What Researchers Did
Researchers treated a 62-year-old woman with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia and a childhood trauma history using 60 HBOT sessions (90 minutes at 2.0 ATA) over 12 weeks and measured changes in pain, cognition, and brain imaging.
What They Found
The patient's Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score dropped from 60.5 to 44, cognitive function improved by 10%, and attention increased by 26.9%. She was able to stop pregabalin (Lyrica) and cut her duloxetine dose in half. Walking speed increased from 3.2 to 4.5 km/h, and brain imaging showed improved blood flow and white matter integrity.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians with fibromyalgia who have not responded to standard medications, this case suggests HBOT may address the underlying brain dysfunction rather than just masking symptoms. Reduced medication use is a meaningful benefit given the side effects of drugs like pregabalin.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a single patient case report, which cannot prove that HBOT causes improvement or that results will generalize to other fibromyalgia patients.