Welcome to the Castle!

It’s time for the April Fibromyalgia Research Roundup!

Because I refuse to accept the idea that there is no cure for Fibromyalgia, I make it a point to look through the most recently released research information at least once a month.

Below is a summary of the articles I found of interest this month.

Alterations in the Microbiome Associated with Severity of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

A team of researchers from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), McGill University, Université de Montréal and the Institute for Pain Medicine at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Israel discovered alterations in the gut microbiome have a strong correlation with the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms in a study conducted in 2019.

The changes in the microbiome manifested in significant serum concentration of secondary bile acids. The difference is significant enough to predict with a 90% accuracy individuals with fibromyalgia.

Although the study group was small, with 42 women with fibro and 42 healthy controls, the findings show great promise as a diagnostic tool.

Read more about the study at:

“Another secret of fibromyalgia discovered in the microbiome” – published by McGill University Health Centre.

“Israeli finding may make hard-to-diagnose fibromyalgia easy to confirm”, published by The Times of Israel

Wearing Special Green Eyeglasses May Reduce Opioid Use

In a recent presentation given at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2022 annual meeting, Dr. Padma Gulur, M.D., lead author of the study and executive vice chair of Duke Anesthesiology and Duke Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, revealed that certain wavelengths of green light stimulate pathways in the brain that help manage pain.

This leads to a reduction in pain-related anxiety as well.

Read the article “Green eyeglasses reduce pain-related anxiety in fibromyalgia patients, study shows”, published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

FDA Approved a Drug-Free Alternative to Manage Fibromyalgia Pain

With hopes of bringing the Quell device to market in late 2023, Massachusetts company NeuroMetrix received FDA approval for treatment of fibromyalgia. The device has been available since 2014, but was cleared for fibro only last year. In clinical studies, about 60% of participants saw an improvement in their quality of life.

With prices starting in the $300 range, this rechargeable device will be within reach of most consumers. There will be an ongoing cost to use the device, because electrodes must be replaced every two weeks. A strip of 4 will cost around $80.

Get the details at “FDA clears NeuroMetrix’s wearable neuromodulator as first non-drug fibromyalgia treatment”, published by Fierce Biotech

That’s a Wrap for This Month’s Research Roundup

Please be sure to share if you find something intriguing in Fibromyalgia research. Together we can help each other uncover our best selves.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to sign up for our email list so you never miss a post!

Until we meet again, here’s a virtual hug for you!