Diagnosis

In the past, doctors would check specific points on a person's body to see how many were painful when pressed firmly. Newer guidelines don't require a tender point exam.

Instead, a fibromyalgia diagnosis can be made, using adult guidelines, if a young person has had widespread pain throughout the body for at least three months. Widespread is defined as pain on both sides of the body, as well as above and below the waist.

Your doctor may also order blood tests or X-rays to help rule out other problems that might be causing the symptoms.