The traditional diagnosis of Fibromyalgia syndrome demands for painful results on probation of at least 11 out of 18 tender points. Probation in this case means a pressure of about 4kg exerted by the fingers on the tender points. Tender points are at the back of the head, between shoulder blades, at the top of the shoulders, at the front sides of the neck, on the upper chest, on the outer elbows, on the upper hips, on the sides of hips and on the inner knees. This pain has to be chronic and has to have been present for at least the last three months in all quadrants of the body.

For at least the same period of time the patient has to have suffered from chronic fatigue. To establish this fatigue the doctor usually will rely on the accounts of the patient, in case of doubt however an EEG would reveal abnormalities during deep sleep phases. As Fibromyalgia syndrome is a non-inflammational condition, there are no laboratory tests i.e. for blood samples available to verify the diagnosis. A more recent approach preferred by many doctors will already diagnose Fibromyalgia syndrome when only 6 tender points show pain reaction on palpation.