Anyone who’s ever had to deal with fibromyalgia knows that it’s complex, confusing, and tough to treat – which is why there are now more than 200 clinical trials taking place in the U.S. and abroad to test innovative fibromyalgia treatments. Might your fibromyalgia symptoms improve if you participated in one of these clinical trials? Possibly.

What Fibromyalgia Clinical Trials Are Going On?
A check with ClinicalTrials.gov, an online, government-supported database of all federally and privately sponsored clinical trials going on in the U.S. and around the world, shows the vast range of fibromyalgia  research going on.

Some studies deal with fatigue and fibromyalgia, others with fibromyalgia pain, and still others with innovative treatments for curing fibromyalgia. Each involves a specific type of “intervention” – a change in behavior, a new medication, an alternative therapy such as acupuncture, or perhaps the use of a dietary supplement.

Finding Out About Clinical Trials for Fibromyalgia
Start by searching the ClinicalTrials.gov database of more than 80,000 clinical trials by entering “fibromyalgia” into the search box on the site’s home page. This will bring up a list of studies in various states of completion (or beginning). For the studies that are still open for registration, you’ll see an overview of the project, eligibility criteria, and contact information. If the status of the study is “Recruiting,” check the eligibility requirements and see if you fit the profile.

You’ll have the option of searching the research database by “location” as well, to narrow down your options to only those studies in your geographic region. And, for those studies marked “Completed,” you’ll be able to see detailed research results, which, at the very least, can be discussed with your doctor.

Are Clinical Trials Safe?
Any clinical trial involves a degree of risk – basically, you’re testing an unproven fibromyalgia treatment or approach for reducing fibromyalgia symptoms. But the clinical trials listed in this government-supported resource are from reputable organizations whose background and credentials are clearly stated (and can be verified), so you can assume the studies are not only as safe as possible, but will also be closely monitored.

Nevertheless, it’s wise to learn as much as you can about clinical trials before deciding whether or not to participate in one. To get a solid understanding of how clinical trials work, what to expect, and how to evaluate them, check out the user-friendly overview of clinical trials under “Understanding Clinical Trials” at the ClinicalTrials.gov site.

Why Consider Being a Fibromyalgia Clinical Trial Participant
There are basically two reasons to sign up for a fibromyalgia clinical trial: to help yourself, and to help others.

Fibromyalgia treatment is so complex, often frustrating, and almost always inconsistent in its results, that having an opportunity to participate in a new line of research means you may potentially discover an innovative treatment that actually works for your fibromyalgia symptoms.

But even if the only outcome of the survey you participate in is to determine that a promising line of research actually doesn’t work, that in itself helps move medical science forward toward the day when fibromyalgia pain and fatigue are a thing of the past.

And how wonderful would that be?