My Story: Searching for Answers That Made Sense

I lived with unexplained pain for years—fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pain. Every doctor I visited told me something different. Some blamed stress. Others ran tests that all came back “normal.”

After nine long years, I finally learned what was really going on: fibromyalgia. But the real problem wasn’t just the condition—it was how poorly it’s often diagnosed.

How Fibromyalgia Was Diagnosed in the Past

In the 1990s, doctors diagnosed fibromyalgia using a “tender point exam.” They’d press on 18 specific points across the body. If 11 or more hurt, and your pain had lasted over 3 months, you might get a diagnosis.

But this method had problems:

• Many doctors didn’t use it at all or did it incorrectly
• Pain can vary from day to day
• It didn’t include symptoms like sleep issues, fatigue, or brain fog

As a result, many people with real symptoms were told nothing was wrong.

A New Approach: What Changed in 2010

In 2010, the diagnosis process changed. Doctors started using symptom checklists instead of pressing on points. They introduced two tools:

• Widespread Pain Index (WPI): How many parts of the body are in pain
• Symptom Severity Scale (SSS): How severe your fatigue, sleep problems, and brain fog are

If symptoms had lasted 3 months or more and met scoring guidelines, a diagnosis could be made.

The 2016 Update: Better Accuracy

In 2016, the criteria improved again. Doctors now look for:

• Pain in at least 4 out of 5 body areas
• Persistent symptoms for 3+ months
• WPI and SSS scoring as part of the process

This made the diagnosis more accurate and more helpful for patients.

Why It’s Still Missed Today

Even with better tools, fibromyalgia is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. That’s because:

• Symptoms overlap with other conditions like arthritis or chronic fatigue
• Many clinics rely only on quick surveys or online forms
• Each person experiences fibromyalgia differently

So if you’ve been struggling with pain and no one seems to get it—you are not alone.

How MAD Does It Differently

• Review your full medical and emotional history
• Gently check how your body responds to pressure and touch
• Explore how pain, sleep, stress, digestion, and mental clarity affect your life
• Use tools like WPI and SSS—but in context, not isolation

We believe your story matters—and that diagnosis should reflect the whole person, not just a form.

If You’ve Been Misdiagnosed—You’re Not Alone

Many of our clients came to us after years of confusion, doubt, and frustration. They’d seen multiple specialists, taken medications that didn’t help, and still didn’t know what was wrong.

At MAD, we take the time to listen, assess, and personalize every care plan.

Want Real Answers? Start With Real Evaluation

Fibromyalgia is real. The pain is real. But so is the path to clarity. Let MAD help you find the answers you deserve—with a supportive, step-by-step approach made just for you.

FAQs

How was fibromyalgia diagnosed before?
Doctors used a “tender point” exam—pressing on 18 spots to see if 11 hurt. This is no longer required.

What are WPI and SSS?
WPI tracks how many body parts hurt. SSS measures fatigue, brain fog, sleep quality, and other symptoms.

Why is fibromyalgia hard to diagnose?
Because symptoms overlap with other conditions and vary between people. It takes a full-body and full-history evaluation.

What makes MAD different?
We look beyond forms. We combine science, clinical tools, and compassion to truly understand your pain and create a custom care plan.

References 

1. Wolfe F, Smythe HA, Yunus MB, et al. (1990). The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia: Report of the Multicenter Criteria Committee. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 33(2), 160–172.
2. Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, et al. (2010). The American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Measurement of Symptom Severity. Arthritis Care & Research, 62(5), 600–610.
3. Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, et al. (2011). Modification of the Preliminary ACR Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia. Arthritis Care & Research, 63(11), 1582–1591.

Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, et al. (2016). Revisions to the 2010/2011 Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 46(3), 319–329.