Effect of Ozone Therapy on Pain and Functional Status in Fibromyalgia Patients.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disease that is frequently detected in young women, includes symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction unrelated to pain, and negatively affects the patient's quality of daily life. Ozone therapy increases tissue oxygenation, activates antioxidant mechanisms, and may be used in patients with fibromyalgia. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of ozone therapy on pain and functional status in fibromyalgia patients.

Methods: It was a longitudinal cross-sectional study. The study was performed by Baskent University Alanya Hospital. Patients, aged between 20 and 65 years, diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria and had ozone therapy were included to the study. It was hypothesized that the ozonetherapy increases tissue oxygenization, decreases pain level and supplies better quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Demographic and three-month follow-up data of fibromyalgia patients who had received 10 sessions of ozone autohemotherapy were obtained from the hospital database. The patients received 10 sessions of ozone autohemotherapy at a concentration of 25 µg/ml (100 ml of blood and 100 ml of ozone gas) 2-3 times per week. The values of the Visual Analog Score and Fibromyalgia Impairment Questionnaire scores in the three-month follow-up were statistically compared, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: 20 female patients were analyzed. The mean age of patients was 54. 8 ± 15. 5 years. Patients' median (min-max) baseline score on Visual Analog Score was 9 (5-10), post-treatment score was 3 (0-8), 3 (1-8) in 1st month, and 4 (1-8) in 3rd month. The median (min-max) Fibromyalgia Impairment Questionnaire score of patients was 73.29 (29.2 - 87.2) at baseline, 31.67 (7.01 - 66.99) after treatment, 24. 6 (10. 7- 63. 3) at 1st month, and 24.67 (10.67- 66.99) 3rd month. A significant decrease in pain (P < .001) and functional improvement (P < .001) was observed in the patients after ozonetherapy.

Conclusion: After 10 sessions of ozonetherapy in fibromyalgia patients, the Visual Analog Score and Fibromyalgia Impairment Questionnaire scores decreased significantly and this well-being persisted for three months. Ozonetherapy may be considered for fibromyalgia treatment protocol as complementary therapy. For determining dosage and session standarts further studies are needed.