Mysterious and difficult to diagnose, fibromyalgia is one of the most misunderstood chronic disorders in medicine today. This complex condition is characterized by widespread pain, along with muscle tenderness, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. With no cure for fibromyalgia, many of those diagnosed with the disease experience a lot of pain without knowing when, if, or how it might reduce or disappear.
Fibromyalgia treatment is generally focused on pain management, which is crucial to reducing discomfort and improving quality of life. Many times, people need to step outside of traditional medical treatments found when seeking treatment for a complex condition like fibromyalgia. For many, alternative treatments can provide meaningful relief for the chronic pain and inflammation that accompanies fibromyalgia.
What Does Fibromyalgia Pain Feel Like?
Fibromyalgia pain varies from person to person. While some common threads can be found, if you’ve recently received a fibromyalgia diagnosis or are currently pursuing fibromyalgia as a cause for your chronic pain, you may experience some or all of the following:
- A burning pain or pins-and-needles sensation
- Aching all over, sometimes described as having “been pounded by a meat tenderizer”
- Experiencing sharp pain from minor sensations, like a cold breeze or gentle handshake
- Cognitive challenges referred to as “fibro fog,” resulting in lack of concentration
- Insomnia or other problems falling or staying asleep
- Sleep apnea
- Restless legs
Fibromyalgia also frequently presents with other conditions, called comorbidities, commonly including:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraines and other headaches
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
How Can Laser Therapy Help Ease Fibromyalgia Pain?
If traditional treatments for fibromyalgia pain fail, or don’t feel like enough, or cause other unwanted side effects, you may start to feel hopeless. Seeking more help can be exhausting. But not every person responds the same way to the same treatment, and there are other options, if your current treatment plan isn’t working as intended.
One alternative – or additional treatment – for those suffering chronic pain is laser therapy. Let’s take a look at how this noninvasive, pain-free treatment can help manage pain caused by fibromyalgia.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy has become an increasingly popular treatment for fibromyalgia and a myriad of other conditions. Laser therapy is a type of photobiomodulation therapy, featuring a broad variety of applications to relieve pain and repair damage throughout the body.
In this treatment, a high-powered therapeutic laser featuring red and near-infrared light wavelengths is used to enhance cellular energy production, by targeting the mitochondria. Treatment increases the body’s circulation and inflammation mediator levels, removes any waste, and repairs damage that causes pain and discomfort without pharmacological intervention. Those who want to avoid any pharmaceuticals or are sensitive to medications, including over-the-counter (OTR) medications, have increasingly sought laser therapy treatment.
Laser Therapy for Fibromyalgia Pain
Patients involved in a review and meta-analysis of laser therapy treating fibromyalgia pain demonstrated significantly greater improvement in their Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores. Further, the Fibrowomen website reported that 75% experience reduced pain in their hands, in a recent study focused on laser treatments.
The Benefits of Laser Therapy for Fibromyalgia Pain Management
Laser therapy has a lot to offer fibromyalgia sufferers. Here are some essential benefits to keep in mind once you start seriously considering this therapy treatment.
Painless
You already deal with enough pain daily, so you don’t want to add any treatments that make things worse, even if temporary. With many laser therapy devices cleared by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), laser therapy is a safe and effective pain treatment. This non-invasive technology-based therapy stimulates your body’s immune system to spark cellular repair and waste removal.
Drug-Free/Non-Pharmacological
One side effect you don’t need to worry about when relying on laser therapy is drug dependency, such as addiction to opioids for those who use it to soothe musculoskeletal pain. With laser therapy, you will experience a drug-free and non-pharmacological treatment that is effective without any risk of addiction. Additionally, laser therapy doesn’t interact with most medications, so, if you are taking something for an infection, another condition, or for pain, laser therapy won’t harm that medication’s effectiveness. But always be sure to talk with your doctor about any medications you’re taking before starting any kind of additional therapy.
Customizable
Since laser therapy is customizable, it can treat a broad range of disorders and conditions, including fibromyalgia and much more. An advanced laser therapy device allows the technician to adjust the wavelength and power output of the laser to match your specific needs.
Are You Ready to Start Improving Your Quality of Life with Laser Therapy Treatments for Fibromyalgia?
A fibromyalgia diagnosis can be a relief and another weight on your shoulders. Understanding the root of your chronic pain after a long and frustinging diagnosis process is a win, but the path forward for treatment may not be straightforward. If you’re looking for relief or a different application for pain management, laser therapy may be an option for you. Learn more about managing pain with laser therapy, or find a laser therapy specialist near you.
