Can you have tender points but not firomyalgia?

Hi,

I've been suffering from what is aptly known as 'brain fog' for years. It has also been coupled with fatigue and unrefreshing sleep. I have also experienced an onset of anxiety after pushing myself too hard and after one night drinking woke up with extreme anxiety. It has calmed, but not gone away. I've also developed a skin rash.

I've been searching for answers as the docs can't give me any and thought it might be causes by Candidas or an over infestation of demodex mites that naturally occur in the skin - this is because I also have MGD in my eyes that recently developed and 'could' be related to these mites.

Today, after another bout of strange muscle pain, I found an article of Fibromyalgia. I tried all the tender points it mentions and unfortunately, only 2 of the 18 were not tender on a light touch. Obviously I scared myself a little.

Can you have tender points (and I have far more then 16 tender points) on your body, but it not be Fibromyalgia? PS these points have been like that for months of not years. I regually have massage to relieve muscle tightness.

Googled it but couldn't find a another cause for tender points...?

PS - thought the rash might be rosacea, but not reacting to triggers that I am aware of, not going really red anyway.

PPS - if it is the start of fibromyalgia, how can I prevent the onset of pain? Stretching? I have massage, so as painful as it may be, she can work on all the sore points to get the muscles stretched - she usually only does some.

[auyine11]

To add to the above post, found this. Doesn't state if tender points can be a precusor to pain, but is interesting http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/309/6956/696

[droopy56]

     The tender points are one of the defining symptoms of FMS, along with muscle pain and brain fog. I have all 18 of the tender points, but they are not always sensitive to the touch; it usually depends on the quality of sleep I get (the two are very closely related).
     Your best bet is to go find a very understanding, very open-minded doctor who can help you sort out your symptoms. It took two years and extensive tests to discover what I have (Fibro), and a little longer after that to get my meds adjusted right so I can function. Do NOT try to be your own doctor and don't try every fad treatment. You will wind up feeling worse than ever.

     Good luck.