The American College of Rheumatology has identified many specific criteria for diagnosing Fibromyalgia. A patient must have pain in 11 of 18 specific areas of the body in order to have a positive diagnosis. The pain must be present for at least 3 months.
The 18 tender point spots identified by the ACR are as follows:
- Occiput: bilateral, at the suboccipital muscle insertions.
- Low Cervical: bilateral, at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at C5-C7.
- Trapezius: bilateral, at the midpoint of the upper border.
- Supraspinatus: bilateral, at origins, above the scapula spine near the medial border.
- Second Rib: bilateral, at the second costochondral junctions, just lateral to the junctions on upper surfaces.
- Lateral Epicondyle: bilateral, 2cm distal to the epicondyles.
- Gluteal: bilateral, in upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle.
- Greater trochanter: bilateral, posterior to the trochanteric prominence.
- Knee: bilateral, at the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line.
Source: American College Rheumatology, 1990
Because many of these terms are technical in nature it is important that you seek proper diagnosis from your medical care provider in order to accurately diagnose your condition.
Fibromyalgia is also characterized by widespread pain. This pain is evident in many different regions of the body.
Widespread pain as defined by the ACR is pain occurs in ALL of the following areas:
- Occurs on the entire left or right side of the body
- Is above or below the waist
- Is evident in the cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine and low back.
