Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by variable pains throughout the body and persistent without explanationbut also by a overwhelming fatigue and sleep problems.
Added to this may be concentration, memory, vision and digestive problems. This pathology has serious consequences on daily life and is accompanied by emotional distress. It affects women overwhelminglyor 1.5 to 2% of the population according to Health Insurance.
It is a complex disease, still poorly understood. It has long been the subject of controversy because it was wrongly considered an imaginary disease. Today, recent studies show that it could result from a disruption of the central nervous system of pain perception and controloccurring on a particular terrain.
Several factors, including psychological ones, can be triggers. “The brain regulates pain poorly. It is a sort of regulatory disease,” says Dr. Patrick Giniès, head of the pain center at Montpellier University Hospital. “The diagnosis is made after a clinical examination and the elimination of other diseases,” he adds.
Adapted physical activity, music therapy, thermal cures
What treatments are available to relieve patients? First of all, non-drug strategies. First of all, physical activity adapted to their condition and abilities.
“Other treatments, such as spa treatments during which therapeutic education and music therapy are provided, can also help to better manage symptoms,” says the pain specialist. “Treatment is often based on a combination of several approaches.”
Against pain, there is a new treatment, a bracelet which has just obtained the status of medical device in Europe in the fibromyalgia indication. This bracelet, which looks like a smart watch, was developed by the French company Remedee Labs. The principle: we put it on the wrist. It diffuses very specific waves that will activate the nerve endings under the skin, and this will send a message to the brain which will release endorphins, natural painkillers.
Pain relief bracelet effective in 6 out of 10 patients
The bracelet was tested on 170 people in 8 French hospitals. The patients wore it 3 times a day, for around 30 minutes, and received support via an application.
After 3 months of use, almost 6 out of 10 patients felt an improvement in their quality of life“The first month, their sleep improved, the second month, they were less tired and the third month, they felt less pain, and experienced fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms,” explains Dr. Patrick Giniès, who led the clinical trial at the Montpellier University Hospital.
The company that developed the bracelet said it would work with French authorities to get a refund. For now, the pain bracelet is available for rentalvia the company website, average a subscription of 40 euros per month, not covered by health insurance. But if the bracelet does not work within two months, the company refunds the subscription.
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