Are there any medical tests that can confirm fibromyalgia diagnosis?

Posted by sftroll @sftroll, Dec 25, 2025

Is there any medical test that can confirm fibromyalgia? I ask because I don’t like a diagnosis that is a label given by doctors to patients who have a broad spectrum of symptoms and test negative for the tests that they have thrown at them.

I’ve been “diagnosed” with fibromyalgia by several doctors for about 30 years. I have quotation marks around diagnosed because what doctors have done is note my symptoms, run tests to rule out other diagnoses, say that I have fibromyalgia and prescribe Cymbalta and/or Lyrica and/or Gabapentin. I also say about 30 years because my memory is so poor that I actually forget I had been diagnosed. I was a nurse for 43 years and 20 years ago I lost my only child. She was an adult at the time but that didn’t make it any less painful. I have been treated for depression ever since and even my psychiatrist who I’ve been with 11 years assumed I was on Cymbalta because my PCP (now retired) had prescribed it for my depression. She thought it was time to ween me off it and a week later I was in crippling pain. That’s when I remembered the fibromyalgia diagnosis and Cymbalta being prescribed. My depression is treatment resistant and I have taken a variety of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, even a few antipsychotics, one ECT with a severe paranoia delusional response, had a vagal nerve stimulator implanted and now I’m going to have my first doctor prescribed Ketamine infusion at a medical facility in a few days. Because I don’t know what else to do to lift my depression. I’m over 70 and walk 1 to 3 miles every day because I know that between the pain and depression inactivity is contraindicated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Fibromyalgia Support Group.

HendriksGal | @hendriksgal | Jan 31 6:05pm

I haven’t been in to mayo yet (appt is in March) but they are already sending me fibro literature.. so looks like what they think too. I’ve been sick last 8 yrs with all sorts of stuff, had COVID 3 times and I have hypothyroidism, iron anemia, and Raynard’s disease. They removed my gallbladder. I just had upper and lower scopes and have Barrett’s as well. Then they did an eblasian to stop my periods. Still came up low iron. I just did 5 iron infusions in 5 mos! My primary has given up and was sending me to cardio and hemology before we decided mayo was best for this. Figures crossed for an answer.

dinycat | @dinycat | Feb 20 3:31pm

I feel your pain--literally. I have fibro and depression, too. I've been treated for depression since adolescence, when they didn't know anything really. Was on every anti-depressant known to man--from MAO's, tri-cyclics and SSRI's. I've been on Cymbalta for several years now, which is interesting that I still acquired Fibro, when it's prescribed to treat it.

Let me know if you find anything that works for the pain of both Fibro and the BiG D. I am 76 years old and am devastated that I will live in pain till I die, which is looming in the nearer future than I like.

19281928 | @19281928 | Mar 14 7:43am

There are no tests unfortunately. Must rule out other illnesses. I will say though, those drugs are most likely destroying your memory and causing more illnesses. infact studies have shown gabapentin to cause dementia however more studies are needed. I won't take the drugs they prescribed, once you get dementia there's no going back. Not worth taking those drugs

coryl | @coryl | Mar 14 1:30pm

I can identify so well with the things you said. I was diagnosed by a Rheumatologist in the early 90’s using pressure points. I was on hydromorph for years but a couple of years ago the pain clinic switched me to Suboxone for the pain. I was also have terrible depression and my Dr finally prescribed Cymbalta almost 2 years ago. Usually I research before trying new things but was so depressed I didn’t bother. I am 75 and my libido is pretty much nonexistent. A few months after going off the hydromorph that changed dramatically. Then another deep depression while on Cymbalta and libido gone. I happened on a Facebook page that was called Cymbalta hurts worse, for people weaning off. My husband and I decided I should go off and I knew to try it slowly. We put about 3/4 of a 60mg. capsule into another capsule and I’ve been taking the lower dose for a couple of weeks. I expected withdrawal symptoms to be brain zaps and nausea. My family Dr seemed to think I would know what were withdrawal symptoms. Well I have been in the worst pain, apparently I have a torn shoulder but the whole body pain is terrible. I checked and decided the pain is probably from withdrawal and then I read your post and it confirmed what I suspected. The problem now is there is nothing I can take for this pain. I cannot tolerate ibuprofen, I’m maxed out on Tylenol and Suboxone. Tried acupuncture, sauna, hot baths and several topical cream and lotions including cannibas. I am awake in pain every couple of hours every night. I was going to drop down to 30 mg of Cymbalta tonight but have decided to continue on the dose I am on now until the pain gets better. Sorry this is a long post and not really helping you but your post helped me and my husband. He really wants his wife back in all ways and doing his best to help and understand. I am lucky to have him.

behappy2 | @behappy2 | Mar 19 7:21am

Count your blessings if you can walk that far. And everyday! I can barely walk from room to room and have to use a cane mos too the time. Some days my whole body hurts. From the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. But I have to say I also have arthritis and presently nerve pain in my right leg, along with at this time frozen shoulders. It seems I am always getting something else to join my other pains.