Aggravating Factors and Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
Aggravating Factors
Changes in weather, cold environment, infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations ( premenstrual and menopausal states), stress, depression, anxiety and overexertion may all be responsible for sudden increase of symptoms.
Diagnosis
There is no blood on X-ray test to diagnose
fibromyalgia. The diagnosis is based on the patient’s complaints and physical examination. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be made if a patient has at least 11 of the 18 classic tender points, and if there is no accompanying tissue inflammation, and by excluding other medical conditions that can mimic
fibromyalgia.
Although there is no blood test for diagnosis of
fibromyalgia, blood tests are done to exclude other medical conditions. Thyroid hormone and calcium blood levels are obtained to exclude
hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism and hypothyroidism. T he CPK (a muscle enzyme) level is often elevatein patients with
polymyositis, a disease with diffuse muscle inflammation. A complete blood count
(CBC) and liver tests help in the diagnosis of hepatitis and other infections.
