Thursday, February 16, 2012

Fibromyalgia in Men

By Steven Yen


Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that causes intense physical pain and fatigue. Since most fibromyalgia patients are essentially female, sadly, the men who have fibro can often feel a bit like complete outcasts. The number of men affected is littler but studies are finding that one in 8 fibromyalgia patients is male, which is still a major number!

They not only really need to cope with the usual questions, rejections, and skepticism that all fibromyalgia patients go through but believe it to be true or not, it is also hard for them to find support within the fibro community. There are a few precise reasons for that.

First, many people still don't understand that fibromyalgia can effect BOTH men and women, although the presentation in the patients body can be slightly different. Fibromyalgia in men has a tendency to cause milder symptoms than in women. For example, men with this syndrome experience less fatigue. Jaw pain and sleeping disorders along with problems relating to concentration and memory, morning stiffness, constipation, headaches and palpitations are also symptoms found in men.

This draining pain reduces the level of activity of men

Also, there are much less male sufferers and therefore less support groups available which are specific for these male fibromyalgia patients.

Another big reason is that usually in society, men do not want to show weakness and are less ready and less certain to seek help and support. This is a Gigantic mistake as often times, male patients wait too long to seek care; therefore , allowing the condition to progress too much which then makes it tougher to treat.

If you're a male who is a victim of fibromyalgia, please take into account that almost all things that apply for female patients will be useful to you as well AND you should be treated in an identical manner. As a community, we need to figure out the way to support the male patients so we don't leave them feeling isolated and misunderstood.




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Saturday, February 11, 2012

What is Fibromyalgia?

By Dr. Steven Yen


To date, the medical community has not reached a general understanding on what fibromyalgia is. Even though the term fibromyalgia has been around since 1976, and the American School of Rheumatology had published the criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia in 1990, doctors still have problems describing what fibromyalgia is, what causes it, and very significantly how to best treat patients with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is basically is a term used to described patients with wide spread chronic and debilitating pain, alone with severe fatigue. Oftentimes, other physical examinations and tests were performed to rule out other underlying conditions before patients were labeled with fibromyalgia.

Fundamentally, if you are experiencing discomfort and fatigue for an extended period, and the doctors are not capable of finding what the root of your discomfort and fatigue, eventually you will be given the label "fibromyalgia". Sadly, once you've been given the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, many doctors will actually stop investigating what is truly going on with your body and you are sent home with numerous combinations of analgesics, muscle relaxants, and anti-depressants.

There is still isn't any accord on what fibromyalgia is. It is still a complex set of signs and symptoms, and each patient is different with symptoms and severity. Simply to be given the diagnosis of fibromyalgia isn't enough. You need to work with your doctor to discover in particular what is happening with your body and come up with a treatment plan that is suitable to what's going on with your body.

So , What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is muscle and connective tissue discomfort (fibro=fibrous tissue, myo=muscle, algos=pain). It's catalogued as a lingering, widespread pain and increased discomfort response to gentle touch. It can be draining to anyone suffering from the syndrome.

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a single, traumatic event and, for unknown reasons, while it influences ladies more often than men, youngsters and males can still suffer the pains of fibro.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

According to the North American School of Rheumatology, there are eighteen places on the body where somebody with fibro could feel pain or sensitiveness. If you find you hurt in at least 11 of these spots, you may have fibro. The eighteen tender spots essentially mirror one another on the left and right sides of the body in 9 places:

- The base of the skull the base of the neck where the shoulders begin

- The top of the shoulders towards the back

- On or between the shoulder blades

- At the very top of the hip (backside)

- On the outside of the hip

- On the fat pad over the knee

- The breast bone

- On the outer edge of the forearm just under the elbow

Besides these diagnostic points, other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

- Wide-ranging agony in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, frequently where they fasten to the bone

- Mild to serious fatigue

- Muscle cramps and cramps

- Queasiness

- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

- Temperomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (TMJ)

- Cognitive and/or memory impairment, also known as ibro-fog?or rain mist?

- Morning rigidity

- Anxiety

- Depression

- Chronic strain or migraines, frequently severe

- Dysmenorrhea (distressing periods)

- Sleep problems like insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep apnea, continual limb movement disorder (PLMD), and - - Bruxism (teeth grinding)

- Dizziness/vertigo, frequently accompanied by nausea

- Heightened allergy symptoms (affecting the nose passages)

- Muscle weakness and twitching

- Impaired coordination

- Sensitivity to odours, bright lights, intense noises, and medications

- Low toleration for exercise and physical exertion generally (could cause muscle pain for days after)

If you suspect you have fibromyalgia, it can feel just like a hard battle trying to find a doctor who believes you and who believes it to be a real medical problem. If one doctor downplays the unvarnished reality of the condition, look for another opinion . A rheumatologist who makes a speciality of fibro and lingering fatigue would be a good selection.

Your doctor should check every one of the eighteen spots for sensitiveness. They shouldn't have to press hard; even light pressure on these areas can cause discomfort. If, at the time of the examination, you do not experience agony in some of the areas that you have before, be sure to tell your physician. Fibromyalgia can appear to have a mind. Of its own, as some symptoms will come and go.




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