Quick answer: Chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia cause widespread aches, fatigue, and poor sleep, and there is currently no cure. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Research suggests red light therapy (photobiomodulation) can help relieve musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain and improve quality of life. One study found whole-body PBM reduced pain in people with fibromyalgia over four weeks. A NovoTHOR session at Avantir Wellness takes about 20 minutes.
Key takeaways
When singer Lady Gaga postponed part of a world tour in 2017, she later revealed she was living with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain throughout the body. Her openness put a spotlight on a condition that millions quietly endure. So what exactly is it, and what can help?
Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic condition marked by aches and stiffness in the muscles, joints, skin, and soft tissues, along with fatigue and problems with sleep, memory, and mood. Experts do not fully understand its cause, but people with it have a heightened sensitivity to pain, so even a light touch can feel painful. It is more common in women, and most often develops between ages 20 and 50. Symptoms are often linked to stress, genetics, trauma, and sleep problems, and it tends to run in families.
| Type | Symptoms |
| Main symptoms | Widespread aching, burning, or throbbing pain; fatigue; trouble sleeping |
| Secondary symptoms | Depression, anxiety, brain fog, tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome |
Chronic pain is more common than many realise. In a study published in the Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore, about 8.7% of Singapore adults reported chronic pain lasting at least three months, with higher rates in women. For conditions like fibromyalgia, finding ways to manage that pain matters.
Fibromyalgia is hard to diagnose. It cannot be confirmed by a physical examination, blood test, or X-ray, and its symptoms vary between people and often mimic other conditions. Doctors mainly use blood tests to rule out other causes, so it can take months or years to confirm. Because people with fibromyalgia often look well and most tests appear normal, their pain is sometimes wrongly doubted, which adds to the frustration of living with it.
There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, and treatment usually combines exercise or movement therapy, psychological and behavioural therapy, stress management, and medication. Alongside these, research offers some hope: studies suggest that red light therapy (photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy) can help relieve musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain and improve quality of life. Recent research reported via the British Pain Society found that NovoTHOR whole-body PBM reduced pain and improved quality of life in people with fibromyalgia over four weeks.
Avantir Wellness is the only studio in Asia that houses the NovoTHOR Whole-Body Light Pod. This whole-body red light therapy bed uses red and near-infrared light to target the whole body at once, to ease pain, relax muscles and joints, and support circulation. You simply lie inside the pod for about 20 minutes. Red light therapy has been studied in over 500 human trials and 4,000 lab studies.
To learn more, visit our centre at 451 Joo Chiat Rd, #02-13/14 Katong Point, Singapore 427664. Email team@avantirwellness.com or WhatsApp (+65) 8852 0279 to book a NovoTHOR Whole-Body Light Pod session.
Red light therapy is used by some people to support the body's natural processes in areas of ongoing discomfort. Red and near-infrared wavelengths are absorbed by the cells, where they may support healthy energy and circulation. It is best understood as one part of a wider plan rather than a standalone answer, and because chronic discomfort is complex, it is important to stay under the care of your doctor.
The light may support cellular energy and healthy circulation in the affected tissue, which is associated with the body's natural recovery response. For people managing long-term discomfort, many find value in approaches that are gentle and non-invasive and can sit alongside their existing care. Individual responses vary widely, so realistic expectations and professional guidance are important from the start.
No. Red light therapy is a wellness approach that may support your body's natural processes, not a replacement for medical assessment or treatment. Anyone managing chronic discomfort should remain under the care of their doctor, who can diagnose the underlying cause and guide an overall plan. Red light therapy is best used as a complementary part of that wider approach.
This varies a great deal from person to person, and there is no guaranteed timeline. Because the therapy works gradually with your body's own processes, many people approach it as a consistent routine over weeks rather than a quick fix. An Avantir coach can help set realistic expectations, and it is worth reviewing your progress with your doctor as part of your wider care.
Red light therapy is non-invasive and does not use UV light, and the NovoTHOR pod is a professionally operated, low-risk device. For ongoing use alongside a chronic condition, it is sensible to share your full health history with your coach and to check with your doctor first. The therapy is designed to support your wellbeing, not to replace the care you already receive.
