Do body massages have any affect on fibromyalgia?

I have it, too. When I could afford it, I used to get a full body massage every month to 6 weeks or so. I don’t know the specific name for the type I used to get, but it involved long, pulling strokes, designed to streeeeetch out all of my connective tissue. I’ve recently heard about “myofacial (sp?) release”, which sounds like it could be what I was getting. In my experience, I was always more sore right after the massage, but felt much better the next day. The effects were temporary, and didn’t last until my next massage. I still highly recommend it.

Now that I can’t get a massage at the drop of a hat, I have my husband and/or kids pull on my arms and legs when I am really sore. It helps, though not as much as an hour long massage.

I also take Diclofenac (super-strength NSAID) and Lyrica twice daily, so I’d look into that, too.

@augustlan That’s interesting. I haven’t heard of Diclofenac, but I’m not keen to the side effects of Lyrica (my mother takes it). Thanks for you input!

I haven’t had any side effects of the Lyrica that are problematic. It made me super tired for the first few days, but I adjusted. I do get withdrawal symptoms if I miss it for over a day, though. Good luck, girlie!

My mother’s fibromyalgia is so painful that people touching her hurts…so not even a little massage from my father :( She mainly does stretches, that a doctor showed her.

I find heat, stretching, some small barbell exercises and the treadmill to help more than a massage. (Occasionally, I can persuade Milo to walk up and down my spine, and that feels good.)

Since I have starting taking Omega 3 fish oil, flax seed (ground) and 4000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, my aches and pains are less noticeable.

My young dermatologist has fibromyalgia; he suggested the D3 dosage. I confirmed it with my Internist, also young, and also a huge fan of D3.

@casheroo My mom’s like that too. She swims almost daily; I think it helps her.

@gailcalled D3 is actually in my new multivitamin that I have yet to take since I bought them

Thanks again y’all

Two aunties of mine and a cousin suffer from this and they did try massage but then switched to acupuncture because they have to go less often, get longer lasting ease and it’s less expensive than massage.

Oh yea, I forgot about acupuncture…