Diagnoses frequently given instead of fibromyalgia
Laboratory tests
are as a rule without specific findings.
In particular, no changes can be diagnosed as in classical
rheumatism – chronic polyarthritis. This correct and
important fact makes people oversimplify, talking of false
rheumatism.
Frequent diagnoses: shoulder arthritis, collar/breast/
lumbar bone syndrome, back complaints, slipped discs
(no operation is necessary because those are not real
slipped discs), arthritis of the back, arthritis of small
vertebral joints, arthritis of front and knee joints, trochante-
rodynia, achillodynia, calcaneal spur, lowered foot vault –
transverse flat foot. But also osteopororosis and multiple
sclerosis!
The diagnosis that patients hate and fear the most is
a «somatic disorder» since in the colloquial language
of patients and those close to them it translates as
«only nerves!» and it humiliates patients no end. Yet
depression as a neurosis is consequent to pain.