Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes widespread body pain, fatigue, and extreme sensitivity. Many people living with fibromyalgia struggle for years without clear answers because routine medical tests often come back normal. If you are experiencing constant pain but have been told “everything looks fine,” you are not alone and your pain is real.  

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects how the brain and nerves process pain. Instead of pain signals being filtered normally, the body becomes over-sensitive to pain. Common symptoms include:

• Pain all over the body
• Constant tiredness
• Poor or unrefreshing sleep
• Morning stiffness
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating (“brain fog”)
• Sensitivity to touch, cold, or heat

Fibromyalgia does not damage joints or bones, which is why it often does not show up on X-rays or scans.  

Why is Fibromyalgia Hard to Diagnose?

Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because:

• Blood tests are usually normal
• X-rays and MRI scans often show no damage
• Symptoms overlap with arthritis, thyroid problems, and nerve disorders

Many patients feel frustrated after repeated tests with no clear explanation for their pain.

Is not there any way to see this pain?

Yes. Have you heard of medical thermography? It helps to understand the physiology of your pain.

What is Thermography?

Thermography is a safe, painless imaging test that measures heat patterns on the body. These heat patterns reflect changes in:

• Blood circulation
• Nerve activity
• Inflammatory response

It does not use radiation and does not involve injections or physical contact.  

How Thermography Helps in Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is linked to abnormal nerve signals and blood flow changes. Thermography helps by:

• Showing unusual temperature patterns linked to nerve dysfunction
• Detecting widespread and symmetrical changes often seen in fibromyalgia
• Supporting diagnosis when other tests are normal
• Helping doctors differentiate fibromyalgia from inflammatory joint diseases

Thermography looks at how the body functions, not just structure—and this is especially important in fibromyalgia.  

Benefits of Thermography for Patients

✔ Completely non-invasive ✔ No radiation exposure ✔ Painless and comfortable ✔ Safe for repeated monitoring ✔ Helps validate patient symptoms For many patients, thermography provides reassurance that their pain has a measurable basis.  

Thermography in Nepal

Medical thermography for fibromyalgia evaluation is available for the first time in Nepal by NCRD, making it possible for patients to access this advanced diagnostic support without going abroad.  

Living with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia cannot be diagnosed with a single test alone. Diagnosis and management require:

• Careful clinical evaluation
• Understanding patient symptoms
• Supportive diagnostic tools like thermography
• Long-term lifestyle and pain management strategies

With proper guidance and early diagnosis, many patients experience significant improvement in daily life.  

Conclusion

Fibromyalgia pain may not appear on traditional tests, but it deeply affects quality of life. Thermography offers a modern, safe, and patient-friendly way to support diagnosis by revealing functional changes in the body.