title: Fibromyalgia in the elderly: differential diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Fibromyalgia in the elderly often occurs in the presence of other musculoskeletal disorders where it is often unsuspected. The clue to the diagnosis of concomitant fibromyalgia lies in the widespread distribution of the pain and in its severity. All patients with this disorder have multiple, symmetrically distributed "tender points," a physical sign which is specific for fibromyalgia. Treatment includes, first, explanation. Aerobic exercise may be helpful in many patients, and administration of tricyclic compounds in very low doses is often effective in treating the associated sleep disorder and in reducing overall disease severity.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Medicine.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D005082:Physical Exertion
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic