--- title: 'Fibromyalgia: How to treat it without medication' url: 'https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/fibromyalgia-how-to-treat-it-without-medication/' description: 'Barbara has been suffering from fibromyalgia for over 20 years. In 2021, she found a solution that does not involve medication. Here is her story.' image: 'https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/f/csm_patientin-fibromyalgie-steht-bei-zug-mit-lokfuehrer-gasteiner-heilstollen_43847d51fe.webp' date: '2025-10-01' modified: '2025-10-01' lastUpdated: '2025-11-21' type: website site: 'Gasteiner Heilstollen' --- # Fibromyalgia: How to treat it without medication How treatment without medication can be successful ================================================== fibromyalgia ------------ Barbara battled fibromyalgia for over 20 years. Her life was dominated by endless doctor's appointments, countless therapies, and strong medications with severe side effects – all to no avail. It was only in the Gastein Healing Gallery that she found relief: radon heat therapy gives her up to 10 months of pain-free living and a new zest for life. Barbara (68) has been suffering from fibromyalgia for over 20 years. She has been through an odyssey of doctor's visits, countless different treatments, and numerous medication cocktails. Nothing has helped. In 2021, the active Wolfsburg resident found a solution for herself: through regular visits to the Gastein Healing Gallery, she has found a treatment without medication that relieves her of the pain of her fibromyalgia for 10 months of the year. We talked to her about her experiences. --- You have been suffering from fibromyalgia since you were 45. How exactly did this painful condition manifest itself in your case? ![Portrait of fibromyalgia patient Judge Barbara in the healing gallery](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/5/4/csm_richter-barbara-fibromyalgie-im-heilstollen_5c5693bfb7.webp "[Translate to Englisch:] Bad Gastein Heilstollen, 26.04.23 Patientin Barbara Richter Foto") "In 2000, I experienced the first severe pain. At that time, I was driving problem children to school in a van and noticed that I could hardly sit or get out of the car because everything hurt so much. I also suffered from start-up pain. It always took two or three minutes after getting up before I could walk at all because everything felt so stiff. Even when lying down, my legs and feet hurt so much that I could hardly sleep. These conditions escalated over the next 11 years and spread to all kinds of parts of my body. But the main problem during this time was that I didn't know where the pain was coming from." No doctor had any ideas? "No—and I've been through a real marathon of doctor visits. Sometimes the doctors didn't take me seriously, even though I couldn't move because of the pain." Were you able to cope with everyday life at all? For a long time, I refused to admit that I couldn't do it. For example, I worked all the time. As a saleswoman, I also had to mop the store and put things away in the evenings. I fought my way through it, even though I couldn't even kneel or bend over anymore. Sometimes I cried at night because I couldn't do it anymore. Even at home, there wasn't much I could do. I'm actually a very active person. For example, I loved spending time with one of my seven grandchildren or taking the dog for a long walk. But without painkillers, I couldn't do anything at all. Even on vacation, I could only see things if I took strong medication and put up with the side effects." This condition had been with her for over 11 years when she finally learned that it was fibromyalgia that had been causing her so much pain. "It lasted much longer than that, but after 11 years I finally had a name for the disease. Before that, I was a regular visitor to various family doctors and rheumatologists—there must have been as many as 25! And each one had a different idea. One thought the pain was coming from my teeth, so I ended up having almost all of them pulled. In the end, I had two dentures, spent a lot of money, and still had pain. Another sent me to a private clinic, where the cartilage in my left knee was completely removed. After that, I was in a wheelchair for six weeks and couldn't do anything with my knee. I finally got a knee prosthesis, but despite rehabilitation, I still had pain—and I've had a limp ever since. After many years, however, I finally got lucky: through a series of twists and turns, I ended up at a rheumatologist in Hanover, where I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia." You've already hinted at it, but your ordeal wasn't over yet. What happened next? Did treatments or medication help? ![Patient with fibromyalgia during her initial consultation with a doctor in the healing gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/5/3/csm_patientin-fibromyalgie-beim-erstgespr%C3%A4ch-mit-arzt-gasteiner-heilstollen_e862bbc48a.webp) The medications only helped to a limited extent. I was then prescribed various pain therapies. At a pain clinic, I was given a cocktail of medications containing morphine, which caused me to experience incredibly severe side effects. The medications were so strong that I had such severe heart palpitations that I thought I was having a heart attack. Then I went to another clinic, got another cocktail of pills, and again experienced side effects. That's when I pulled the emergency brake, stopped all treatments, and vowed never to take medication again. The icing on the cake was when I got my blood test results from my family doctor and he told me I needed to drink less alcohol. I might have a glass of wine once in a while. That was the effect of the medication." But without medication, you must have been in a lot of pain! "Yes, that's true. But I was determined to get through it without medication and only took painkillers in absolute emergencies. At some point, I realized that the pain got worse when I was under a lot of stress. But I told myself to make the best of it!" And you have. "I have learned to find a new everyday routine. After a period when I was not doing well at all, when I was struggling with respiratory infections and the therapies caused many complications such as allergic reactions, things finally started to improve. I have learned to some extent to accept the disease and take things as they come. At first, for example, I often asked myself where the future would lead, how I could continue to work as a nurse in the long term. Today, I just try to make the best of every day." How did you find your first drive? I went in with mixed feelings. I found the healing gallery very hot and, in places, very narrow. I kept hoping that I would be able to stick it out. I found the entrances very strenuous and they made me very tired. However, the doctors had already told me that the pain could increase during the first three or four entries and that this was a good sign because it meant that my body was responding to the therapy. So I was well prepared and confident that things would get better. After the second entry, I found my time in the tunnel to be very pleasant, soothing, and relaxing." Has the fibromyalgia pain gotten better? "In fact, everything got better in the second week. I had much less pain. While I still had pain at 8 to 9 on a scale of 1 to 10 in the first week, it was only 6 in the second week and even 4 in the third. When I got back home about two weeks later, I had no pain at all! Suddenly I could go on long walks with the dog again. I was so happy that I called my children every day and told them how long I had been out. And all without medication and without pain!" ![Patient with fibromyalgia throws away medication and is delighted during initial consultation with doctor in the healing gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/7/0/csm_patientin-fibromyalgie-beim-erstgespr%C3%A4ch-wirft-medikamente-weg-gasteiner-heilstollen_ee56f7b279.webp) How long does the pain relief last after treatment? "The effect lasts for about 9 to 10 months. That's why I now visit the healing gallery once a year. For me, September is the perfect month because my fibromyalgia pain is particularly severe in winter and this helps me get through this difficult time of year." ![Patient with rheumatic disease and ankylosing spondylitis during therapy in the healing gallery on a lounger.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/6/1/csm_patientin-fibromyalgie-wahrend-therapie-im-gasteiner-heilstollen_7a28c9314d.webp) Does your health insurance still cover the costs of treatment? "Unfortunately not. I tried very hard, but the AOK health insurance company in Lower Saxony only pays for the treatment every three years. It's different in other federal states, which is very frustrating. So now I get the treatment paid for by my health insurance every three years and then go to Bad Gastein for three weeks. In the two years in between, I pay for 10 to 14 days out of my own pocket. Of course, that costs a bit, but I can now work part-time again and earn the money for the healing gallery. After 21 years, it's a huge improvement that my symptoms are gone for so many months of the year, and it's simply worth it to me! I am very grateful that the healing gallery exists. Not only because of the medical benefits. The therapists and doctors are so competent and friendly, which is truly priceless! Fibromyalgia is a condition that can sometimes be difficult to explain to others. How does your family cope with it? "Very good. My family is very understanding. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter also suffers from fibromyalgia. We support each other. She would also love to go into the healing gallery, but unfortunately she suffers from claustrophobia, so that's not possible." Is there anything you would like to share with other fibromyalgia patients? "I can only urge everyone to try the healing gallery! There's nothing better! It's also very important not to give up. Unfortunately, I've met many people who have already lost heart. So I can only say: don't give up, give it a try!" ![A patient with fibromyalgia looks out of the train compartment with other patients in the Gastein Healing Gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/a/d/csm_patientin-fibromyalgie-andere-patienten-schaut-aus-zug-heilstollen_1254613672.webp) Thank you very much for talking to us. --- More posts ---------- [![The paramedic checks on the patient's well-being in the healing gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/e/1/csm_med-kontrolle-im-heilstollen-02_7d8c18f4c9.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-for-katy-the-healing-gallery-has-three-benefits/) [Experience report: For Katy, the healing gallery has three benefits](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-for-katy-the-healing-gallery-has-three-benefits/) [![Gastein Healing Gallery Patient Sandra, who suffers from fibromyalgia, goes for a walk on the beach.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/f/3/csm_patientin-sandra-fibromyalgie-gasteiner-heilstollen-01_373d4d1773.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-living-with-fibromyalgia/) [Experience report: Living with fibromyalgia](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-living-with-fibromyalgia/) [![A patient with fibromyalgia from the Gastein Healing Gallery stands on the promenade with hiking poles.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/8/csm_patientin-fibromyalgie-auf-promenade-gasteiner-heilstollen_6a6184ecaa.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/patient-reports-on-her-fibromyalgia-pain/) [Patient reports on her fibromyalgia pain](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/patient-reports-on-her-fibromyalgia-pain/) [![A patient with fibromyalgia stands in the bathrobe station in the Gastein Healing Gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/0/4/csm_patientin-fibromylagie-steht-bademantelstation-heilstollen-02_4fd371e139.webp "Gastein Healing Gallery")](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experiences-of-a-fibromyalgia-patient/) [Experiences of a fibromyalgia patient](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experiences-of-a-fibromyalgia-patient/) [![Eva Theile eine Patientin mit Fibromyalgie im Gasteiner Heilstollen. ](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/5/c/csm_patientin-heilstollen-theile-eva-fibromyalgie_8c0dc2cb86.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-eva-theile-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia-osteoarthritis-and-hashimotos-thyroiditis/) [Experience report by Eva Theile, diagnosed with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-eva-theile-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia-osteoarthritis-and-hashimotos-thyroiditis/) [![Portrait of fibromyalgia patient Dieter Breitenstein in the healing gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/d/6/csm_dieter-breitenstein-fibromyalgie-gasteiner-heilstollen_e825c3a92d.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-dieter-breitenstein-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [Experience report by Dieter Breitenstein, diagnosed with fibromyalgia](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-dieter-breitenstein-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [![Portrait Konstorz Sylvia mit Fibromyalgie im Gasteiner Heilstollen.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/1/4/csm_portrait-kostorz-sylvia-im-heilstollen_a6904480b5.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-sylvia-kostorz-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [Experience report by Sylvia Kostorz, diagnosed with fibromyalgia](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-sylvia-kostorz-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [![Portrait of fibromyalgia patient Karin Gussmack in the healing gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/3/6/csm_karin-gussmack-fibromyalgie-gasteiner-heilstollen_2243a628a4.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-karin-gussmack-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [Experience report by Karin Gussmack, diagnosed with fibromyalgia](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-by-karin-gussmack-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [![Portrait of fibromyalgia patient Reinhard Wild in the healing gallery.](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/a/6/csm_reinhard-wild-fibromyalgie-gasteiner-heilstollen_bf60fbb271.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-reinhard-wild-diagnosis-fibromyalgia/) [Experience report Reinhard Wild, diagnosis fibromyalgia](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-reinhard-wild-diagnosis-fibromyalgia/) [![Portrait of fibromyalgia patient Edith Wimmer in the healing gallery](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/5/csm_edith-wimmer-fibromyalgie-gasteiner-heilstollen_dc92e38902.webp)](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-edith-wimmer-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/) [Experience report Edith Wimmer, diagnosed with fibromyalgia](https://www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com/en/magazin/experience-report-edith-wimmer-diagnosed-with-fibromyalgia/)