H.O.P.E. | Fibromalgia: Fact And Fiction

Perception: 11 tender points needed to make the diagnosis.
Reality: Pain and tenderness often more widespread without true tender points.

Perception: Tender Points are an exact measure of tenderness.
Reality: Number of tender points highly correlated with various measures of distress.

Perception: Women much more likely than men to have 11 tender points and, therefore, much more likely to have chronic widespread pain.
Reality: Women only slightly more likely than men to have chronic widespread pain.

Perception: Caused by reactions to infections.
Reality: Multiple causes.

Perception: Symptoms primarily pain.
Reality: Multitude of neurologic dysfunctions and sensitivities.

Perception: Pain responds to typical analgesics (e.g., NSAIDS, opioids).
Reality: Best treatment tricyclics.

Perception: Prognosis is hopeless.
Reality: Early, appropriate treatment can prevent deconditioning and dysfunction.

Perception: A phantom illness thats "all in the head."
Reality: A real condition that can have devastating physical effects; psychological factors probably determinants of pain in a subgroup of patients.

Reprinted, in part, from J. Musculoskeletal Med. 2003:20:467-472,
D. Clauw, M.D.,with permission from Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine

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