We have heard everything from the role of intestinal bacteria in inflammation to its impact on the development of certain diseases and, more recently, a possible new link with chronic pain such as fibromyalgia.
Gut bacteria linked to fibromyalgia in study
A new study published in the journal Pain discovered that the fibromyalgia patientsa condition often characterized by chronic pain, had similar gut microbiome compositions (abundance or absence of 19 species of bacteria) compared to those without the disease.
Fibromyalgia is a disease that currently has no cure and includes symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, and cognitive decline. The researchers found that these symptoms, in particular, were most closely related to patterned changes they saw in the microbiome of fibromyalgia patients.
Number of intestinal bacteria present or absent in the intestine is related to chronic pain
In the sample size, which included patients with and without fibromyalgia, they found a correlation between the level of intensity of the symptoms of the disease and the number of bacteria present or absent in the intestine. The study noted that this connection had not previously been recorded.
More research is needed to see if these changes in gut bacteria are merely features of the disease or could be contributing to its development.
This diagnosis could bring better treatments and results in chronic pain
At the moment, it is difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia since the symptoms are typical of many other conditions. The possibility that intestinal bacteria are a cause of the disease can mean earlier diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.
“As pain doctors, we are frustrated by our inability to help, and this frustration is a good motivator for research. This is the first evidence, at least in humans, that the microbiome could have an effect on diffuse painand we really need new ways of looking at chronic pain,” said Yoram Shir, lead author of the paper and director of the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit at the McGill University Health Centerit’s a statement.
The fibromyalgia is just one of many diseases that cause chronic pain. The CDC estimates that around 20% of adults in the US alone live with chronic pain and notes that it can contribute to a variety of other physical and mental health problems.
For professionals, diagnosing chronic pain can be challenging, as it is difficult to measure the amount of pain a patient feels.
This makes it essential to better understand ways to prevent, diagnose, and cure chronic pain. For now, the scientific community shows interest in continuing to investigate the connection between the gut microbiome and chronic pain and we hope that this is an indication of more future research.