FIBROMYALGIA TREATMENT NYC
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing muscle pain throughout the body and can significantly impair the quality of life of affected individuals. People with fibromyalgia have tender points, which are specific areas of pain located near the neck, shoulders, chest, hips, and knees. Other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include sleep problems, fatigue, cognitive difficulties ("fibro fog"), headaches, and stiffness (especially in the morning). Research has shown that the central nervous systems of people with fibromyalgia process pain differently, causing a lower pain threshold or increased pain sensitivity. Sleep problems are also linked with chronic pain; people with fibromyalgia often get less deep sleep.
Chronic, widespread pain can be debilitating for affected individuals, preventing them from engaging in school, maintaining stable employment, or upkeeping social relationships. Higher rates of depression and anxiety are understandably high in people with fibromyalgia. While pain-relieving medications are often taken to help manage symptoms, they can only provide temporary relief. Neurofeedback therapy has been found in multiple research studies to more permanently alleviate chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia by rewiring brain centers associated with pain identification and processing.
Neurofeedback Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, its symptoms can be managed and alleviated for a better quality of life. Fibromyalgia symptoms are thought to be caused in part by increased activity of the limbic system. Through neurofeedback, patients can learn to down-regulate their limbic system’s activity. Limbic down-modulation has been shown to reduce sleep disorders and improve emotion regulation. By treating sleep disturbances and emotional dysregulation through neurofeedback, many fibromyalgia symptoms such as fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression, can be significantly alleviated.
How does Neurofeedback work?
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1. Brain map
Brainwave assessment identifies imbalances and helps to create a personalized treatment plan.
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2. Treatment setup
Non-invasive sensors and headphones are placed on your head and the treatment session begins.
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3. Brain activation
Software translates your brainwave data and stops or starts audio/visual media based on your brain activity.
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4. Conditioning
In response to the audio/visual feedback, your brain adapts and learns to regulate your brainwaves and build new, healthy neural pathways.
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5. Brain Training
Over time with continuous brain training, healthy brain activity in target regions increases, and symptom-associated activity decreases.
Volitional limbic neuromodulation exerts a beneficial clinical effect on Fibromyalgia. Click Here
Neurofeedback intervention in fibromyalgia syndrome; a randomized, controlled, rater blind clinical trial. Click Here