Can Light Therapy Treat Fibromyalgia?
If you or a loved one is living with fibromyalgia, you understand the ongoing frustration of seeking a proper diagnosis and finding a treatment that works. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is not deeply understood, and most common treatments involve a lifelong relationship with prescription medications. However, prescription medications aren’t the only option. Learn why light therapy with Light Lounge Littleton should be considered part of a fibromyalgia treatment plan.
What is Fibromyalgia?
First, it’s essential to try and understand what fibromyalgia is. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that sends amplified pain signals in the body. This condition impacts the brain and nerves, generally causing symptoms including:
- Memory problems and trouble focusing
- Musculoskeletal pain throughout the body
- Extreme fatigue
- Stiffness
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression and anxiety
Unfortunately, there is no diagnostic test for fibromyalgia, meaning it is often difficult to get a correct diagnosis. In many cases, doctors may think a patient is experiencing depression or arthritis when fibromyalgia is the real culprit. Even with an accurate diagnosis, there is ongoing confusion and conflict concerning the causes and implications of fibromyalgia. This lack of thorough understanding in the medical field is part of why there is no cure for the disorder.
Furthermore, treatment for fibromyalgia often hinges on prescription medication instead of addressing the root causes of pain and distress. Depending on the specific symptoms a patient experiences and the severity of those symptoms, a doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain medications like Ibuprofen, or they may prescribe other medicines. This medicine may include antidepressants, pain suppressants, sleep aids, or other targeted medications.
Aside from medications, most doctors recommend exercise, stress management, and sleep management techniques to alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms. Unfortunately, these techniques are not one-size-fits-all solutions, and many patients continue to experience debilitating symptoms despite following doctors’ guidance.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to target the body’s cells, specifically the mitochondria. These wavelengths trigger energy production within the mitochondria through adenosine triphosphate or ATP. The ATP stores and transports cellular energy throughout the body, providing additional fuel for each cell to perform its assigned duties.
By triggering this process, red light therapy boosts the body’s ability to heal and defend itself. It has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation, improve blood flow, boost the immune system, and speed up muscle recovery.
Red Light Therapy and Fibromyalgia
For many people with fibromyalgia, the idea of taking medicine forever is daunting. Many medications come with concerning side effects, and even the ones that don’t may lose efficacy over time as the body grows used to them. At the same time, leaving fibromyalgia completely unaddressed means living with constant pain for some patients.
Red light therapy is a treatment option that has been shown to improve the exhaustion, pain, depression, and other symptoms of fibromyalgia without any adverse side effects 1 . By reducing oxidative stress, decreasing inflammation, and facilitating regeneration, red light therapy helps to heal the systems responsible for the pain of fibromyalgia. Instead of masking symptoms and ignoring the root cause, red light therapy works to alleviate inflammation and boost the body’s ability to heal.
Where to Find Red Light Therapy
While red light therapy does not come with risky side effects, there is still a risk of wasting time and money by choosing an unreliable provider for this therapy. At-home treatments are available, but in order to experience the best results, it’s crucial that the wavelengths are precise and the administration is correct.
Light Lounge utilizes FDA-approved methods and medical-grade tools to ensure optimal results from every visit. Relief from fibromyalgia symptoms is within reach. Book your first session free!