Magnetic Therapy and Fibromyalgia Pain; a pulsed electromagnetic (PEMF / rTMS) therapy review.

We recognized the effectiveness of our pulsed magnetic system on Fibromyalgia back in 2001. We documented results in this area of research predating all published research. Our novel nighttime regimen is particularly effective.

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has proven effective on pain for 3 decades particularly in Eastern European research. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) highly effective in a diverse range of therapeutic applications with no side-effects or adverse reactions. Got pain?...PEMF is probably the answer to your prayers.

If you've got fibromyalgia pain (or migraine headaches), PEMF is the answer to your prayers and we have rarely seen it fail. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for fibromyalgia has not been well researched in the peer-reviewed journals. You will only find a few published references beginning in April 2006. 

Frequency specificity in pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is currently being investigated in the West after Eastern European research found particular frequencies highly effective more than 3 decades ago.  

EarthPulse™ is modeled after Eastern Europe's most effective and well tested frequencies and wave-forms. It is highly adaptable system that is primarily designed for nighttime use. If it doesn't exceed your expectations (for any purpose), just return it for a full refund (less shipping charges).

The use of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is relatively new protocol for pain in the West, but over the last 3 decades has proven to be side-effect free and at least somewhat effective based upon the studies which rarely utilize the most effective protocols. Rarely do peer-reviewed PEMF studies prove less effective than placebo;...when they do, frequency, amplitude and wave-form shape are questionable.

See also our Migraine Bibliography, Pain bibliography.

EarthPulse™ US $499.00 


Several hundred pulsed electromagnetic field therapy citations contained in our research bibliographies are linked directly to PubMed a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

These studies are offered for your education only and are not intended as promotional material for EarthPulse™ Technologies, LLC.

See also; Sandyk R, Anninos PA , Jacobson JI; three pioneers of electromagnetic field therapy to treat Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and epilepsy.

PEMF Background:

introduction to electromedicine

brain wave entrainment

brain wave entrainment II


Research Bibliographies:

arthritis and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

athletic performance enhancement and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

Alzheimer's disease and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

back pain and EarthPulse v.2.3

bone / connective tissue regeneration and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

depression and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

EMF - electropollution research (your brain and your wireless technologies)

epilepsy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

fibromyalgia and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

insomnia and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

migraine headache and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

multiple sclerosis and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

nerve regeneration and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

neuropathy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

osteoporosis and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

pain and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

Parkinson's disease and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

stroke and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy research

tinnitus

transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS / TMS) research


EarthPulse research:

video evidence

client feedback forms

chronic lower back pain/sleep

news



Pain Res Manag. 2007 Winter;12(4):249-58.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial using a low-frequency magnetic field in the treatment of musculoskeletal chronic pain.
Thomas AW, Graham K, Prato FS, McKay J, Forster PM, Moulin DE, Chari S.

Brain. 2007 Oct;130(Pt 10):2661-70. Epub 2007 Sep 14. Links
Effects of unilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex on chronic widespread pain in fibromyalgia.
Passard A, Attal N, Benadhira R, Brasseur L, Saba G, Sichere P, Perrot S, Januel D, Bouhassira D.
INSERM U-792, Boulogne-Billancourt F-92100 France.
Non-invasive unilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex induces analgesic effects in focal chronic pain syndromes, probably by modifying central pain modulatory systems. Neuroimaging studies have shown bilateral activation of a large number of structures, including some of those involved in pain processing, suggesting that such stimulation may induce generalized analgesic effects. We also assessed the effects of rTMS on the pressure pain threshold at tender points ipsi- and contralateral to stimulation.  Active rTMS significantly reduced pain and improved several aspects of quality of life (including fatigue, morning tiredness, general activity, walking and sleep) for up to 2 weeks after treatment had ended. The analgesic effects were observed from the fifth stimulation onwards and were not related to changes in mood or anxiety. The effects of rTMS were more long-lasting for affective than for sensory pain, suggesting differential effects on brain structures involved in pain perception. Only few minor and transient side effects were reported during the stimulation period. Our data indicate that unilateral rTMS of the motor cortex induces a long-lasting decrease in chronic widespread pain and may therefore constitute an effective alternative analgesic treatment for fibromyalgia.

Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Dec;54(12):3988-98. Links
A randomized, sham-controlled, proof of principle study of transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of pain in fibromyalgia.
Fregni F, Gimenes R, Valle AC, Ferreira MJ, Rocha RR, Natalle L, Bravo R, Rigonatti SP, Freedman SD, Nitsche MA, Pascual-Leone A, Boggio PS.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
This is electric current  stimulation and not rTMS: This doesn't work nearly as well as rTMS or PEMF directly into the area.
OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence suggests that fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by dysfunctional brain activity. Because transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate brain activity noninvasively and can decrease pain in patients with refractory central pain, we hypothesized that tDCS treatment would result in pain relief in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were randomized to receive sham stimulation or real tDCS with the anode centered over the primary motor cortex (M1) or the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (2 mA for 20 minutes on 5 consecutive days). A blinded evaluator rated the patient's pain, using the visual analog scale for pain, the clinician's global impression, the patient's global assessment, and the number of tender points. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia were evaluated using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Safety was assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. To assess potential confounders, we measured mood and anxiety changes throughout the trial. RESULTS: Anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex induced significantly greater pain improvement compared with sham stimulation and stimulation of the DLPFC (P < 0.0001). Although this effect decreased after treatment ended, it was still significant after 3 weeks of followup (P = 0.004). A small positive impact on quality of life was observed among patients who received anodal M1 stimulation. This treatment was associated with a few mild adverse events, but the frequency of these events in the active-treatment groups was similar to that in the sham group. Cognitive changes were similar in all 3 treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide initial evidence of a beneficial effect of tDCS in fibromyalgia, thus encouraging further trials.

J Affect Disord. 2006 Oct;95(1-3):35-42. Epub 2006 Jun 15. Links
Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on [11C]raclopride binding and cognitive function in patients with depression.
Kuroda Y, Motohashi N, Ito H, Ito S, Takano A, Nishikawa T, Suhara T.
Section of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.

Pain. 2006 May;122(1-2):22-7. Epub 2006 Feb 21.
Comment in: * Pain. 2006 May;122(1-2):11-3.
Reduction of intractable deafferentation pain by navigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the primary motor cortex. Hirayama A, Saitoh Y, Kishima H, Shimokawa T, Oshino S, Hirata M, Kato A, Yoshimine T. Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. The precentral gyrus (M1) (TOP OF THE HEAD) is a representative target for electrical stimulation therapy of pain. To date, few researchers have investigated whether pain relief is possible by stimulation of cortical areas other than M1. According to recent reports, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can provide an effect similar to that of electrical stimulation. With this in mind, we therefore examined several cortical areas as stimulation targets using a navigation-guided rTMS and compared the effects of the different targets on pain. Twenty patients with intractable deafferentation pain received rTMS of M1, the postcentral gyrus (S1), premotor area (preM), and supplementary motor area (SMA). Each target was stimulated with ten trains of 10-s 5-Hz TMS pulses, with 50-s intervals in between trains. Intensities were adjusted to 90% of resting motor thresholds. Thus, a total of 500 stimuli were applied. Sham stimulations were undertaken at random. The effect of rTMS on pain was rated by patients using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Ten of the 20 patients (50%) indicated that stimulation of M1, but not other areas, provided significant and beneficial pain relief (p<0.01). Results indicated a statistically significant effect lasting for 3 hours after the stimulation of M1 (p<0.05). Stimulation of other targets was not effective. The M1 was the sole target for treating intractable pain with rTMS, in spite of the fact that M1, S1, preM, and SMA are located adjacently.

Pain Res Manag. 2006 Summer;11(2):85-90.
Exposure to a specific pulsed low-frequency magnetic field: a double-blind placebo-controlled study of effects on pain ratings in rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients
.
Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, Ontario N6A 4V2. BACKGROUND: Specific pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been shown to induce analgesia (antinociception) in rodents and healthy human volunteers. OBJECTIVE: The effect of specific PEMF exposure on pain and anxiety ratings was investigated in two patient populations. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel design was used. METHOD: The present study investigated the effects of an acute 30 min magnetic field exposure. CONCLUSION: These findings provide some initial support for the use of PEMF exposure in reducing pain in chronic pain populations and warrants continued investigation into the use of PEMF exposure for short-term pain relief.

Pain.2006 Apr;121(3):276-80. Epub 2006 Feb 21.
Electroconvulsive therapy improves severe pain associated with fibromyalgia. Usui C, Doi N, Nishioka M, Komatsu H, Yamamoto R, Ohkubo T, Ishizuka T, Shibata N, Hatta K, Miyazaki H, Nishioka K, Arai H. Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains unknown. Several reports have recently suggested the novel concept that fibromyalgia is due to the central nervous system becoming hyper-responsive to a peripheral stimulus. The effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as pain remedication in cases of fibromyalgia without major depressive disorder was studied in a prospective trial lasting three months. Our study clearly demonstrated that pain was significantly less severe after ECT, as indicated by the VAS scale for pain and the evaluation of TPs. A further notable observation was that thalamic blood flow was also improved. We conclude that a course of ECT produced notable improvements in both intractable severe pain associated with fibromyalgia and also in terms of thalamic blood flow.

Pain Med. 2006 Mar-Apr;7(2):115-8.
Slow-frequency rTMS reduces fibromyalgia pain.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, W11A, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia (FM) is a centrally mediated pain disorder. Antidepressants, including electroconvulsive therapy, provide some symptomatic relief in FM and other pain disorders. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new antidepressant treatment, which may also be useful in treating chronic pain. All had improvement in pain, and two had complete resolution of pain. Only one of the four subjects had an antidepressant response. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest a possible role for rTMS in treating FM.