| Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by | | | | pain is felt in the muscles, ligaments or tendons. By |
| musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender | | | | the way, Fibromyalgia literally means: pain in the |
| points, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and | | | | muscles and soft tissues. |
| hips. | | | | The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) |
| Fibromyalgia mainly affects muscles and their | | | | guidelines direct doctors making a fibromyalgia |
| attachment to bones. Although it may feel like an | | | | diagnosis to test 18 points on your body for |
| arthritic joint disease, fibromyalgia is not a true form | | | | tenderness. Your doctor puts light pressure with his |
| of arthritis and does not cause deformities of the | | | | or her fingers on each point to see whether you feel |
| joints. Instead, fibromyalgia is a form of muscular | | | | pain. ACR criteria state that pain at 11 of the points |
| rheumatism causing muscle pain. There is no swelling | | | | may indicate fibromyalgia. |
| involved and the joints are not often affected. But | | | | |