Fibromyalgia is often dubbed “The Great Imitator” because of its likeness to other conditions. But how do you know if you have fibromyalgia?

There are numerous tests performed by doctors in order to diagnose Fibromyalgia, or more likely, to diagnose if your pain is caused by a disease other than Fibromyalgia.  For example, your doctor may test for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus or a virus causing Chronic Fatigue.  There is a substance that is found in patients suffering from Fibromyalgia, called Substance P.  However, the most definitive diagnosis is usually what the patient tells us about the pain: its location and its duration.

Dr. Groshell has designed a simple test which he performs on any patient who presents with symptoms of Fibromyalgia.  It is called the Free Flow Energy Test and it is a reliable means of evaluating if the patients’ symptoms are a result of faulty foot structure and function.

“Nearly all of my Fibromyalgia patients are positive when this test is performed,” said Dr. Groshell. “We begin treatment immediately and we get immediate results.”

The following is a sneak peek of the self-help DVD that comes along with East Meets West from the Bottom Up, the upcoming new book on fibromyalgia. This is a demonstration of the Free Flow Energy Test.

Another widely used examination is the trigger point test:

• 18 trigger points on the body are tested
• 11 of the 18 palpated points must be in pain when felt
• This pain must occur for a period exceeding three months
• The patients must also report the common symptoms of fibromyalgia

Most estimates believe that anywhere from 5 to 10 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, but Dr. Groshell believes that number might be much higher.

Included in Dr. Groshell’s book is a diagnostic progress chart that allows you to monitor your fibromyalgia symptoms and track your progress with the protocol.