Last updated 21/03/2021 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

5 Ways Fibromyalgia Affects Women Harder Than Men

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, soft tissue rheumatic pain diagnosis. Fibromyalgia affects women more often than men - and it has also been documented that women experience worsening symptoms compared to men. In this article, we give you a clinical insight into five documented symptoms that illustrate just this.

We fight for those with other chronic pain diagnoses and rheumatism to have better opportunities for treatment and examination - but not everyone agrees with us on that. So we kindly ask you to like us on our FB page og our YouTube channel in social media to join us in the fight for an improved everyday life for thousands of people.

This article will go through five symptoms that are stronger in women than men - in those affected by fibromyalgia. At the bottom of the article you can also read comments from other readers, as well as watch a video with exercises adapted to those with chronic pain diagnoses and rheumatic disorders.

PS - Did you know that many of our 18000 members in our group "Rheumatism and Chronic Pain" report good effects of natural, anti-inflammatory supplements such as bilberry extract og turmeric?

1. More Intense Fibromyalgia Pain

Enhanced fibromyalgia pain is often described as deep and painful pain that spreads from the muscles and further into other parts of the body. Many also experience aching and radiating pain, as well as tingling in the hands and feet.

Compared to previous diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, pain must affect the entire body, on both sides, and include both upper and lower limbs. The pains are of such a character that they can come and go, and that they can vary greatly in their severity. This uncertainty in relation to the pain picture makes it often very difficult for those with fibromyalgia to plan what the day should look like.

What is also interesting is how women and men experience fibromyalgia pain in different ways. Both sexes report that the pain can be intense and severe at times - but on average, men report, from a research point of view, lower pain intensity than women.

Recommended Self-Help for Rheumatic and Chronic Pain

• Compression Noise (such as compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles or specially adapted compression gloves against rheumatic symptoms in the hands)

Click on the image to read more about compression gloves.

• Mini tapes (many with rheumatic and chronic pain feel that it is easier to train with custom elastics)
• Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)
• Arnica cream or heat conditioner (many people report some pain relief if they use, for example, arnica cream or heat conditioner)

- Many people use arnica cream for pain due to stiff joints and sore muscles. Click on the image above to read more about how arnica cream can help relieve some of your pain situation.

Also read: 7 Ways LDN Can Help Against Fibromyalgia

2. Longer Pain Duration and More Painful Muscle Points

Women also have more widespread pain and a feeling of pain throughout the body, as well as longer duration of pain episodes. This increased incidence of pain among women has been linked to the sex hormone estrogen - which has a tiring effect where it lowers the pain threshold.

18 Painful Muscle Points

In addition to extensive pain in the body, fibromyalgia also provides the basis for 18 painful muscle points, which were previously used to diagnose. These are, therefore, specific areas of the body, usually muscle attachments to joints, which give off intense pain when pressed.

Research has shown that women, on average, have more sore muscles than men. Usually 2-3 more. It has also been seen that these muscle points are significantly more sensitive in women. You can read in detail about the 18 aching muscle points here.

Tips for minor muscle pain:

Perozin muscle gel, Linnex heat cream og Tiger Balm are three well-known products that are often used for sore and tight muscles. But not all products work equally well for everyone. A good idea might be to try it out and see what effect it has on your particular problem.

Read more: - These 18 Muscle Points can tell if you have Fibromyalgia

Click here to read more about the 18 muscle points and where on the body you find them.

3. Aggravated bladder pain and bowel problems

Fibromyalgia can lead to worsening bladder pain and bowel problems. Among other things, women with fibromyalgia often have worsening symptoms Irritable bowel. It has also been seen that as many as 12-24% of women have intestinal problems - ie significantly higher than the number in men, which is 5-9%.

Irritable bowel, bladder diagnoses and other bowel conditions can, among other things, provide the basis for:

• Pain and cramps in the lower abdomen
• Pain on intercourse
• urination Pain
• Pressure symptoms in the bladder
• More frequent frequency of toilet visits

Tips for better bowel health:

Try a grant with probiotics (good gut bacteria) or lectinect. For many, it can have a good effect, and we also know that intestinal health is extremely important for how you feel otherwise as well - both in terms of energy, but also mood.

Also read: This You Should Know About Irritable Bowel

Too many people are plagued with chronic pain that destroys everyday life - that's why we encourage you to Share this article in social media, Feel free to like our Facebook page and say: "Yes to more research on chronic pain diagnoses". In this way, one can make the symptoms associated with this diagnosis more visible and ensure that more people are taken seriously - and thus get the help they need. We also hope that such increased attention can lead to greater funding for research on new assessment and treatment methods.

Also read: - 15 Early Signs of Rheumatism

Are you affected by rheumatism?

4. Stronger Menstrual Pain in Women with Fibromyalgia

Women with fibromyalgia often experience stronger menstrual cramps than those without this chronic pain disorder. These pains can be mild or extremely painful - and vary in intensity. In a research report prepared by the National Fibromyalgia Association, it has been seen that there are more frequent painful menstrual cramps than in the control group.

The majority of those with fibromyalgia are women. As many as 80-90 percent of those diagnosed are women. Statistics show that most are aged 40 to 55 years. In menopause, fibromyalgia pain has also been seen to worsen and may provide a basis for increased prevalence of:

• Anxiety and depression
• Bad mood
• Tiredness
• Brain Fog (fibrous mist)
• Effect in the body

The body produces as much as 40 percent less estrogen in women who have gone through menopause. Estrogen plays a very central role in controlling the levels of serotonin in the body, which are very involved in controlling pain and mood.

Also read: - Research report: This is the Best Fibromyalgia Diet

Click on the image or link above to read more about proper diet adapted to those with fibromyalgia.

5. Increased Incidence of Fatigue and Depression

Research has shown that there is an increased incidence of anxiety and depression in both women and men affected by fibromyalgia. Again, women were seen to be affected more frequently and more severely than men.

It is not surprising that chronic and widespread pain causes less energy and excess. As is well known, this pain diagnosis often leads to night pain and poorer night sleep. Lack of sleep is not the key to getting out of depression and anxiety - so it is a very unfortunate vicious circle.

Tips for fatigue and fatigue:

Certain natural supplements like Active Q10 can, in many cases, contribute to a more normal energy level. Others feel that they may have more to gain from getting better sleep quality - for example with Lectinect Melatonin Forte or Liquid Melatonin.

Exercise and adapted exercise can help you contribute to normal blood circulation to muscles and joints - and one form of exercise that many people benefit from is exercise in a hot water pool. This is a customized form of exercise that helps you strengthen your joints in a good and safe way; and which is excellent for you with fibromyalgia.

You can read more about how this form of training can help you in the article below.

Also read: - How Helps Exercise In Hot Water Pool On Fibromyalgia

More information? Join this group!

Join the Facebook group «Rheumatism and Chronic Pain - Norway: Research and news»(Click here) for the latest updates on research and media writing about rheumatic and chronic disorders. Here, members can also get help and support - at all times of the day - through the exchange of their own experiences and advice.

VIDEO: Exercises for Rheumatists and Those Affected by Fibromyalgia

Feel free to subscribe on our channel - and follow our page on FB for daily health tips and exercise programs.

We sincerely hope that this article can help you in the fight against rheumatic disorders and chronic pain.

Feel free to share in social media

Again, we want to ask nicely to share this article in social media or via your blog (feel free to link directly to the article). Understanding and increased focus is the first step towards a better everyday life for those with chronic pain.

Suggestion: 

Option A: Share directly on FB - Copy the website address and paste it on your facebook page or in a relevant facebook group you are a member of. Or press the "SHARE" button below to share the post further on your facebook.

Touch this to share further. A big thank you to everyone who helps promote increased understanding of chronic pain diagnoses!

Option B: Link directly to the article on your blog.

Option C: Follow and equal Our Facebook page og Our YouTube channel (click here if desired)

and also remember to leave a star rating if you liked the article:

Sources:

PubMed

NEXT PAGE: - Research: This is the Best Fibromyalgia Diet

Click on the picture above to move to the next page.

Recommended self-help for this diagnosis

Compression Noise (for example, compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles)

Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)

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