Is fibromyalgia a “real” diagnosis?
This is a question is that commonly asked by physicians, patients, and patients’ families. In the past decade, much progress has been made in the understanding of the disorder. It is not a “psychiatric” diagnosis. Research, including neuroimaging studies, has shown that the “volume control” in these individuals may be turned up too high in the brain’s processing areas. Patients with fibromyalgia can also have abnormal levels of substance P in their spinal fluid. This chemical is known to aid in the transmission and amplification of pain signals to and from the brain. And so, yes, fibromyalgia is a real diagnosis.
