Fibromyalgia In Men – Effects Beyond the Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a difficult disease to diagnose and treat. Currently, there is no established diagnostic test that can detect the condition in a patient. Most fibromyalgia symptoms may overlap with other symptoms or get misdiagnosed as another condition. A study from the Mayo Clinic suggests that many people with the condition often go undiagnosed⁷ - especially men with fibromyalgia.

People including some doctors often think that fibromyalgia is a women’s disease and many people don’t know much about the occurrence and impact of fibromyalgia in men. We look at the medical research regarding gender differences in fibromyalgia and what additional challenges men with fibromyalgia can experience.

Can Men Get Fibromyalgia?

Historically it is generally believed that more women than men get fibromyalgia.  Some people have suggested that the difference in symptoms of fibromyalgia in men changes the rate of diagnosis.

In years gone past, it has been suggested that only 10% of fibromyalgia cases are men (so women are 9 times more likely to have fibromyalgia or there is a ratio of 9:1).  However, more recent studies suggest that fibromyalgia is almost exclusively a women’s disorder is not supported by data in unbiased studies. ⁶

Under-diagnosis in men with fibromyalgia

One study looking at adults residing in London, Ontario found that 4.9% of women and 1.6% of men experience fibromyalgia suggesting a rate more like 3:1 .¹  A study looking at the prevalence of fibromyalgia suggested that the rate may be more like 1:1 ².

So the myth that fibromyalgia is a women’s disease may not just be due to diagnostic criteria used, but also due to men not identifying and under-reporting symptoms. ^2 3  In fact one study found that 20 times more men reported fibromyalgia symptoms than had a diagnosis compared to 3 times for women.⁴

What Are the Risks of Having Fibromyalgia in Men?

Gender is a primary risk factor of fibromyalgia, but only one of them. Rheumatic conditions, such as lupus, also increase your chances of developing the condition. So does having a first-degree relative (whether male or female) with fibromyalgia.

So why do men get fibromyalgia? What triggers the condition among them? 

Certain types of trauma (e.g., car accidents), viral infections, and emotional stress can trigger it. Men with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are also at higher risk for fibromyalgia. In general, patients with systemic and chronic inflammation accompanied by a history of mood disorders and genetic links are most at risk of developing the condition.

In rare cases, fibromyalgia in men strikes without warning. 

What are symptoms of fibromyalgia in men?

The symptoms of fibromyalgia are generally well recognised and document, but are the symptoms for men different then they are for women.

One research paper looked at 28 different studies and found that overall, men with fibromyalgia experience more stress and worse sleep whilst women complained more about pain related symptoms. ⁵

How Fibromyalgia Affects Men

Chronic pain may be the condition’s primary symptoms of fibromyalgia in men, but the condition can sometimes come with additional complications. Apart from constant pain, patients with this condition experience difficulty in sleeping and chronic fatigue. Other common complaints of fibromyalgia include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches and restless legs syndrome. Difficulty in concentrating and memory problems also comes with the territory.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are not to be taken lightly since they can make getting out of bed impossible. Below is a list of fibromyalgia symptoms in men:

• Pins and needles sensation
• Tenderness across the body
• Nausea
• Sleep disorders
• Stiffness in joints
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty with balance
• Increased sensitivity to hot and cold
• Anger, irritability, and other mood disorders

Some men also report amplified pain (hyperalgesia) specifically in the neck. This symptom has sent men who have delayed seeking treatment for years to their doctors.
Sensitivity to loud sounds and light may also be present, especially if the patient is suffering from allodynia, which is a pain sensation triggered by the slightest touch, such as a hug, breeze, or a handshake.
Symptoms are often intense when they appear, only to disappear completely for weeks or months at a time. Some men with the condition find their symptoms worsening due to changes to the weather or lack of sleep. Others consistently experience a set of constant symptoms.

Besides the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia, men may also be affected differently mentally to women.  One study noted that 1 in 10 respondents felt there was a stigma for fibromyalgia in men because it is widely seen as a condition that primarily affects women. ³ Men’s top fibromyalgia symptom reported was depression.

Why the difference in how men and women are affected by fibromyalgia?

Respondents in the above study indicated that the pressures of being the primary provider for the family was unfair and added to the impact of fibromyalgia on men as they stopped being able to engage in paid work.  These societal roles to provide and protect the family can leave men feeling reduced self-worth, often leaving them feeling as failures.

The study also found that men may be less likely to discuss symptoms of fibromyalgia than their women counterparts.  Not only may this impede diagnosis, but it may also add to the mental health pressure that men with fibromyalgia experience.

What Causes Fibromyalgia in Men?

When a person is injured, their nerve signals travel from the problematic spot of the body through the spinal cord to their brain, which detects these pain signals. As the healing process starts, however, the pain gets better and eventually goes away.

But if a person has fibromyalgia, they feel pain all over even if they are not injured or sick. According to some doctors, this could be a ‘glitch’ in the way the spinal cord or the brain handles pain signals. The ‘glitch’ occurs because a person has more cells that carry pain signals than usual.

The trigger that causes fibromyalgia in men varies from one case to another. Many things could trigger the body’s pain signals to go awry. Also, different patients report different triggers of their condition. These causes include:

• Genes. Fibromyalgia seems to be an inherited condition. The parents may pass on the genes that make them more sensitive to pain.
• Gender. As mentioned, fibromyalgia is more common in females than in males. Doctors believe this could be related to the way men and women react to and feel pain, as well as how society expects each gender to respond to pain.
• Emotional or physical abuse. Children who suffered from abuse are more likely to develop fibromyalgia when they become adults. This happens because abuse changes the way the brain handles stress and pain.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People experience PTSD after a terrible event such as a car crash, war, or rape. These events are also linked to patients with fibromyalgia.
• Lack of exercise. Fibromyalgia is common in people who aren’t physically active. Exercise can help alleviate the pain caused by fibromyalgia. 

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia in Men

Conflicting opinions from different researches on fibromyalgia syndrome in men further complicates diagnosis. Some researchers believe that men experience milder symptoms. At the same time, some reports insist men can experience more severe symptoms, such as lower quality of life and less ability to function.

The first step in diagnosis is finding a doctor who can explore all sides of the patient’s condition. Doctors take a complete family and medical history to eliminate the possibility of other conditions. Apart from reviewing your symptoms, they will complete a thorough physical exam to determine tender points in the body. While this symptom is not a clear indicator of fibromyalgia, the tender points can provide more information during a diagnosis.

Doctors often use the 2010 American College of Rheumatology diagnosis guidelines to create a better diagnosis. These new guidelines list the following as markers for fibromyalgia:

• Symptoms have persisted for at least 90 days 
• Widespread pain index (WPI) is greater than or equal to seven
• No alternate disorder can explain the pain

As part of the physical examination, the doctor must also run lab tests to uncover what the condition is not. Some tests that doctors do include:

• Urinalysis
• Complete blood count
• Thyroid function tests
• Vitamin D levels
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Treatment for Fibromyalgia in Men

Healthcare professionals’ treatment for fibromyalgia in men in two ways: holistically and symptomatically. The goal of both is to ease the current symptoms while working towards a recovery plan. There is no cure for the condition, but it is possible to recovery either partially or fully.  A partial recovery means easing the painful symptoms, and improve a person’s overall quality of life.  A full recovery means being able to engage normally in life without flare ups.

Common treatments include the following: