Well, the first time that I actually went to see a specialist about my widespread pain and other issues was about 7 years ago at the age of 54. This was the point at which my symptoms were really interfering with my function and quality of life, although I had already been having symptoms for quite some time.

My ICD diagnosis at the time was chronic musculoskeletal pain even though the specialist told me that I met the criteria for fibromyalgia. She wasn’t helpful at all in providing me any information as to what I could do about it. I was also confused as to why my diagnosis ended up being chronic musculoskeletal pain when in the office she told me that I had fibromyalgia. It was only several years later that I learned that it was because an ICD code specifically for fibromyalgia had not been established yet! I am glad that a specific code was created: It is so much more than just chronic musculoskeletal pain!