FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOM CHECKLIST
Fibromyalgia Symptoms can vary a lot depending on what is going on in your life. Increased Stress, Lack of Sleep, Weather Changes, and Increased Physical Activity can all cause you to feel worse. To be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia you must have widespread pain above and below your waist, and on both sides of your body. These symptoms must last longer than three months for a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to be made. I had my patients fill out a Fibromyalgia Symptom Checklist to help make a determination as to whether or not they had Fibromyalgia. The pain of Fibromyalgia is often described as a constant dull ache in the muscles. In addition to generalized pain, fibromyalgia is associated with: • Extreme fatigue • Sleep disturbances • Joint stiffness • Jaw pain • Digestive problems • Anxiety • Depression • Numbness • Tingling • Muscle twitching • Painful menstruation • Difficulty concentrating • Sensitivity to noises, odors, and lights A Fibromyalgia Symptom Checklist will usually have front and back diagrams of the human body, with dots where Fibromyalgia Tender Points are located. These tender points are found in nine pairs making a total of 18 possible tender points. A diagnosis of Fibromyalgia requires that you have pain in at least 11 of the 18 total points. The tender point locations are: • Back of the head • Between shoulder blades • Top of shoulders • Front sides of neck • Upper chest • Outer elbows • Upper hips • Sides of hips • Inner knees A Fibromyalgia Symptom Checklist may also include other conditions that are often found in people who have Fibromyalgia, such as: • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Depression • Endometriosis • Headaches • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) • Lupus • Osteoarthritis • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Restless legs syndrome • Rheumatoid arthritis • Myofascial Pain Syndrome (muscle pain) Best Treatment for FibromyalgiaThere may not be one treatment recognized as the best for Fibromyalgia, but there are many that have been very successful. The following is a list of treatments I have found to help my patients with Fibromyalgia:• Heat Therapy • Ice Therapy • Tens Therapy • Yoga Therapy • Trigger Point Therapy • Inversion Therapy • Pain Relief Gel • Back Pain Chair • Best Mattress • Chiropractic • Cervical Pillows • Lumbar Pillows • Vitamin D • Fibromyalgia Diet • Fibromyalgia Vitamins • Herbal Remedies • Warm Baths • Acupuncture • Therapeutic Massage • Regular Adequate Sleep • Regular Exercise – 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise If these conservative treatments are not enough to manage your pain you can ask your doctor for medication. There are many over the counter and prescription medications that may help. Because all medications have potentially dangerous side effects, I would always try conservative methods first. To Your Best Health, Dr. Cliff
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