
1. Back of the Neck
Many tender points are located at the back of the neck in the area where the lower skull and neck meet.
2. Front of the Neck
The pain points can occur on any one side of the larynx, and above the collarbone.
3. Elbows
Tenderness can be felt on the forearms near the elbow crease and on the outer side of the arm.
4. Hips
Fibromyalgia patients also have painpoints in the hips particularly in the area where its muscles join the thighs.
5. Lower Part of Back
Fibromyalgia patients experience tenderness and pain at the extreme end of their lower back, right at the tops of their hips.
6. Knees
Insides of each knee may feel very tender to touch. It is also a very painful area for fibromyalgia patients.
7. Shoulders
Painpoints and tenderness is felt between the edge of the shoulders and the neck bottom.
8. Upper Part of the Back
Painpoints and tenderness can be felt in the part of upper back where the lats (back muscles) link with the shoulder blandes.
9. Chest
Tenderness can be felt on either side of the breastbone in patients experiencing fibromyalgia.
Unfortunately, there is no one step cure for fibromyalgia. But there are treatments options available to manage the severity and pain of its symptoms. Some lifestyle changes like exercise and certain relaxation technques can go a long way in helping you to deal with this condition effectively.