Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points.

A new feature on mayoclinic provides users with information regarding the process for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Because there is no single, specific diagnostic laboratory test, diagnosis can be difficult. Physicians must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender-point examination.

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day. Common signs and symptoms include:

- Widespread pain
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Headaches and facial pain
- Heightened sensitivity

The American College of Rheumatology has established general classification guidelines for fibromyalgia to help assess and study the condition. According to these guidelines, to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, individuals must have experienced widespread aching pain for at least three months and have a minimum of 11 locations on their body that are abnormally tender under relatively mild, firm pressure.

The new feature on Mayoclinic also provides an overview of treatment options, self-care suggestions, and tips to help people who have fibromyalgia cope with the condition.

About Mayoclinic

Launched in 1995 and now visited by more than 10 million users a month, this award-winning Web site offers health information, self-improvement, and disease management tools to empower people to manage their health. Produced by a team of Web professionals and medical experts, MayoClinic gives users access to the experience and knowledge of the more than 2,000 physicians and scientists of Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic offers intuitive, easy-to-use tools such as "Symptom Checker" and "First-Aid Guide" for fast answers about health conditions ranging from common to complex; as well as more in-depth sections on more than 25 common diseases and conditions, healthy living articles, videos, animations and features such as "Ask a Specialist" and "Drug Watch." Users can sign up for a free weekly e-newsletter called "Housecall" which provides the latest health information from Mayo Clinic.

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