Fibromyalgia is a syndrome composed of a specific set of signs and symptoms. It is a common disorder. Medical literature dating back as far as at least the 17th century have described the condition in detail. In 1987 the American Medical Association (AMA) acknowledged fibromyalgia as a true illness and potential cause of disability. Other organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have also accepted fibromyalgia as a legitimate clinical entity. Yet many physicians still consider it to be a "wastebasket diagnosis".

Lately I have been hearing a new term from some of my doctors. They say I suffer from "fibromyalgia symptoms" while denying that I have the condition itself. Does this make any sense to anyone? Ever heard it before? Because it seems to me that if the AMA, NIH, and WHO all recognize fibromyalgia as an illness, these doctors have no right to deny it.

true...they have no right to deny it..but they still do...my ortho.. went so far as to call me a liar and fake when we first met..and informed him of my diagnosis' ..i sat there and cried...now he still doesn't agree about fibro but keeps his mouth shut... and lets my neuro handle that one...linda

Some doctors are just so stubborn. If they can't fix it, they deny it. If you can, find another doctor who can help you.

I'm sorry, Linda. That must have been an awful experience, to have your doctor call you a liar to your face. Mine have never gone that far, but they do love their insinuations.

My rheumatologist was explaining tender point injections to me the last time I saw him. But then he went on to say that only about half of his patients who tried them reported any benefit, and even in that cases he suspected the improvement was purely psycho-somatic. He went through several other symptoms and treatments the same way, almost as if I were another doctor and he was telling jokes about people who "thought" they had fibro. Maybe he forgot that I was a patient.

hi idealist....most of the time i think we know more about our problems than the drs do...mine cracks jokes, tells me about his time in the military...writes my scripts and says see ya next month....

For almost a year I was in constant pain and the doctors here where I live didn't know what to do with me. So, I was sent to one of the most prestigious hospitals close to me for a diagnosis. I was told it was psychosomatic. HA! I was wheelchair bound! Two months later I went back to that same state, a few miles away to another hospital where neurologists proded and did their thing. One doc pushed all these particular places on my body and I was screaming in pain. But, when he would push right next to it, it would not hurt. He said to me, "Liz, you have fibromyalgia. Why has no one figured this out?" So, a waste basket disease, or garbage pail disorder, or psychosomatic illness....it is real...it hurts...there is medication to help ease the pain and depression from the pain! Good luck to you and find the right doctor who helps....not destructs!

What a terrible thing for you to go through, Elizabeth! That is absolutely excuseless. My fibro is secondary, and the symptoms began about a year after my primary illness. I knew that something major had changed, but for the longest time my docs kept telling me it was simply psychosomatic, like you said, brought on by my being in constant pain.

Then one night I found a webpage dedicated to fibromyalgia, and as I read it things started clicking in place in my mind. I found a map of those tender spots you referred to, and discovered I had them all. So once I had diagnosed myself, I went to a neurologist and had the fibro confirmed.

You are right. It is very real. Anyone who says it isn't is only fooling themselves.

Idealist

My PCP didn't believe in Fibro for the longest time and then he decided that it was there and that it was something we needed to deal with.

I was diagnosed by a Rhemotologist who knew how to diagnose it but didn't know how to take care of it.

I have gotten the triggerpoint injections now for about 6 years and they do help. My Dr. uses zylocaine injections and they do work. The biggest problem is you have to have a lot of them. They give them in any area that hurts the worst. I have had them in my chest area, neck, shoulder, back, hips, stomach and anywhere that I needed them. Now I am to the point I don't need them as often. I'm getting them in my pelvic/hip area now to try and calm down the pain in that area. The shots don't hurt that bad either if you get a Dr. that knows how to give them.

Most rheumotolgist uses medications for the Fibro and all it does it cover the problems and you still end up not walking or being able to get around very good.

Ada

I also do trigger point shots. I have marcaine/depo-medrol shots where I need them. Because of my nerve pain in my hip, I have also gotten a radio frequency ablation procedure done.
Ah the pain we go through to relieve the pain!