Just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Is it a scam, or is it real?

Question

Ok, so the doctor pushes on some spots on my body and it hurt, so that means I have fibro? She was pushing on presure points, HARD, of course it is going to hurt. It seems like a scam to get expensive treatments, and a cop out way of explaining pain that nobody seems to be able to diagnose. Comments? Discuss amongst yourselves....

Answer 1

Yes, unfortunately fibromyalgia is real. I don't know your doctor, am not a doctor myself, and therefore cannot verify your diagnosis. However, the test you have described is often used when diagnosing fibromyalgia. I assume that you have other symptoms (such as chronic pain and fatigue) of fibromyalgia and that he did not just decide to press those points for the heck of it. Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia does not mean that you can not have any other condition, but if you have seen other doctors and been thoroughly tested for other disorders then it is likely the source of your pain and fatigue. As I said, it is a real disorder. The exact cause is not known, but according to current research there appears to be a genetic predisposition and the disorder is typically triggered by a period of stress (physical or emotional). For me the trigger was pneumonia.

Having fibromyalgia can be expensive because there is no cure and treatments are generally poor. Some people do find a treatment that helps, and it gives the rest of us hope that we will each find something to help enough to get by. Do research treatments. It's your money afterall. Fortunately, some things that help are not very costly (though not always easy), such as eating healthy, exercising (e.g. yoga), maintain good sleep habits, and generally taking care of yourself.

Answer 2

Yes, It's real. I got diagnosed in October and at that point I was in so much pain all the time that I thought my muscles and joints were rotting. I had headaches for the first time in my life and so on and so on. My regular doctor made me feel crazy, put me on anti-depressants, etc. My gynecologist (happened to have my check up around the same time) sent me to a rheumatologist and it was a godsend.

I have a high stress life, I have severe heredity insomnia, etc. etc. Those pressures were causing all of it. I came off the antidepressants. I only take something to sleep now. As long as I get a good night's sleep, exercise a few times a week, stay off of stimulants like too much caffeine, I do a lot better. I have my bad days, and bad days are hard, but they are coming fewer and far between.

Do your research. This disease is basically diagnosed by process of emilination and the most expensive part of it is that. If you can find the best treatment for you (everyone is different) as quick as you can the less expensive it should be. There is no miracle drug or therapy. It's learning about the best way to take care of you, lifestyle changes, etc.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Believe me sweetie,it's real. Did your Dr. take blood & urine samples? They get there diagnosis not only from the pressure points, but the results for other diseases(blood & urine) coming back negative. I thought it wasn't such a bad thing when I was first diagnosed 8 yrs. ago.I thought I had Arthritis. It may take several years to build up like it did on me,but now, eight years later I feel it getting worse every month. There are so many symtoms that it sounds like you're a hypocondriac, you look normal, so most people think you are just fine. Some days now I can hardly walk,& hurt so bad I could cry.You should not have to go through expensive treatments,because as of now, there is no cure.You will have trouble sleeping,& that makes your muscles hurt because the tendons & ligaments didn't have a chance to repair themselves over night. You can just put Fibromyalgia in the search engine & get a multitude of information. By the way,different things help different people, so don't give up trying. You;ll mostly need something for sleep,pain & depression(that comes with it) Don;t let it get you down,A POSITIVE ATTITUDE is one of the best helpers. & knowing how to pick your pain.(knowing that some things you want to do are important enough for you to handle the pain coming from doing it,(probably,the next day) Good Luck to you & know that there are thousands of us out there, you are not alone.

Answer 4

The condition Fibromyalgia is no scam,its a real condition!!! Fibromyalgia is a name for widespread pain affecting the muscles but not the joints.
There are usually tender points in certain areas of the body. These help the doctor to make the diagnosis. If enough pressure is applied to these places most people will find it uncomfortable, but in fibromyalgia there is a change in the threshold at which pressure causes pain and many of these points can be extremely tender. Tenderness at individual sites sometimes occurs and this can give rise to localised conditions such as tennis elbow. In fibromyalgia, however, there is tenderness at a number of points.
In the past fibromyalgia was often diagnosed as muscular rheumatism or fibrositis, or it was misdiagnosed as degenerative disease of the joints (signs of wear and tear are very common on spine x-rays as we get older, whether there is pain or not). Research in the past few years has led to a clearer picture of what is meant by fibromyalgia, and the diagnosis is being made more often by rheumatologists and general practitioners (GPs).I have no way of knowing if your Doctor was trying it on,I only know the condition is real and extremely painful if you have it severe! How do I know? My sister suffers it.

Answer 5

I studied a bit about Fibromyalgia in school and the test for it includes more than just pressing pressure points. There is a list of things to look for. I would get a second opinion and maybe look to be sent to someone who specializes in it. I know one of the treatments for it is massage therapy. Loosening the muscles and straightening out the fascia under the skin help in the pain relief. I'd seek one out and try her for a while to see if maybe it's something else. Most insurance will pay for it now.

Answer 6

Hard to say - it's recognized by the Mayo clinic, which isn't exactly a hotbed of quackery. On the other hand, it does seem to be a rather vaguely defined condition which could be confused with, or overlap, a number of other conditions. The pressure points specified for a tentative 'office diagnosis' are not usually painful with *light* pressure, but will certainly hurt if you push hard enough. One possibility (admittedly not well supported) is that the condition is a common effect of several different conditions, as opposed to a separate disease entity in its own right.

Answer 7

Yep,

It's as real as real gets. Fibromyalgia causes inflammation, pain and weakness in joints and surrounding tissues. Bone is always connected to and with tissue and this is a well-known connective tissue disease. I've included 3 good links below. Be sure to check the self-test. It shows each of those pressure points, on a human form drawing. The links below can also provide information on beneficial nutrients, exercise and helpful medications.

I wish you well!
Shar

National Fibromyalgia Association
(AKA National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign)
http://www.fmaware.org/
Fibromyalgia (and CFS) Basics
http://www.fmnetnews.com/pages/basics.html
American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association
http://www.afsafund.org/

Answer 8

I felt the EXACT same way. I was diagnosed with it about 10 years ago. I told the doctor he was making it up because he had no clue why I was in so much pain. But I did go to t neurologist and I got 3 trigger-point injections. The pain went away and I have never had another problem with it. No more so-called Fibromyalgia.

Answer 9

Fibromyalgia is real & two of my friends both have it. You should get a book & read up on it or go online & get educated as to what it is, etc. If you truly believe it's a scam, then perhaps a second opinion is needed.

Answer 10

If your doctor has a concern about your health such as this, you need to take what he says and go to another doctor and get a second opinion. Fibromyalgia is a serious condition and I do not think that a doctor should or would lie to you about this. You need to get a second opinion, and go from there.