Do Men Get Fibromyalgia?
You hear of women that suffer from fibromyalgia.
But of the total number of people that have fibromyalgia, less than 10 percent are men.
It is sometimes a misconception that only women suffer from this disorder.
There was a time that fibromyalgia was considered an imaginary disorder, but now it has changed to where it is believed it is non existent in men, this thought includes doctors.
Some thoughts are that women are more susceptible to chronic pain than men, something to do with the estrogen.
Many more men may have fibromyalgia than suspected because they might shrug off the pain or not go to the doctor for evaluation.
Men tend to visit the doctor a lot less than women do.
Women may go to the doctor after just a few weeks of pain whereas men may hold off for years.
It has been estimated by some physicians that up to 20 percent of men suffer from fibromyalgia.
The unwillingness of many to visit a doctor leaves many undiagnosed.
Also the longer the individual puts off visiting the doctor, the more at risk they are of developing complications which could affect their daily life.
The symptoms men experienced are for the most part the same as women.
Men may be less likely to complain that they hurt all over or experience fatigue.
On the other hand men may experience more cases of depression or be suicidal.
There is a complaint of feeling worn down.
Men also experience symptoms of restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel and headaches.
Treating fibromyalgia in men is mostly the same as for women.
The same drugs are used by both but many men tend to respond better in some cases.
Cymbalta is an antidepressant that targets the serotonin and epinephrine.
Most men who take Lyrica report a 60 to 70 percent reduction in their symptoms.
It reduces the discomfort and pain from restless legs and the general aches and pains in the body.
Muscle relaxants seem to help men probably due to the increased muscle mass in they have.
Also as in women, changes in sleep patterns can improve the symptoms.
While similar treatments seems to work in both men and women there appears to be a common mechanism being affected.
With the psychological and physical difference between men and women, men experience fibromyalgia symptoms differently than women.
To make accurate diagnosis in men and women these differences must be taken into account.
But of the total number of people that have fibromyalgia, less than 10 percent are men.
It is sometimes a misconception that only women suffer from this disorder.
There was a time that fibromyalgia was considered an imaginary disorder, but now it has changed to where it is believed it is non existent in men, this thought includes doctors.
Some thoughts are that women are more susceptible to chronic pain than men, something to do with the estrogen.
Many more men may have fibromyalgia than suspected because they might shrug off the pain or not go to the doctor for evaluation.
Men tend to visit the doctor a lot less than women do.
Women may go to the doctor after just a few weeks of pain whereas men may hold off for years.
It has been estimated by some physicians that up to 20 percent of men suffer from fibromyalgia.
The unwillingness of many to visit a doctor leaves many undiagnosed.
Also the longer the individual puts off visiting the doctor, the more at risk they are of developing complications which could affect their daily life.
The symptoms men experienced are for the most part the same as women.
Men may be less likely to complain that they hurt all over or experience fatigue.
On the other hand men may experience more cases of depression or be suicidal.
There is a complaint of feeling worn down.
Men also experience symptoms of restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel and headaches.
Treating fibromyalgia in men is mostly the same as for women.
The same drugs are used by both but many men tend to respond better in some cases.
Cymbalta is an antidepressant that targets the serotonin and epinephrine.
Most men who take Lyrica report a 60 to 70 percent reduction in their symptoms.
It reduces the discomfort and pain from restless legs and the general aches and pains in the body.
Muscle relaxants seem to help men probably due to the increased muscle mass in they have.
Also as in women, changes in sleep patterns can improve the symptoms.
While similar treatments seems to work in both men and women there appears to be a common mechanism being affected.
With the psychological and physical difference between men and women, men experience fibromyalgia symptoms differently than women.
To make accurate diagnosis in men and women these differences must be taken into account.
