Analgetic effects of natural sulphur baths and cold chamber expositions in fibromyalgia

The analgesic effects of natural, thermoindifferent H-2,S full baths (20.4 mg H-2,S/I, 20 min) and cryochamber therapy (-67 degrees C, 1-3 min) were compared with a sham test without application in 17 patients with identified fibromyalgia syndromes (ACR criteria). Parameters measured were tenderness, heat pain and cryalgesia thresholds (pressure algometry, Peltier thermode) as well as actual pain intensity and general well-being (VAS). The pain thresholds were determined by comparing both forearms with one not being bathed or exposed to coldness. Following the natural sulphur bath, pain sensitivity was significantly or even very significantly increased in all qualities tested. Analogous effects were also observed after cryochamber therapy with a significantly slighter rise of the heat-pain threshold (p < 0.05). The analgesic effects of the sulphurated bath could be demonstrated on the not bathed extremity as well, whereas they did not occur on the isolated arm in the cryochamber. After both applications, actual pain intensity and general well-being were improved with high significance (- 12 to - 32 %). Altogether it can be stated that both natural sulphur baths and cryochamber expositions are analgesically effective in fibromyalgia, the sulphur baths apparently acting systematically, the cryochamber mainly topically.