Can Fasting Help Chronic Pain? What the Science, and My Clinic, Suggests

Dr. Jason Winkelmann
Jun 18
4 min read

What Is Fasting—and Why Are People Doing It?

You’ve probably heard the buzz: intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, 5:2 diets, autophagy, insulin reset… But is fasting really the secret weapon for better health—or just another trendy restriction?

If you live with chronic pain, the answer might surprise you. Fasting diets, when used correctly, can support inflammation reduction, metabolic healing, and even cellular repair. The root causes of many chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia, arthritis, or migraines.

But they’re not a quick fix. And they’re definitely not for everyone. Let’s break it down.

How Does Fasting Work in the Body?

Fasting isn’t about starving—it’s about strategic breaks from eating to give your body time to recover and repair. Here’s what happens when you fast:

Gut repair improves due to a break in constant digestion. This allows you to absorb more nutrients from your food to increase healing and decrease inflammation.
Blood sugar and insulin levels drop, reducing metabolic stress. Two extremely anti-inflammatory events.
Inflammation markers go down, especially IL-6 and CRP
Autophagy kicks in—a process where your body clears out damaged cells and toxins
Fat metabolism increases. You start to burn excess fat and calories which takes stress off of your healing body.

For chronic pain sufferers, these effects can translate to less systemic inflammation, improved mitochondrial function, and even better pain tolerance.

📖 A 2016 study in Cell Metabolism showed that intermittent fasting reduced inflammation and improved oxidative stress markers in patients with metabolic syndrome—a key component in chronic pain syndromes (source).

The Different Types of Fasting (and Which Ones Are Safest)

There’s no one-size-fits-all fasting plan, and that’s especially true if you’re managing chronic illness or fatigue. Here are the most common approaches:

⏱️ Intermittent Fasting (IF)

Most popular. You eat during a defined window—often 8 hours on, 16 hours off. Best for: General inflammation, metabolic support, early-stage fatigue.

🕑 Time-Restricted Eating

Similar to IF but more flexible. You eat during a 6–10 hour window each day. Best for: Beginners and those with hormone imbalance or sensitivity.

🔁 5:2 or Alternate-Day Fasting

Normal eating for 5 days, calorie reduction (to ~500–600 calories) for 2 days. Best for: Weight loss and insulin resistance—but can be stressful on those with chronic pain or fatigue.

🛑 Extended Fasts (24+ Hours)

Only under medical supervision. Not advised for chronic pain patients without professional guidance. Best for: Specific detox cases or advanced autoimmune protocols—if done very carefully.

Can Fasting Reduce Chronic Pain?

The short answer is yes—but it depends on how you do it.

Here’s what fasting might help with:

🔥 Reducing systemic inflammation, which underlies conditions like fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and migraines
⚡ Improving mitochondrial efficiency, supporting energy in fatigue-heavy conditions like ME/CFS
🧠 Reducing central sensitization—the brain’s over-response to pain
🌿 Promoting gut healing, a major root cause of pain in IBS, leaky gut, and autoimmunity

But here’s the caution:

Fasting is still a stressor on the body. And if your adrenals are already depleted or your nervous system is dysregulated (hello trauma, burnout, or sleep deprivation), fasting can make things worse.

That’s why at True Health Centers, we always start with your individual physiology. We run advanced labs, assess mitochondrial health, and never recommend a fasting protocol unless it’s a good match for your pain type and energy systems.

“I Tried Fasting and It Made Me Feel Worse”—Why That Happens

We hear this often from chronic pain patients: “I tried intermittent fasting, and I crashed. My pain got worse, and I felt anxious or lightheaded.”

That makes sense—and it’s not your fault. Here’s what might have gone wrong:

You were already under stress (and fasting raised cortisol further)
You skipped meals but didn’t change the quality of food during eating windows
You didn’t hydrate properly or replenish minerals
You pushed too fast, starting with 16:8 instead of a gentler 12:12 rhythm
You didn’t support your liver, mitochondria, or gut in the process

That’s why fasting, like any tool, has to be part of a bigger plan—not just another diet trend.

How We Use Fasting at True Health Centers

In our Chronic Pain Program, we sometimes incorporate gentle forms of fasting as part of a broader metabolic and anti-inflammatory protocol. But we always:

Test first: Stool testing, organic acid analysis, hormone panels
Start slow: Most people begin with a 12-hour overnight fast (e.g., 7pm–7am)
Support detox: We use hydrotherapy, infrared sauna, and targeted supplementation
Educate: You’ll learn the why behind what we do, so you can continue on your own

One of our recent patients with fibromyalgia and IBS saw huge improvements in pain, bloating, and energy after shifting to a gentle fasting schedule—but only after we supported her nervous system and gut first.

Who Should Not Fast (Yet)

Fasting is generally safe for many adults, but if you fall into one of these categories, proceed with caution—or better yet, talk to us first:

🚫 Active or recovering eating disorders

🚫 Pregnant or breastfeeding

🚫 Severe adrenal fatigue or high cortisol

🚫 Diabetics on insulin or glucose-lowering meds

🚫 Very low BMI or malnourishment

🚫 Anyone currently experiencing dizziness, lightheadedness, or blood sugar crashes

Getting Started: A Safe Fasting Protocol for Chronic Pain Sufferers

If you’re curious about fasting but want to keep it safe and sustainable, here’s a basic protocol we often recommend in our clinic:

Start with a 12-hour overnight fast (e.g., stop eating at 7pm, start at 7am)
Prioritize protein and healthy fats at your first meal—avoid sugary breakfasts
Drink electrolytes or herbal teas during your fasting window
Don’t fast on high-stress or low-sleep days
Track how you feel: energy, mood, pain, digestion

If you notice more pain, fatigue, or irritability, back off and try again later—with support.

Final Thoughts: Fasting Isn’t Magic. But It Can Be Powerful.

The truth is: healing chronic pain requires more than one tool to tackle all of the root issues. Fasting may be one of them—but only when used intentionally, consistently, and as part of a larger plan to balance your nervous system, reduce inflammation, and support true healing.

At True Health Centers in Westminster, we don’t guess. We test. We teach. And we walk with you through a program that’s customized to your life—not some protocol pulled off the internet.