Fibromyalgia

Chronic central sensitisation syndrome characterised by widespread pain, tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive symptoms. A 2015 prospective controlled trial reported significant improvements in pain, tender points, quality of life, and brain activity patterns after 40 HBOT sessions at 2.0 ATA. Two independent 2023 meta-analyses pooled randomised data and confirmed improvements in function, tender points, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life — though the magnitude of pain reduction varied between pooled analyses. A separate 2023 RCT in fibromyalgia patients with a history of traumatic brain injury reported significant pain and symptom improvements with HBOT compared to pharmacological treatment (60 sessions, 2.0 ATA). The seminal RCT remains anchored to a single research group, but meta-analytic confirmation provides supporting evidence.