# Is fibromyalgia a real condition? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172 "2013-09-18T20:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172/81 "2013-09-23T17:48:37Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > Slight hijack: I heard a respected doctor recently say: > > “The three most dangerous words out of a Physician’s mouth are: ‘In my experience…’”. > > J. And that’s based on his observations? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172/82 "2013-09-23T18:27:16Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I never said pinched nerves were the same. It was one among a list of physical conditions with no diagnostic tests. I don’t understand your point. Pinched nerve has objective tests which are imperfect. Fibromyalgia lacks objective tests. Right? > [@](#): > > This quote suggests that you were making the statement that in the absence of a diagnostic test it must be a mental condition. No, I was stating exactly what I stated – nothing more and nothing less. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172/83 "2013-09-23T19:30:35Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I don’t understand your point. Pinched nerve has objective tests which are imperfect. Fibromyalgia lacks objective tests. Right? > > No, I was stating exactly what I stated – nothing more and nothing less. I was contradicting your larger point (which you say you are not making) that in the absence of an objective test a condition must be mental. I gave a few examples of physical conditions that have no objective tests (or poorly correlated ones). I’m still not sure how read your comment as anything but meaning that, no more, no less. > [@brazil84](#): > > I recall reading that unlike other physical conditions, there is no objective diagnostic test for fibromyalgia, which suggests that it is a mental condition. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172/84 "2013-09-23T19:56:46Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I was contradicting your larger point (which you say you are not making) that in the absence of an objective test a condition must be mental. There’s a difference between “suggests” and “must be.” Also, my statement was conditioned on the assumption that FM uniquely fails to have an objective test. I’m more interested in a discussion where people respond to what I actually say – as opposed to what they wish or imagine I had said. This exchange is concluded. Bye. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172/85 "2013-09-23T20:00:44Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > There’s a difference between “suggests” and “must be.” Also, my statement was conditioned on the assumption that FM uniquely fails to have an objective test. > > I’m more interested in a discussion where people respond to what I actually say – as opposed to what they wish or imagine I had said. > > This exchange is concluded. Bye. Ok- I’m not sure why you’re responding so negatively to my comments. Based on a reasonable interpretation of your comments I offered up what I thought was useful information. You may not find it useful, but that doesn’t mean I was looking for magical interpretations of what you said. I suppose it is impossible that your comment was a bit unclear, but rather I am purposefully misreading it. So, buh-bye. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fibromyalgia-a-real-condition/669172.md?page=4)