Fibromyalgia is a condition that is primarily diagnosed based on a person’s symptoms and medical history, as there is no specific test or imaging study that can definitively diagnose fibromyalgia.
However, some studies have found that people with fibromyalgia may have changes in their brain and spinal cord that can be detected using specialized MRI techniques, such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI). These changes may be related to alterations in pain processing and sensory processing in the brain.
It’s important to note that these changes are not specific to fibromyalgia and can also be seen in other chronic pain conditions. Additionally, not everyone with fibromyalgia will have these changes on MRI, and the presence or absence of these changes does not necessarily confirm or rule out a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Therefore, MRI may be used to help rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms as fibromyalgia and to identify any other underlying conditions that may be contributing to a person’s pain and other symptoms.
