Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by pain in various parts of the body, often accompanied by persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating.
You may wake up with aching muscles, feel constant tension in your body, or find that daily activities require increasingly more energy. These symptoms can fluctuate significantly and are not always visible to others.
Scientific research shows that in fibromyalgia, the processing and regulation of pain within the nervous system may be altered.
These insights offer opportunities to influence not only the pain symptoms but also the underlying brain networks involved.
At BRAI3N, this neuroscientific approach forms the basis for investigating additional treatment options, including neuromodulation.
What is it?
Why do you experience so much pain with fibromyalgia?
In fibromyalgia, altered processing of pain signals in the brain and spinal cord plays a significant role. This is also known as nociplastic pain .
Normally, our nervous system has mechanisms that can amplify or suppress pain signals. In fibromyalgia, these processes can become dysregulated, causing pain signals to be experienced more intensely and making the body more sensitive to stimuli.
As a result, touch, light pressure, or normal movements can feel painful, even when no clear tissue damage is found to explain the severity of the symptoms.
The pain is real.
The problem does not necessarily lie in the muscles or joints themselves, but can also be related to the way the nervous system processes pain.
Research into brain activity shows that in people with fibromyalgia, changes can occur in brain networks involved in pain processing, attention, and the natural suppression of pain.
These changes can help explain why fibromyalgia is often accompanied by other symptoms:
- Fatigue: a profound exhaustion that does not always disappear with rest.
- Sleep problems: difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking, or waking up feeling unrefreshed.
- Cognitive issues: forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog.
- Increased sensitivity: stronger reactions to touch, sound, light, or temperature.
- Other physical symptoms: headaches, bowel issues, and fluctuating physical discomfort.
Not everyone experiences the same combination of symptoms. The underlying mechanisms are complex and not yet fully understood.
How to treat
Neuromodulation: a targeted approach to pain regulation
In fibromyalgia, pain processing in the nervous system is a key target for treatment.
Neuromodulation is a treatment approach where we use targeted electrical or magnetic stimulation to influence the activity of nerves and brain networks.
At BRAI3N, we focus on, among other things, networks involved in pain processing and the natural suppression of pain.
One of the techniques being researched is C2 stimulation. This involves delivering a weak electrical current via electrodes placed at the back of the head. This area is connected via nerve pathways to brain regions involved in pain regulation.
Researchers involved with BRAI3N have published several scientific studies on this form of stimulation. These studies identified changes in brain activity and observed a reduction in pain in a portion of the patients studied.
Electrical stimulation of specific brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, is also being studied for its potential influence on pain, fatigue, and emotional processing.
Larger international studies also support the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation for fibromyalgia. However, results vary by technique and patient, and long-term efficacy is still being investigated.
Which treatment is right for your symptoms?
At BRAI3N, we start with your personal situation. Not everyone with fibromyalgia has the same symptoms, and not every treatment is suitable for everyone.
1. Assessment
We examine your pain, fatigue, sleep, daily functioning, and previous treatments. Where indicated, a qEEG measurement and analysis can provide additional information about your electrical brain activity.
2. Targeted treatment
Based on the clinical assessment, we will determine whether neuromodulation could be an appropriate complementary treatment. We will discuss which stimulation technique might be suitable, what results can reasonably be expected, and which other treatments remain important.
3. Stabilization
Throughout the process, we will monitor how your symptoms evolve. We focus on pain intensity, fatigue, and the impact of the treatment on your daily activities. If necessary, we will adjust the treatment plan.
4. Maintenance
When improvement occurs, we will look at how to maintain it as effectively as possible. Adapted exercise, guidance, and further follow-up can play an important role in this.
Contact us for a no-obligation consultation or to schedule an appointment
Scientific Background
The neuroscientific approach at BRAI3N is partly based on years of research into fibromyalgia, pain processing, and neuromodulation.
Researchers affiliated with BRAI3N have contributed to various international scientific publications regarding the brain networks involved and the effects of electrical stimulation on pain and fatigue.
Below you will find a selection of these studies, supplemented by an independent systematic review on neuromodulation for fibromyalgia.
Published articles:
Plazier M, Tchen S, Ost J, Joos K, De Ridder D, Vanneste S. Is Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation an Effective Predictor for Invasive Occipital Nerve Stimulation Treatment Success in Fibromyalgia Patients? Neuromodulation. 2015;18(7):623–629.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ner.12340
Plazier M, Ost J, Snijders E, Gilbers M, Vancamp T, De Ridder D, Vanneste S. Laser-Evoked Potentials in Fibromyalgia: The Influence of Greater Occipital Nerve Stimulation on Cerebral Pain Processing. Neuromodulation. 2015;18(5):376–383.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ner.12310
De Ridder D, Vanneste S. Occipital Nerve Field Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Normalizes Imbalance Between Pain Detecting and Pain Inhibitory Pathways in Fibromyalgia. Neurotherapeutics. 2017;14(2):484–501.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-016-0493-8
Plazier M, Ost J, Stassijns G, De Ridder D, Vanneste S. Pain Characteristics in Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Multiple Dimensions of Pain. Clinical Rheumatology. 2015;34(4):775–783.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-014-2736-6
Vanneste S, Ost J, Van Havenbergh T, De Ridder D. Resting State Electrical Brain Activity and Connectivity in Fibromyalgia. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(6).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178516
Ahmed S, Plazier M, Ost J, Stassijns G, Deleye S, Ceyssens S, Dupont P, Stroobants S, Staelens S, De Ridder D, Vanneste S. The Effect of Occipital Nerve Field Stimulation on the Descending Pain Pathway in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Water PET and EEG Imaging Study. BMC Neurology. 2018;18:191.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-018-1190-5
Moshfeghinia R, Shekouh D, Mostafavi S, Hosseinzadeh M, Bahadori AR, Abdollahifard S, Razmkon A. The Effects of Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Pain Intensity of Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BMC Neurology. 2023;23:395.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-023-03445-7
Yoo HB, Ost J, Joos W, Van Havenbergh T, De Ridder D, Vanneste S. Adding Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Before Occipital Nerve Stimulation in Fibromyalgia. The Clinical Journal of Pain. 2018;34(5):421–427. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000552
To WT, James E, Ost J, Hart J Jr, De Ridder D, Vanneste S. Differential Effects of Bifrontal and Occipital Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Fatigue Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Fibromyalgia Patients. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2017;124(7):799–808.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1714-y
Authored by Prof. Dr. Sven Vanneste, Prof. Dr. Dirk De Ridder and Jan Ost - 09/10/2026
Other conditions that we treat
Auditory and vestibular disorders
These disorders are related to hearing and balance and can have a major impact on your daily life.
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Neurological and cognitive disorders
These disorders affect brain function, which can lead to problems with attention, memory, and motor skills.
Mental and emotional disorders
Mental illness can be deeply rooted in neurobiological dysfunctions.
Chronic Pain and Fatigue Syndromes
Chronic pain and fatigue are often difficult to treat with conventional methods, especially when there is no obvious physical cause.
Fatigue syndromes and sleep disorders
Sleep and energy management are essential for brain function. Problems in these areas can lead to severe tiredness and difficulty concentrating.
Headache and facial pain disorders
Headaches and facial pain can result from complex neurological processes.
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