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Treatment of drug-resistant fibromyalgia symptoms using high-intensity laser therapy: a case-based review

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Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal condition characterized by widespread pain in the body and is associated with tender points at the shoulder, back and hip regions. A wide variety of pharmacologic drugs and dietary supplements have been used with limited success in treating the musculoskeletal pain. Early clinical studies with low level laser therapy (LLLT) alone or in combination with drugs commonly used to treat fibromyalgia suggested that LLLT may be effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, as well as the number of tender locations. However, a sham-controlled study reported that LLLT was not significantly better than the sham treatment and kinesiotape. Preliminary studies with high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) suggest that it may be more effective than LLLT for treating chronic pain syndromes. Therefore, we evaluated low (1 W), intermediate (42 W) and high level (75 W) HILT in a woman with long-standing fibromyalgia syndrome which was resistant to both standard pharmacotherapy and treatment in an interdisciplinary pain management program. The patient received a series of treatments with a HILT device (Phoenix Thera-lase) at a wavelength of 1275 nm administered at both the paraspinous region and tender points in the shoulder and hip regions. Although the 1 W treatment produced minimal symptom relief, both the 42 and the 75 W treatments produced a dramatic reduction in her overall pain, improved quality of sleep, and increased her level of physical activity for 4–10 days after these treatment sessions. This case illustrates the potential beneficial effects of using higher power levels of HILT for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome who have failed to respond to conventional interdisciplinary treatment regimens.

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Funding

None. This research did not receive any Grant funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Dr. White’s academic work is supported in part by a stipend from Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the White Mountain Institute (a private not-for-profit foundation). The high-intensity laser device used for these treatments was provided by Phoenix Thera-lase Systems, LLC, Dallas, TX.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Paul F. White & Ofelia Loani Elvir-Lazo

  2. The White Mountain Institute, The Sea Ranch, Box 548, Gualala, CA, USA

    Paul F. White

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Jason Zafereo

  4. Phoenix Thera-lase Systems LLC, 5454 La Sierra Dr., Dallas, TX, USA

    Hector Hernandez

Authors
  1. Paul F. White
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  2. Jason Zafereo
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  3. Ofelia Loani Elvir-Lazo
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  4. Hector Hernandez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul F. White.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. White is a non-paid Consultant to Phoenix Thera-lase and Mr. Hernandez is a paid employee of Phoenix Thera-lase Systems, LLC. Dr. Zafereo has received a study Grant from Phoenix Thera-lase. Dr. Elvir-Lazo has nothing to disclose.

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White, P.F., Zafereo, J., Elvir-Lazo, O.L. et al. Treatment of drug-resistant fibromyalgia symptoms using high-intensity laser therapy: a case-based review. Rheumatol Int 38, 517–523 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3856-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3856-5

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