Fibromyalgia is referred to as a diagnosis of ‘exclusion.’ This means that there is no diagnostic laboratory test for the condition. Many people with the condition undergo a battery of blood tests and X-rays that rule out illnesses such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and more. The path to diagnosis is often a grueling and difficult one that usually takes several years.

According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in order to be considered as potentially having the disease, a person must have:

• experienced widespread aching pain for at least three months. 
• Pain is evident in at least 11 of 18 trigger (or tender) points.

Widespread pain refers to pain that occurs on all four quadrants of the body. Fibromyalgia tender points are located at nine bilateral locations. When the doctor applies pressure to these points, a pain response will be felt sharply by patients with the condition.

The 18 trigger points of fibromyalgis exist in the front neck region, second rib, back of the neck at the base of the skull, trapezius muscle (back shoulder area), shoulder blades, 2 cm below the elbow on the lower forearm, fat pad over each knee, top of the buttocks near the base of the spinal column, and the top of the hip in the front.

For a detailed map of the tender points on the human body, CLICK HERE.