Vagus Nerve Stimulation(VNS) As Treatment For Fibromyalgia Patients

Summary

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome with clinical symptoms involving multiple systems. The efficacy of current treatments is inadequate, and more alternative modalities are needed for the management of FM patients. The parasympathetic vagus nerve innervates and integrates sensory, motor, and autonomic systems and has been suggested to play a role in pain modulation. The role of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as a treatment option for FM patients is yet to be investigated. The investigators propose to examine the hypothesis that vagus nerve stimulation could improve pain and related comorbid symptoms for FM patients.

Detailed Description

The main goal of this study is to generate preliminary data on the effect of VNS on FM symptoms. Specifically, the investigators will utilize a recently developed, non-invasive method of tVNS (transcutaneous VNS) via auricular branches of vagus nerve (ABVN). The investigators plan to conduct an 4-week clinical study with 60 subjects randomized into 2 groups(tVNS group and control group; 30 subjects in each group). The primary outcome measure will be pain intensity. The secondary outcome measures will be fatigue, sleep, and other health-related quality of life measure. These outcome measures will be made at baseline week 0 (before any intervention), and at the end of 4 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions