Fibromyalgia, usually seen in women, is rare amongst men. And it is a remarkable thing that if the patient is male they are usually young and athletic. Fibromyalgia is hard to describe to anyone and for these patients, it is even harder.
The Story of a 26-Year-Old Male Fibromyalgia Patient
“I was mostly unhappy. Then the pain got worse. When I went abroad for my master’s degree, both the pain and fatigue were in their worst. I thought that I could not do it and I should quit. Then I began working and after a while, quit the job because of pain. I applied to a fibromyalgia clinic while I was working in London but I cannot say that it helped. Also, my parents are doctors but they do not get me, although I am in pain for years.
My back, lower back, knees and ankles are in terrible pain. Like I scraped it on the turf on the field and it got wounded. At nights, I stretch my legs and then pull them back towards my body. I feel that all my body is weak. Like I am hit by a truck.
Sometimes I need those stretches for my back as well. Also, I feel the need to crack all my joints all the time. My feet are always cold and I wear two pairs of socks. I get up worse and get better during the day.
I sleep more but get rest less. My temples hurt the most. I always feel a pressure there. My mental condition is way worse. I am having serious attention and concentration deficits. Also, my memory is bad. I cannot learn anything, though I was a quick learner before.
I got my wisdom teeth pulled, back in 2013, before going to London for my master’s. And I am much worse since then. My mother is a pediatrician. And as a child, I was always suffering from throat infections and tonsillitis.
Now I cannot work anymore. I don’t know what I should do. I’ve seen lots of doctors but got nothing in return.”
The Analysis of the Patient
Fibromyalgia reasons are clear in this story. The foundation is the multiple throat infections during childhood. Also he clenches and the pulling of wisdom teeth, has made fibromyalgia worse. When I explained that, he told me that his pain actually went worse after that operation. Rheumatic diseases either go worse with pulled teeth or occur, if not there before. Rheumatology specialists may not be aware of that but I frequently observe that on my patients.
Fibromyalgia does not show itself in scans or x-rays. Patients look well on the outside and this leads others to think that it is psychological. This patient was also referred to psychiatrists for many times. But it is important to believe them. The pain is there, even if you cannot see it. Fibromyalgia is real.