The majority of people who develop fibromyalgia are women, though men also can get it. Symptoms often begin between the ages of 25 and 55.
Diagnosis is an important component of care, and is a turning point for many because they can put doubts about the cause of their condition aside and focus on managing it. However, fibromyalgia is often challenging to diagnose because:
- Symptoms vary widely from one person to the next
There’s no gold-standard test that can confirm or rule out the condition
- Symptoms may resemble those of a host of other diseases such as various forms of arthritis, underactive thyroid, Lyme disease, sleep apnea, depression, multiple sclerosis or vitamin 0 deficiency.
If you think you may have fibromyalgia see your doctor (or a rheumatologist) who will evaluate your medical history with a physical exam and various tests that can help rule out other conditions that fibromyalgia can mimic. Generally experiencing widespread pain lasting for at least three months and excess tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific sites may signal a positive diagnosis for fibromyalgia.