UCSD videos on Fibromyalgia, Parts One and Two

This is what they pretend to do on "House": diagnose tricky diseases, but without the sex and snarky jokes.

I was surprise to learn that there have been some significant changes in the understanding of fibromyalgia in terms of the use of "tender points" as part of the diagnosis; apparently, there is more recognition that fibromyalgia pain can occur in many other sites, and in response to a variety of stimuli (odors, lights, loud noises) that there is quite likely a Central Nervous System disregulation in the processing of pain and other stimuli. Researchers are finally starting to listen to patients, accumulate enough data and anecdotes, and see more patterns. Another new idea is that fibromyalgia may be more common in men than previously believed, because there was an overemphasis on a specific "tender points" exam.

One doctor shows where the tender points are. Another talks about conditions that need to be ruled out, such as various inflammatory diseases like lupos or rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism. Sleep deprivation, depression, and other issues are discussed.

This discussion may be too dry and technical for most people, but for those of us with chronic pain disorders in general and fibromyalgia in particular, this is a fascinating and very useful discussion, especially because it shows what doctors SHOULD be doing to help us understand what fibromyalgia is and is not.
Part One and Part Two.
Part Two deals with the "psycho-social" environment and stressors that affect people with chronic pain; pay attention to the person, not just the pain. Since I got my diagnosis (about 16 years ago), the medical community has learned a tremendous amount, and there has been a shift to a more compassionate and clear-eyed view of fibromyalgia and chronic pain.