Diagnosing And Treating Fibromyalgia

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Fibromyalgia is one of these physical conditions that's very difficult to detect or prove by laboratory tests, or by one procedure. It's diagnosed based on the history or story that a patient tells about what is happening.

People with fibromyalgia often feel muscle tightness and there are certain tender points. The doctor can actually examine you to see the problem.

Fibromyalgia can affect your sleep and it's often linked with depression. The key thing to know about fibromyalgia is that the symptoms are quite vague and your physician needs to work with you to see if this truly is the issue.

There are treatments, including antidepressants, which can be quite helpful. If you have concerns, you should see your physician.