A blood test to diagnose fibromyalgia is a breakthrough. But there’s a catch…
From “it’s all in your head” to “we just need to draw some blood to get to the bottom of this.”
Fibromyalgia can finally be detected with a simple blood test.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is an enigma. Doctors often misdiagnose the chronic symptoms of aches and pains. Even worse, some doctors still dismiss these symptoms as imagined.
A few years ago, brain imaging proved that fibromyalgia pain is real. But that didn’t provide a practical testing method.
Now, apparently, we have that method. The test is called “FM/a.” In a recent study, it was more than 90% effective.
But there are a couple of catches…
1) This is a new test, so most health insurance plans don’t cover it yet. That may change if the test proves accurate and useful.
2) It’s expensive. A single test costs nearly $750.
If you think you might have FMS, this test isn’t your first step. Before any testing, it’s important to find a doctor who’s knowledgeable about fibromyalgia. You can do that by searching the “Find a Doc” feature on our HSI website.
Talk with an FMS-experienced doctor about the FM/a test. He can order it through this website: thefmtest.com.
If your test is positive, there are plenty of non-drug treatments to investigate. If you search the e-Alert archives, you’ll find information about acupuncture, therapeutic massage, vitamin therapy, low-carb diet and more.
Sources:
“Finally! A Diagnostic Blood Test for Fibromyalgia” Karen Lee Richards, Health Central, 2/28/13, healthcentral.com
