Fibromyalgia recovery: How hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help
Learn the benefits of HBOT to manage FMS symptoms
In the United States, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) affects 4 million adults, about 2% of the adult population. [1] It is a condition that is complex and often misunderstood. While research is ongoing and numerous treatment options are available, one innovative approach certainly stands out – Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).
Join us as we dive into the complexities of fibromyalgia, the potential of HBOT, and how it can ease suffering, improve quality of life, and restore health.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and a laundry list of other symptoms that can vary in intensity among patients. While this condition can affect anyone of any age, Women are twice as likely to have fibromyalgia as men.[1] Its complex array of symptoms such as:
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration
- Headaches, including migraines [1]
Additional symptoms may include:
- Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
- Pain in the face or jaw, including disorders of the jaw known as temporomandibular joint syndrome (also known as TMJ)
- Digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and even irritable bowel syndrome (also known as IBS) [1]
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and fibromyalgia
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This increases the body’s oxygen amount by 10 to 15 times its usual amount, allowing it to encourage several therapeutic benefits for patients. For fibromyalgia patients, the benefits of HBOT are multifaceted:
Increasing oxygen levels: Enhanced oxygen delivery can improve cellular function and energy production, potentially alleviating the widespread pain characteristic of fibromyalgia.
Reducing inflammation: By decreasing inflammation, HBOT can address one of the suspected underlying mechanisms of fibromyalgia, offering relief from discomfort and pain.
Alleviating pain: The increased oxygen supply can also have a direct analgesic effect, reducing the chronic pain that fibromyalgia patients experience.
Improving the quality of sleep: HBOT can mitigate symptoms of anxiety and depression often associated with fibromyalgia, leading to better sleep quality and, consequently, improved overall well-being.
Promoting healing and tissue repair: The therapy stimulates the production of collagen and the formation of new blood vessels, which can enhance the body’s natural healing processes and potentially alleviate some of the physical manifestations of fibromyalgia.
Evidence and potential of HBOT improving FMS
Through several clinical studies, researchers have evidence proof that HBOT can improve the symptoms and life quality of FMS patients. Moreover, it shows that HBOT can induce neuroplasticity and significantly rectify abnormal brain activity in pain-related areas of FMS patients. [2]
“From my experience, a specific case where hyperbaric oxygen therapy demonstrated remarkable efficacy involved a woman in her late 30s suffering from both Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These conditions are often intertwined with overlapping symptoms.
As a school nurse, she was debilitated by extreme pain, necessitating a leave from work and confining her to a wheelchair. Undergoing a series of 40 HBOT sessions, she experienced a remarkable transformation. Midway through treatment, she progressed from a wheelchair to using a cane, eventually returning to work with restrictions. By the end of the treatment regimen, she had fully resumed her normal activities, including biking with her children.
HBOT’s mechanism stimulates angiogenesis and promotes the creation of new blood vessels at a micro level, effectively reduces inflammation and pain, and significantly enhances her quality of life. Witnessing such tangible healing outcomes highlighted the profound therapeutic potential of oxygen therapy,” shares Erika Jordan, Hyperbarics Healing Treatment Center Founder and Director.
While the method by which HBOT is believed to elicit effects on fibromyalgia symptoms is not yet entirely understood, early research combined with overwhelming reports from patients reveals a great deal of promise for the treatment, making this an option of great interest to those searching for a boost in their quality of life despite the condition. As always, it is important to consult with a health professional before considering any treatment to understand if it suits your case and to discuss potential benefits.
We’re here to support you.
At Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center, we offer a caring and comfortable environment in which to heal our patients with all types of conditions, from fibromyalgia and nerve damage to diabetes and cancer.
Our state-of-the-art Sechrist 3600 monoplane hyperbaric chambers have clear acrylic and video streaming capabilities, so you can relax and watch your favorite TV show during treatment.
Ready to experience the healing power of oxygen?
Our Hyperbaric Healing Treatment Center team has been honored to support many patients on their healing journey at our medical centers in Orlando and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Our caring, knowledgeable hyperbaric specialists work together to determine the best treatment regimen for each patient’s unique circumstances.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
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