Fibromyalgia
Questions in this guide
- Who is at risk for fibromyalgia?
- Is Fibromyalgia Causing My Foot and Hand Pain?
- Is fibromyalgia hereditary?
- Is fibromyalgia real?
- Is fibromyalgia considered an autoimmune disorder?
- Are fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome linked?
- Can fibromyalgia be prevented?
- What is the Difference Between Fibromyalgia and Polymyalgia?
Where fibromyalgia preparation begins
The first step with fibromyalgia is naming what you are dealing with. NIAMS describes fibromyalgia as a condition of widespread muscle pain and fatigue. NIAMS also says the cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but studies show that people with the disorder have an increased sensitivity to pain, so they feel pain when others do not. Because the cause is open, careful notes carry extra weight at a first visit. A general overview of pain gives useful background before you start.
Eight questions to work through in sequence
Start with whether the condition is real and how it differs from lookalikes. Then move to who is at risk and what it may be linked to, and end with prevention.
- Is fibromyalgia real?
- What is the Difference Between Fibromyalgia and Polymyalgia?
- Who is at risk for fibromyalgia?
- Is fibromyalgia hereditary?
- Is fibromyalgia considered an autoimmune disorder?
- Are fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome linked?
- Is Fibromyalgia Causing My Foot and Hand Pain?
- Can fibromyalgia be prevented?
What to gather before you see someone
Keep a running list of where you hurt, how tired you feel, and what the day looked like around the worst moments. Ask the office what it wants to see beforehand, and bring your marked-up question list with you, whether the office is in Bloomfield or farther out. For the full official explanation, read NIAMS on fibromyalgia symptoms, causes and risk factors. A professional society for pain medicine shows how clinicians in the field frame their work.