Fibromyalgia

A Focus on Fibromyalgia in Women

Share

It’s estimated that 6 – 10 percent of people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic pain disorder impacts millions of men and women of all ages and ethnicities all around the worldβ€”but fibromyalgia is decidedly more prevalent in women, as is the case with a number of other pain disorders, such as temperomandibular joint disorder, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Studies in both humans and animals have shown that pain is experienced differently by males and females. In general, females (both animal and human) are more sensitive to experimental pain, and women have more pain-related clinical conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

In addition, studies have suggested that cultural factors may also play a role. For example, it is generally thought that feeling pain is β€œokay” or even expected among women, and that an emotional response is socially acceptable. On the other hand, traditional male roles in society dictate stoicism in the face of pain, which in turn may translate to an anxious, rather than a depressive, response to pain.

Studies have shown important gender differences in various clinical characteristics of fibromyalgia. For example, women experience significantly more common fatigue, morning fatigue, all-over hurting, irritable bowel syndrome, total and number of symptoms. Women also typically have significantly more tender points. On the other hand, overall pain severity, global severity, and physical functioning are not significantly different between the sexes, nor are such psychologic factors as anxiety, stress, and depression. The mechanisms of gender differences in fibromyalgia are not fully understood, but (as prominent fibromyalgia researcher Dr. Mohamed Yunus states) they are likely to involve interaction between biology, psychology, and sociocultural factors.

While female hormones (i.e. estrogen and progesterone) are primarily thought of in terms of the role they play in reproduction, they also have be shown to have profound effects on the central nervous system and, consequently, on pain. However, the data are mixed as to what those effects are with regard to pain, especially for estrogen. In general, estrogen is excitatory to the central nervous systemβ€”so much so that some with seizure disorders have a worsening of symptoms at the time in their menstrual cycles when estrogen is highest, a condition known as β€œcatamenial seizures.”

Conversely, progesterone inhibits the activity of the central nervous system. The effect of different hormone levels on pain may be then be analogous to their effect on mood: having too much of one or too little of the other can produce a problem. Too much estrogen could spell hyperactivity of pain-related nerves or brain areas, while too little could result in a failure to activate areas of the brain that are part of the natural pain-control system. Part of our problem with understanding the role of hormones is that the science of gender’s effects on the biology of pain is still in its infancy.

Many women also experience variations in pain levels throughout their menstrual cycles. It seems likely, then, that female hormones play a role in pain perception. Some pain conditions vary with the menstrual cycle, for example. Pain thresholds are highest in the follicular phase (low estrogen) and lowest in the luteal phase (high estrogen). Migraine, for instance, is a condition more prevalent in females, which worsens during the menstrual cycle and improves post-menopause. Likewise, migraines often improve during pregnancy.

Data from the recent NFA-sponsored epidemiology survey indicated that 26.5 percent of female respondents (average age 47.3 years) had never had children as compared with the national average ofΒ  approximately 18 percent of women aged 40-44 (i.e. at the end of child-bearing years). The reason for the apparently higher statistic among women with fibromyalgia is unclear. It may be due to choices made as a result of living with chronic debilitating pain, or there may be an as-yet undetermined biological connection.

Like other so-called β€œinvisible disorders,” fibromyalgia poses a challenge beyond symptom management to those who are diagnosed with it: the struggle for credibility. It is all too easy for those who have not suffered the pain of fibromyalgia to dismiss it since it offers no visible signs; and it has been, unfortunately, all too easy for healthcare providers to dismiss the symptom descriptions of people with fibromyalgia since there is, for instance, no blood test that can reveal whether or not a person has it. A recentΒ New York TimesΒ article brought this challenge to the fore with its very headline: β€œDrug Approved. Is Disease Real?” (Jan. 14, 2008).

Fortunately, research results are demonstrating that fibromyalgia is all too realβ€”and the proof is easy for even the most adamant disbelievers to see. MRIs show differences in the brains of people with fibromyalgia compared to the brains of people who do not have the chronic pain disorder, for instance.

Awareness of fibromyalgia has grown dramatically in the general public, the media, and the medical community over the last 10 years, but much work remains to be done.

Those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia can do their part by educating their friends, family, colleagues, and supervisors about this chronic pain disorder, the millions of Americans it impacts, the symptoms they strive to manage, and what they require in the way of support from their loved ones.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.fmaware.org

Among the wide number of individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia, women most frequently develop the condition than men. Several research studies have been conducted to attempt to better understand this painful condition. Various studies have concluded that women perceive symptoms of pain different than men, therefore, making them more susceptible to developing fibromyalgia.

For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .Β 

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "A Focus on Fibromyalgia in Women" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Recent Posts

Relieve Back and Hip Pain with a Pillow Between the Legs

For individuals with back pain, can sleeping with a pillow between or under their knees… Read More

March 27, 2024

Unlock the Power of Peppermint: Natural Relief for Digestive Issues

For individuals dealing with digestive issues or bowel disorders, can adding peppermint to a nutrition… Read More

March 26, 2024

Eczema Relief: Exploring the Benefits of Acupuncture

For individuals dealing with eczema, can incorporating acupuncture into a treatment plan help manage and… Read More

March 25, 2024

Recognizing Whiplash: Signs and Symptoms Explained

Those experiencing neck pain, stiffness, headache, shoulder and back pain may suffer from a whiplash… Read More

March 22, 2024

The Health Benefits of Nopal: A Nutritious and Versatile Vegetable

Can incorporating nopal or prickly pear cactus into one's diet help individuals trying to lower… Read More

March 21, 2024

Improve Breathing Techniques for Better Endurance and Health

Can improving breathing patterns help further fitness and optimize overall health for individuals who walk… Read More

March 20, 2024