New Fibromyalgia Case Study Highlights HBOT as Non-Drug Treatment Option

For millions of people living with fibromyalgia, the chronic symptoms of this condition can be debilitating. Many patients find little relief from traditional fibromyalgia therapies. However, new research is offering promise. A recently published fibromyalgia clinical case study, published in Journal of Medical Case Reports, demonstrates the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a non-drug approach for treating fibromyalgia. The research team included Dr. Shai Efrati, chairman of the Aviv Scientific Medical Advisory Board, alongside scientists from the Brain & Performance Centre in Dubai, UAE.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition affecting approximately 4 million adults in the United States, primarily women. Fibromyalgia is typically characterized by widespread pain, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties, among other symptoms.

Because no therapy has demonstrated universal effectiveness in “curing” FMS, available treatments focus primarily on managing symptoms. The recent fibromyalgia case study provides a detailed look at how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can deliver measurable improvements for patients with persistent, treatment-resistant symptoms. More specifically, it examines how a medical program that includes hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat fibromyalgia cases related to childhood trauma.

At Aviv Clinics, we’ve seen firsthand how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help patients seeking non-drug fibromyalgia treatment options. This new fibromyalgia case study offers hope for those frustrated with standard care for FMS.

How Trauma May Influence Fibromyalgia Symptoms

While fibromyalgia’s symptoms are well-known, its causes and risk factors are less widely recognized. Research increasingly shows that childhood emotional trauma can be a significant risk factor for developing fibromyalgia in adulthood. Trauma “creates a sequence of neurobiological responses that can affect brain structures, [and] change neurological synapses.” These change the way our nervous system communicates, and ultimately may be the source of skewed pain signals and other symptoms.

In other words, emotional trauma can sensitize the nervous system, amplifying pain perception. Trauma-related stress can exacerbate fatigue, cognitive dysfunction (“brain fog”) and sleep disturbances.

Recognizing trauma-related risks is essential to tailoring effective, patient-specific treatments.

Research findings indicate that adults with a history of childhood trauma are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than those without a history of trauma or abuse. One large-scale study found that childhood abuse was associated with more than a two-fold risk of developing fibromyalgia as an adult. A separate study found that over 88% of fibromyalgia patients had experienced childhood trauma.

Understanding these connections allows clinicians to develop therapies that address both physical and emotional contributors to fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Clinical Case Study

The recently published fibromyalgia case study follows the journey of a 62-year-old female with FMS. Despite 13 years of various treatments, she continued to deal with debilitating fibromyalgia symptoms, including:

• Widespread chronic pain
• Extreme sensitivity
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Cognitive difficulties

These challenges severely limited her daily activities. Her personal history revealed childhood trauma and emotional suppression.

For the past five years, she had been taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) and pregabalin (Lyrica), a combination of prescriptions commonly used to treat fibromyalgia pain. However, pharmacological interventions had provided little relief.

Investigating Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Non-Drug Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Seeking a new approach, the patient began a specialized protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with five sessions per week for twelve weeks.  The protocol, which included oxygen fluctuations, was the same as the unique protocol offered at Aviv Clinics.

Prior to treatment, the patient was thoroughly assessed to establish a baseline. This evaluation included:

• Statistically validated fibromyalgia questionnaires
• Physical therapy evaluation
• Computerized neurocognitive evaluation
• Novel high-resolution brain imaging using both MRI-DTI and SPECT

Following the treatment, the patient repeated the initial assessments, and the results were compared to her baseline evaluations.

Results From the Fibromyalgia Clinical Case Study

The study concluded that HBOT contributed to meaningful improvements across multiple domains. Specifically, the case study identified the following measurable improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms:

• Reduced pain and fatigue (27% improvement)
• Improved gait, strength, and balance (up to 40%)
• Reduced dependence on medications (discontinued one medication entirely, reduced dosage of another by 50%)
• Fewer sleep disturbances
• Enhanced daily functioning
• Improved attention and faster cognitive processing, as well as gains in executive function and motor coordination (up to 26%)

These improvements correlated with the changes shown in the patient’s brain imaging:

• Increased blood flow in the brain, including areas associated with motor function, executive processing, memory and emotional regulation
• Noticeable improvement in brain connectivity

In this case study, as well as in more detailed fibromyalgia clinical trials, improvements in memory, focus, movement and overall brain health worked hand-in-hand with changes in brain structure and metabolism. Together, these results reinforce hyperbaric oxygen therapy’s role as a powerful alternative to symptom management for individuals living with fibromyalgia or trauma-related cognitive changes.

As shown in earlier randomized clinical studies on fibromyalgia patients, including those with childhood trauma-related fibromyalgia, HBOT has been proven to drive neuroplasticity that translates into meaningful gains in pain relief, physical function, and cognition. This new single-patient case report builds on that foundation by offering a detailed, real-world example with comprehensive objective measurements. These granular, patient-level insights, in addition to the broader evidence from randomized trials, demonstrate to physicians that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be an effective treatment tool for fibromyalgia. This study also reveals how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be practically applied in everyday clinical care, bridging the gap between controlled research and real-world practice.

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Fibromyalgia Non-Drug Treatments: How HBOT Provides Fibromyalgia Relief

HBOT is a non-invasive medical treatment in which patients breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, allowing oxygen to dissolve more efficiently into the blood and reach tissues affected by inflammation or impaired circulation. The study used the same type of HBOT suites employed by Aviv Clinics: Advanced multi-person chambers designed specifically to deliver a unique hyperbaric protocol.

As one of the most promising non-pharmaceutical fibromyalgia treatments, research indicates that this specific HBOT protocol supports:

• Improved oxygen delivery: Supporting tissue repair and reducing inflammation
• Production of growth factors and signaling proteins: Triggering physiological healing responses in oxygen-deprived tissues
• Angiogenesis: Inspiring the growth of new blood vessels
• Neuroplasticity: Stimulating recovery of neural networks
• Neurogenesis: Producing growth of new neurons
• Increased Mitochondrial function: Enhancing cellular energy production

By addressing both neurological and physiological dysfunctions, HBOT offers a holistic treatment that helps patients regain control over their quality of life.

Personalized Fibromyalgia Treatment at Aviv Clinics

Treatment at Aviv Clinics is highly individualized, based on a thorough physician evaluation and advanced assessments that may include cognitive testing, physical evaluations, and detailed symptom profiling. Once pre-treatment assessments are complete, Aviv’s clinical team prepares a personalized program for each client.

The Aviv Medical Program is not a one-size-fits-all approach to treating fibromyalgia or any other condition.  We customize a program for each client by using:

• Custom therapy protocols tailored to patient assessments
• Multidisciplinary team including physicians, therapists, and specialists
• Continuous monitoring and adaptive modifications for optimal results
• Integration of non-drug therapies alongside conventional care

Therapies used in the Aviv Medical Program may include a combination of:

• The same unique hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol used in the case study
• Cognitive training exercises
• Nutritional guidance
• Physical therapy
• Physical training
• Psychotherapy
• Other interventions as prescribed by Aviv’s physicians

This approach ensures that patients receive therapy precisely suited to their needs, maximizing potential improvements. Learn more about Aviv Clinics’ approach to fibromyalgia care.

Innovative Fibromyalgia Pain Relief Options Backed by Clinical Data

Fibromyalgia is a complex, widespread condition that affects between 2% and 8% of the world’s population. Current treatment options for fibromyalgia are primarily focused on symptom management rather than addressing the biological damage caused by FMS. For patients struggling with conventional treatments, the recently published fibromyalgia case study highlights the potential of HBOT in treating fibromyalgia syndrome.

Aviv Clinics is the most active non-military hyperbaric oxygen therapy provider in the United States. Our unique protocol and holistic medical program have helped many people with fibromyalgia restore their quality of life. If you’re looking for fibromyalgia pain relief options beyond medication, contact Aviv Clinics to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy as part of the Aviv Medical Program. You may also request a complimentary consultation with one of our board-certified physicians.