Fibromyalgia

Diagnostic Criteria and Code
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published criteria for Fibromyalgia in 1990.

In 2010 a new US, ACR criteria was proposed but not implemented as of 2015.

As of October 1, 2015, Medical Code "Fibromyalgia (79.7)" is used in the US.

Other Diseases, Illnesses and Co-Morbids of Fibromyalgia
"Fibromyalgia Symptoms - The Monster List!" - About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo

Fibromyalgia is tied to Hysterectomy and Gynecological Disease and Endocrine and Autoimmune Disorders. Patients will also experience pain on the skin which is called Allodynia.

Difficulty speaking and word retrieval. Dysphasia and Aphasia Adrienne Dellwo of [About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS] writes: "How often do you find yourself searching your brain for a simple word that you just can't remember?"

Rheumatology and Primary Care Providers - Diagnosing and Treatment
In 2012 the Mayo Clinic published "A Framework for Fibromyalgia Management for Primary Care Providers". Rheumatologists stopped treating Fibromyalgia patients and Primary Care providers (in the US) began treating Fibromyalgia although Rheumatologists are most often the specialist to diagnose.

Drugs
FDA Approved

"Living with Fibromyalgia, Drugs Approved to Manage Pain" - FDA For Consumers

Off Label


 * Low dose naltrexone


 * Neurontin (Gabapentin is Generic)


 * Seroquel (Quetiapine is Generic)

Ongoing Process of Diagnosing and Categorizing

 * The United States National Library of Medicine publishes research conclusion: "No specific fibromyalgia personality is defined but it is proposed that personality is an important filter that modulates a person’s response to psychological stressors. Certain personalities may facilitate translation of these stressors to physiological responses driving the fibromyalgia mechanism."


 * The National Fibromyalgia Research Association states: "Fibromyalgia is a distinctive syndrome which can be diagnosed with clinical precision." Facts of diagnostic criteria, other symptoms and co-morbid diseases.


 * MedPage Today Rheumatology - "Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia Link Evaporates"


 * In 2015, News Medical - "Fibromyalgia now considered a lifelong central nervous system disorder".


 * Also in 2015, National Pain Report - "Foundation of Fibromyalgia Is Altered Central Nervous System, New Study Validates".


 * Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience publishes research: "Evaluation of Antiviral Antibodies against Epstein-Barr Virus and Neurotransmitters in Patients with Fibromyalgia"

Blood Tests
"Pridgen Reports Fibromyalgia Antiviral Trial Results “Very Positive”: Predicts New Approach Will Be “Game-Changer”' - ProHealth By: Cort Johnson

"New Fibromyalgia Blood Test is 99% Accurate" - National Pain Report By: Pat Anson

"Cytokine and chemokine profiles in fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a potentially useful tool in differential diagnosis." - PubMed

Brain Scans
Fibromyalgia Pain Isn't All In Patient's Heads, New Brain Study Finds

Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases By: Melissa Kaplan

"A new brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain."

Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed

Science Daily By: American College of Rheumatology

"According to new research, pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem with the way pain stimuli are processed in the brain. Abnormal pain signal processing may also be related to a lack of responsiveness to opioids, a common class of pain relievers."

Unique Brain Connectivity in Fibromyalgia - Increased Importance Assigned to Pain

About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo

"Now, thanks to a new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, we may be able tell them exactly why that is – with brain images to back it up!"

The Somatosensory Link in Fibromyalgia: Functional Connectivity of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Is Altered by Sustained Pain and Is Associated With Clinical/Autonomic Dysfunction

Arthritis & Rheumatology By: American College of Rheumatology

"Conclusion: "Our study demonstrates that both somatic and nonsomatic dysfunction in FM, including clinical pain, pain catastrophizing, autonomic dysfunction, and amplified temporal summation, are closely linked with the degree to which evoked deep tissue pain alters S1 connectivity to salience/affective pain-processing regions. Additionally, diminished connectivity between S1 subregions during the rest phase in FM may result from ongoing widespread clinical pain."'