Vibration can help reduce some types of pain, including pain from fibromyalgia, by more than 40 percent, according to a new study published online in the European Journal of Pain.
When high-frequency vibrations from an instrument were applied to painful areas, pain signals may have been prevented from traveling to the central nervous system, explains Roland Staud, MD, professor of rheumatology and clinical immunology in the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.
Dr. Staud explains that if you think of a pain impulse having to travel through a gate to cause discomfort, the vibrations are closing that gate. “When the gate is open, you feel the pain from the stimulus. It goes to the spinal cord. When you apply vibration you close the gate partially.” You can still feel some pain, but less than you would have felt without the vibrations, he adds.
For this study, participants were split into three groups: 29 had fibromyalgia, 19 had chronic neck and back pain and 28 didn’t have any pain at all. Dr. Staud and his research team applied about five seconds of heat to introduce pain to each participant’s arms and followed that with five seconds of vibrations from an electric instrument that emits high-frequency vibrations that are absorbed by skin and deep tissue.
"A biothesiometer is an electric vibrator with a plastic foot plate that can be brought into contact with the patient’s skin,” Dr. Staud explains. “While the frequency is always set at 100 Hz, the intensity of the vibration can be adjusted.”
Following the use of heat and vibration, researchers led by Dr. Staud asked patients to rate the intensity of their pain on a 0-to-10 scale and found that the experimental pain, as opposed to their chronic pain, was reduced by more than 40 percent with the use of vibration. Dr. Staud says what’s particularly interesting is that the patients in the study with fibromyalgia appeared to have the same mechanisms in their body to block or inhibit pain through the use of vibration as those in the pain-free group.
“Fibromyalgia patients are often said to have insufficient pain mechanisms, which means they can’t regulate their pain as well as regular individuals. This study showed that in comparison to normal controls, they could control their pain as well,” Dr. Staud explains.
Researchers discovered that the vibration provided more pain relief when it was applied to the same arm where the pain stimulus was placed. What they don’t know is how long the pain relieving effects will last. Paul Howard, MD, a rheumatologist and director of Arthritis Health in Scottsdale, Ariz., says that’s an important question. “How long does it last for? Ten minutes or 10 hours?” he asks.
Developed FM ... secondary to MVA ... whiplash, seatbelt strap, rib, sternum, and shoulder injury. This occured within weeks of my having finally learned how to walk again.
Also have RLS, PLMD, EBV, CFS, Sjogrens ... more and more meds are not the answer. Serious drug interactions, side-effects, allergies, polypharmacy ... is the result. Public policy-makers need to be considering complementary/integrative/allopathic approaches ... rather than meds which only trigger the body to inhibit production of the chemicals it normally uses to manage itself.
Vibration and pain relief connection was pretty obvious concept during my first experience with physical therapy. Problem was ... I "maxed-out" the muscle stim machine at the clinic ... on all possible variable settings within a few weeks. The clinic then invested in the strongest muscle stim machine available on the market ... just to be able to try to manage my case. I "maxed-out" that one within a few weeks also. I also "max-out" every TENS unit I have ever tried within a matter of less than an hour. A life on unrelenting pain ...
I still maintain a daily habit of turning my neck side to side-first head right to left and then head toward left sholder then right.
This is repeated between 10 and 20 times.
It works.
The 5th year a doctor noticed that I had a disc issue and replaced it. Didn't help the above pain but did ease the load.
2008 a dr tried a medtronic neuro-stymulator. Now, while this does not make me "pain free", I can at least function. I do take meds for 'break through' pain and for my OA.
Anytime I think that head/back/shoulder hurts I just turn my unit off and wait.
Try the all of the alternatives before giving up & becoming addicted to pain medication. You'll feeel much better & more incontrol of your concerns.
I cannot even use the jets in my spa, much less any vibration units. I have tried most vibration units on the market and all they have done is increase the pain in my body.
While I'm not giving up, I realize vibration doesn't work for all of us. Find out for yourselves how the testing is done. A very small group, who are able to go through the study without meds are usually selected.
My mom had a tens unit placed outside her body for a brief while to see of she could tolerate the unit and to see if it helped. It did nothing for her at all. Did not help with the pain in her spine (curvatures) nor her arthritis.
Each of us must find what helps our bodies. What helps one, may not help another. That is probably the most aggravating thing about fibromyalgia! If you find something share it, but also understand, it may not help us.
For me, my pain meds, spa for warm water soaks and as much rest as I can take is what helps for me. I keep a positive attitude - otherwise I'd go crazy! I'm sure you all do as well.
I know someday they will find what causes this and find a cure.
hello
I have a vibration unit in my back .For the back pain i have 24/7 . And for the arthritis of the spin that i have . This vibration unit DON'T WORK AT ALL . It dose not help the what so ever . It was a big waste of time for the last 15 years of my life . I wish i never let the dr's talk me into trying it . Please try any thing else befor geting the vibration unit . And wasting your money on it . Thank you for your time and reading this .Good luck to every one who is in pain . i pray your pain go away for you .
Diane McKendry
I would love to try this treatment, would my neurologist have this machine? Thank you
Please tell me where I can get the vibration therapy, I have RA and osteo and I am always hurting some where every day.
Thanks.
MYRON
I am 88 years of age and very active trying to walk and still play golf.
My father is suffering from arthritis from last few years, and now its not torrable to my family and me, if you have any permanent treatment regarding this decease please tell me on my mail or anywhere in world. i will go for that please i need help on urgent basis ... they always suffer and cried due to pain have gone many medical centers and done many orthodox things but no solution,, please help us ..
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