New from PubMed:

The current classification of fibromyalgia as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) includes chronic widespread pain coupled with widespread allodynia to pressure pain. Researchers from Linköping University in Sweden undertook a study comparing pain characteristics, quality of life, consequences for daily living, and psychosocial status in patients who meet the ACR criteria for fibromyalgia versus patients with widespread chronic pain without widespread allodynia. Data was collected using questionnaires, pain drawings, and clinical examinations, including a manual tender point examination. According to the results, patients with chronic widespread pain with widespread allodynia, classified as fibromyalgia patients, experienced more severe symptoms, greater consequences on daily life, and higher pain severity than patients with chronic widespread pain but lacking widespread allodynia.

Read the full text of the abstract on PubMed