"Your bloods are normal, so there's nothing wrong.", what you've probably been told
Fibromyalgia
NHS guideline NG193 covers the assessment and management of chronic primary pain, including fibromyalgia. It sets out specific recommendations for assessment, shared decision-making, and which pharmacological treatments should and should not be offered.
The wait: Average UK diagnostic delay is 5+ years.
What GPs miss
NG193 explicitly recommends against starting paracetamol, NSAIDs, opioids or gabapentinoids for chronic primary pain. It does recommend supervised group exercise, acceptance and commitment therapy, and certain antidepressants.
The letter asks for
- An NG193-aligned chronic pain assessment
- Discussion of recommended interventions (supervised exercise, ACT)
- Reasoning if non-recommended medications are continued
Ready to act on what you just read?
Get a formal Fibromyalgia letter to your GP, drafted, cited, and sent in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the letter useful if there's no cure?
Even where treatment options are limited, NG193 sets clear expectations for assessment and shared decision-making. A documented request gets that assessment on record.
What you hear vs. what NG193 says
What's usually said in the room
"Your bloods are normal, so there's nothing wrong."
What the guideline actually says
NG193 explicitly recommends against starting paracetamol, NSAIDs, opioids or gabapentinoids for chronic primary pain. It does recommend supervised group exercise, acceptance and commitment therapy, and certain antidepressants.
Benefits and rights for Fibromyalgia
PIP for fibromyalgia
Pain, fatigue, fog — and the descriptors that score.
Read the guide →
Fibromyalgia diagnosis (NG193)
The NHS pathway for chronic primary pain.
Read the guide →
LCWRA on Universal Credit
Extra UC element + no work search.
Read the guide →
New Style ESA
Contribution-based ESA when fibro stops you working.
Read the guide →
Outcomes from people with Fibromyalgia
One short email each Sunday, anonymised stories from people who got their GP to take them seriously.