Who is at risk for fibromyalgia?
Readers often ask this before they ask anything else about fibromyalgia. In the sequence of a first visit, it falls near the start, because your answers shape the rest of the conversation.
Who has a higher chance of developing it
Cleveland Clinic says you may have an increased risk of developing fibromyalgia if you are female, are an adult, have a family history of fibromyalgia, have a mood disorder or significant stress, or have other chronic pain disorders. Cleveland Clinic adds that children can get fibromyalgia too, but it is less common than in adults.
How to use that list
Go through the list one item at a time and mark which ones apply to you. A match does not mean you have fibromyalgia, and no match does not mean you do not. It is a set of facts to bring to your clinician. The fibromyalgia page from NIAMS covers symptoms, causes and risk factors.
Steps to take before the appointment
- Mark which items on the list apply to you.
- Ask relatives whether anyone has had fibromyalgia, and write down what you learn.
- Note any other chronic pain you have and how long you have had it.
- List your questions, and ask the office what to bring. In Bloomfield, it is best to confirm this by phone.
The Pain page at MedlinePlus gives wider background on pain.
The next step after this one
Ask your clinician what your answers mean for you. A list of risk factors cannot diagnose anything, so let the visit decide the next step.