Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes, among other problems, chronic pain and persistent fatigue, often forcing those who suffer from it to give up their work and daily routine.
In this post, we discuss what fibromyalgia is, how it is diagnosed, and the best ways to manage its symptoms. Keep reading!
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that results in chronic, complex, and widespread pain, and also causes significant fatigue in the patient. In other words, physical pain is combined with chronic exhaustion, and in many cases this ultimately leads to depression. The goal of diagnosing fibromyalgia is to rule out all other possible causes that could be producing the pain syndrome.This condition presents a wide variety of symptoms. Some are more common, such as fatigue and pain, which are often accompanied by depression, while others are more specific, including headaches, foot pain, and other discomforts. Patients with fibromyalgia usually arrive at the consultation completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The pain spreads throughout the entire body and does not have an objectively identifiable cause, unlike, for example, knee pain, which could be due to osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
As mentioned earlier in this post, fibromyalgia presents a wide variety of symptoms:
- Widespread pain
- General fatigue
- General discomfort (the pain does not have a specific location)
- Sleep disturbances
- Chronic fatigue, caused by lack of rest as a consequence of ongoing pain
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed by ruling out other conditions that can cause pain. The joints, the back, the spine, and other structures are evaluated. Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed when no pathology is detected in these tests, yet the pain persists. At the Regenerative Medicine Unit of Clínica Planas, we perform the suPAR test, a blood test that allows us to identify the presence of fibromyalgia through markers of chronic inflammation. We confirm fibromyalgia because no structural lesions are found, but inflammation is detected through this blood analysis.
How can fibromyalgia pain be relieved?
There are many ways to treat fibromyalgia, as the symptoms of this condition are multiple and vary from one patient to another. One of the treatments with the most significant effects is the use of a hyperbaric chamber, with the aim of reducing chronic inflammation. After around 20 hyperbaric chamber sessions, patients experience a noticeable improvement in their pain threshold. The pain does not disappear completely, but it is reduced by approximately 50%. We also often recommend certain supplements that help alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms, such as coenzyme Q10 or curcumin.
Benefits of the hyperbaric chamber for the treatment of fibromyalgia
As mentioned in the previous section, one of the main benefits of oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber is the reduction of chronic inflammation, which results in an approximately 50% decrease in the pain caused by fibromyalgia.
Additionally, this technology improves muscle oxygenation, which is key since muscles are the tissues truly responsible for the painful sensation. This enhanced oxygen supply further contributes to pain reduction.
It is also important to highlight that this treatment improves brain oxygenation, helping to reduce sleep disturbances and, consequently, chronic fatigue.
In short, by combining an accurate diagnosis through the suPAR test with a protocol of around 20 hyperbaric chamber sessions, pain can be reduced by about 50%, along with other fibromyalgia symptoms. In fact, many patients, even if their pain is not completely eliminated, are able to regain a large part of their daily routine and work activity thanks to the effectiveness of this treatment.
