How Can Neurofeedback Help Fibromyalgia?
There are few treatment options for fibromyalgia. Some doctors prescribe antidepressants, seizure medications, muscle relaxants or injections of lidocaine (a local anesthetic), or Botox.
We know a very good MD who specializes in pain who doesn’t see fibromyalgia patients because, well, there’s little in his medical arsenal that he thinks helps.
Poor Quality of Life for You and Millions More
Fibromyalgia afflicts approximately five million people. Women account for 80-90 percent of sufferers.
Fibromyalgia is often accompanied by:
- Sleep disturbances
- Chronic fatigue
- Cognitive problems such as memory loss
- Arthritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Bladder conditions
Fibromyalgia’s Suspected Cause
Fibromyalgia’s cause has never been definitively pegged. It may be related to a malfunction in the central nervous system (CNS).
Since the brain is an intricate component of the CNS, and neurofeedback’s purpose is to regulate the brain, it’s often a very good treatment option.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is biofeedback for the brain. It’s been around for more than 40 years and has many peer reviewed studies confirming its effectiveness in helping the brain function optimally. As an alternative to medications, neurofeedback can often help people reduce drugs as their brains begin working more efficiently and effectively.
Just like biofeedback, which uses electronic monitoring equipment to train people to control bodily functions which are normally automatic (for example, their blood pressure, heart rate or muscle tension), neurofeedback uses the computer to retrain or “tune up” the brain.
By facilitating improvement in areas of abnormal connectivity and improving the functioning of the brain, symptoms lessen and quality of life improves.
Research about Neurofeedback and Fibromyalgia
In an article published in the journal Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, researchers reported that neurofeedback “significantly” improved symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome.
And that’s exactly what our fibromyalgia clients have been telling us for years.
Why Would Neurofeedback Help a Pain Syndrome?
Pain receptors in the brains of people suffering from fibromyalgia appear to have developed an oversensitivity to pain signals.
Neurofeedback directly targets brain function. It creates new, healthier, brain patterns which short-circuit the malfunctioning pain receptors.
It’s often an effective way of quieting the alarm bells that go off in the brain of someone suffering from fibromyalgia.
Neurofeedback literally teaches your brain to function optimally.
What Can Neurofeedback Do For You?
- Reduce your pain
- Give you more energy
- Allow you to sleep better
- Improve your cognitive function
- Increase your sense of calmness and well-being
CLIENT CASE EXAMPLE: A 60-year-old female client had struggled with fibromyalgia for more than 15 years. Every year she took a long road trip from South Florida to North Carolina for a family function. When she arrived in North Carolina, she was always in more pain than when she left, and it took her at least a day to recover. By the time she returned to Florida, she found it took her several days to recover. The same pattern occurred every year.
After 6 neurofeedback sessions, she once again took the same trip. She said she was amazed that she did not experience the usual increase in pain during the trip, and she didn’t experience the standard several days to recover. When she came back, she had about 1 day of recovery – and she was fine. She reported her energy was better, and she was able to do more with less effort. Our center, as well as other colleagues around the country, have worked with many fibromyalgia cases. Typically, in a clinical setting, the main reports from clients are more energy, better sleep, and less pain.
What Do You Do Now?
Call us at 561-744-7616 to discuss your situation or to schedule an appointment. Or complete the Contact form and submit it to us at the Center for Brain Training.
