Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

👩‍⚕️Fibromyalgia Diagnosis Update👩‍⚕️

Did you know that Fibromyalgia can now be diagnosed by a GP?

A client of mine was surprised to have this experience, and felt ‘fobbed off’ for not being referred.

HOWEVER….

I like to keep at the forefront with my knowledge on pain conditions so I can best help support my clients with the most up to date information. So I was able to explain the new updates in diagnosing Fibromyalgia and that it’s being shown to be really helpful for GPs to be able to make a diagnosis, BECAUSE:

👉Fibromyalgia is now recognised as a condition itself, rather than a label given when Doctors couldn’t find any other reason for your pain.

👉It used to require Rheumatology investigation to exclude all other conditions first. But now we have a better understanding that Fibromyalgia can exist by itself AND alongside other pain conditions.

👉GPs being able to make a diagnosis can help speed up the process and give you some validation of the pain you’re experiencing, as well as speed up referals for further support from the Pain Management Team and TalkWorks (there is evidence to show that CBT can be a valuable, effective and crucial tool alongside pain management. And that definately does NOT mean it’s all in your head - but that’s another post!!).

👉Your GP can then also refer you to Rheumatology for further assessment of your pain if you are also presenting with Rheumatological symptoms.

👉You will still be referred to Rheumatology if you have symptoms that need further investigation and with this new system you should hopefully be seen quicker there too.

Here’s a link to the Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Worksheet which has been specifically designed for GPs to use.

If you think you could have Fibromyalgia, it may be useful to print this out, fill it in and show it to your GP for further discussion so that they can refer you onwards if needed and check for any other potential conditions too.

And remember, Fibromyalgia is now considered a condition of its own. It can occur by itself as well as alongside other health/pain conditions. It’s always worth discussing ongoing pain with your GP so that you can get the correct diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support and check-ups required to manage your symptoms.

Plus, I’m always here to support you too. I’ve got many clients with Fibromyalgia which is why I keep myself on top of the latest information about it.

In my experience Fibromyalgia presents differently for every single person. There’s no one size fits all approach to a massage treatment so tailoring it to you as a whole person is needed to help you relax and reach a state where it can actually feel lovely to be in your body, even if it’s just an hour to put everything down and be nurtured, there’s a lot of value there.

Massage for clients with Fibromyalgia is very different to any other kind of massage I do. This is done on purpose because if I applied the principles and techniques in the same way I do to someone who is a bodybuilder looking for a sports massage, you’d never come back to see me again!

Sometimes the most effective part of my work with Fibro is knowing when NOT to do something.

I hope this post has been at least a little bit useful / interesting, and if you’d like to know more or speak to me about your own experience before you decide if you’d like to book an appointment, I am always happy to chat to you before you decide if you think I’m the right fit for you.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Jo

Diagnosing fibromyalgia, updated