When you a diagnosed with a certain illness based upon the symptoms that you have been experiencing, it is likely that you will trust your doctor’s judgment and that you won’t question his or her judgment until you have good reason to think otherwise.
However, doctors do sometimes make mistakes, and often patients are misdiagnosed. Misdiagnoses are especially problematic, because it can mean that the true condition can worsen over time while the symptoms may be masked.
Fibromyalgia and misdiagnoses
Fibromyalgia is a condition that is very often misdiagnosed, because the symptoms consist of widespread and chronic pain, which can be a symptom of many different ailments. However, a fibromyalgia sufferer who is correctly diagnosed is very likely to be able to live a much better quality of life after receiving the correct treatment, as well as a permanent reduction in pain.
Fibromyalgia differs from person to person, which can make it hard to diagnose. Many people experience severe fatigue, and others suffer from pain in specific parts of the body, while some people suffer from pain throughout the body.
As a result, many fibromyalgia sufferers are misdiagnosed for long periods of time, and this creates unnecessary suffering as well as potentially worsening the condition. In addition, it may mean that sufferers of fibromyalgia develop psychological issues such as depression or anxiety because of their difficulty in dealing with misdiagnosed pain.
If you were misdiagnosed as a fibromyalgia sufferer, you may believe that medical malpractice was present. In certain situations, it may be possible to file a claim for damages so that you can get the compensation you deserve.