Have you been diagnosed with fibromyalgia? If so, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you're one of 4 million Americans who also have it. That’s 2% of the US adult population.

And if you’re living with fibromyalgia, you already know the symptoms well. They mostly include tenderness and pain, tiredness, and emotional problems. 

Of the dozens of ways found on the internet to treat fibromyalgia, the National Institutes of Health reports that massage is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Why?

Patients report effective pain relief as well as a sense of well-being. So what is a fibromyalgia massage all about?

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Medically speaking, fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome rather than a disease. However, the National Health Service says nobody knows what causes it or why it occurs.

The main symptoms include pain that’s usually widespread. Most times the pain feels like tenderness. But the pain and tenderness can occur just about anywhere on the body.

Sometimes fibromyalgia patients feel pain or tenderness around joints. In addition, the tenderness may feel like it’s inside the tendons, muscles or other soft tissue areas. Additional symptoms include depression, anxiety, restless sleep, fatigue, and trouble with mental tasks.

Fibromyalgia affects more women than men. In fact, 9 out of 10 patients are women. Anyone between 20 and 50 years old is susceptible.

Unfortunately, many patients who have symptoms (but not necessarily diagnosed with fibromyalgia) are stigmatized. They're often referred to as lazy, complainers, malingerers, whiners or fakers.

This unfortunate and heartbreaking bias is particularly well documented in women with fibromyalgia. Worst of all, the stigma discourages sufferers seeking legitimate medical help.

A recent study has shown that fibromyalgia pain can be significantly worsened by the patient's own mind. Specifically, the study shows that when a patient perceives a loss of control over the pain, the pain actually feels worse. This just adds more to the complexity of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

The following is important information that most people, even fibromyalgia patients, usually don’t know:

• Fibromyalgia is a leading cause of depression.
• This condition is one of the most often misdiagnosed and misunderstood illnesses by doctors.
• Doctors most often misdiagnose fibromyalgia as either lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
• Patients with fibromyalgia usually have one or more other medical issues. They can include diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Lupus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease may also occur.
  

Other important statistics strongly associated with fibromyalgia are:

• The Midwest United States has a greater proportion of fibromyalgia patients.
• Sufferers have higher medical expenses and disability costs.
• Patients are likely separated or divorced.
• A fibromyalgia patient is probably a smoker and/or obese.
• Fibromyalgia patients are most likely not college educated.
• Asians have a lower likelihood of developing fibromyalgia.
  

Anybody diagnosed with fibromyalgia knows the primary symptom well: pain. The pain can be severe or mild. It can come and go, or else flare up and last for days, weeks or longer.

Fibromyalgia pain can feel like a burning, shooting, soreness or deep aching. Sometimes the joints feel tender. Other times, an entire region like the upper back may feel sore, painful or tender. In some sufferers, the pain lasts all day. However, in others it’s worse at night but less painful during the day.

Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia can see symptoms improve on their own. But that’s not very common. That means patients should think of fibromyalgia is a long-term illness. For many, the pain and other symptoms may linger for years or even a lifetime.

Generally, doctors make a diagnosis of fibromyalgia by using a detailed history of the pain. By assessing that history, a doctor will usually diagnose fibromyalgia if:

• The pain has been widespread for three or more months, and
• There are more than 10 tender areas.

Today, being diagnosed with fibromyalgia means your doctor probably also used improved diagnostic methods. One method is simple yet effective. The patient maintains a weekly checklist. It records the pain sensations felt on different body parts.

After a few weeks, the doctor assess patterns of pain from week to week. These pain patterns are one of the most reliable ways to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Also, new blood tests are being developed to exploit the “molecular fingerprint” that's unique to fibromyalgia. The tests can detect this fingerprint and differentiate it from other related conditions.

To date, fibromyalgia has no cure. But like so many incurable conditions, there are good ways you can manage the pain and tenderness so they don't overtake your life. 

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports trends in treating this disorder. It says at least 99% of fibromyalgia sufferers seek complementary and alternative therapies for pain relief. Also, the NIH says massage therapy for fibromyalgia is one of the most common remedies patients use today. 

The interesting fact is that doctors and therapists have been using massage to treat fibromyalgia for decades. But lately, massage is seeing a popularity boom. That's because massage for fibromyalgia gives patients satisfying results when it comes to pain relief. And many patients claim that massage helps keep the pain from coming back as often.
 

As a result of this increasing popularity, a massage therapist or physical therapist specializing in treating fibromyalgia is usually a very busy person. Sometimes their appointments are hard to get. 

Another reason massage's popularity in treating fibromyalgia has increased is due to the scientific support it enjoys. For over a decade, doctors tested massage for fibromyalgia in randomized controlled trials.

Results from many studies show that massage is a highly effective therapy compared to placebo or other pain relief approaches. Therefore, if you're diagnosed with fibromyalgia today, chances are good your doctor will prescribe massage.

Massage for fibromyalgia actually covers a wide range of “manual therapies”. In fact, “massage” can take various forms. Each works a little differently. And each has differing levels of effectiveness.

When you're diagnosed with fibromyalgia and have a prescription for therapeutic massage, your therapist will perform one of 3 main massage styles. All of them are effective; some more than others. They are:

1. Connective tissue massage
2. Shiatsu massage
3. Myofascial release massage

Many therapists use all three massage techniques simultaneously in one session. The combination of the three proves to be best for relieving fibromyalgia pain. Moreover, using all three techniques keeps pain from coming back - usually for days or weeks.

The three massage techniques have two features in common. 

• Each deeply rubs and kneads tissues around muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. 
• The pressure used can range from a soft stroking motion to a deep, focal pressure. 

These features allow the therapist to tailor his/her massage to each patient's needs and wants. They also allow enough flexibility to be modified according to the therapist’s judgment.

Myofascial release massage for fibromyalgia is the most common technique used today. And if you're diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chances are you'll get this massage technique to start off with.

Actually, therapists use the myofascial massage technique for many other soft tissue conditions. The best known application is when a patient has signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients consistently say it relieves pain faster and its effects last longer. But this isn't surprising. 

Key to understanding myofascial release massage is knowing that the body is held together with fascia. Fascia is a connective tissue web that's found all over the body. It's like the connective fibers holding a pomegranate together (see image below).



Much of soft tissue pathology occurs when muscle (myo) and fascia form adhesions between them. Breaking up those adhesions results in pain relief. That break-up is the goal of "myo-fascial release" massage therapy.

Fascia is so important in causing pain that the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) has sponsored research devoted solely to it. The NFA says:

"Fascia represents a hidden piece of the puzzle of fibromyalgia pain.”

And since “myofascial release” literally means releasing the fascia from underlying muscular adhesions, we can understand why this massage technique is so effective. Simply said, patients welcome myofascial release massage because it provides maximum results.

Interestingly, myofascial release massage eliminates carpal tunnel syndrome the same way. The massage breaks apart adhesions that cause tendons to inflame and swell. With adhesions eliminated, so is the carpal tunnel syndrome.

Myofascial release massage for fibromyalgia has two other huge benefits:

• It improves blood circulation in the affected area.
• The massage drains excess fluid build-up around joints.

Therefore, it’s no wonder why patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia prefer myofascial release massage. Most have learned to ask for it by name. So if you have to pick from only one massage technique for fibromyalgia, myofascial release is the best choice.

Therapists can also use connective tissue massage if their patient is diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This form of massage requires slow and even strokes. Usually the strokes are hard and deep. The strokes are often accompanied by skin pulling and stretching. Therapists must use these methods to manipulate the deep muscles and connecting fascia.

Usually, a therapist combines connective tissue massage for fibromyalgia with lymphatic drainage. That means the manual manipulation drains lymphatic fluid from the area that's painful. In fact, the manipulation physically pushes the fluid away.

Rhythmic squeezing and gliding over the tissue transfers fluid toward the body’s core. Encouraging fluid movement reduces local fluid build-up. It also helps the body drain unwanted or harmful waste products.

Many physical therapists and massage therapists combine Shiatsu massage with other massage techniques for patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Shiatsu actually means “finger pressure” in Japanese. This ancient technique from Japan has long been known to ease the pain of tender muscles and ligaments. It applies manual pressure to specific points that need tension relief.

Ancient practitioners documented these points centuries ago. Each point occurs along defined (and named) pathways around the body. And it's interesting that Shiatsu massage in one area can have a big impact on nearby body parts or those far away.

Massage gives those patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia immediate and long-lasting pain relief. But massage for fibromyalgia has additional significant benefits:

1. Sleep quality – Clinical studies show that massage for fibromyalgia improves the quality of sleep. The effects are greatest when patients get the massage in the evening.
   
   
2. Mental clarity – Overall mental skills are enhanced with massage for fibromyalgia. Patients report being able to think clearer. Also, they have more mental awareness and feel less emotional stress.
   
   
3. Muscle tone – Patients see improved muscular function with massage. Those with weak or lethargic muscles report increased muscle strength and tone. In addition, patients report restored muscular energy.
   
   
4. Headache relief – Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia usually have frequent headaches. But they experience fewer headaches with massage. This is probably due to improved blood flow around the body during massage. In particular, increased blood flow to the brain may be one reason for headache relief.
   
   
5. Reduced depression and anxiety – This benefit is perhaps one of the most mysterious effects of massage for fibromyalgia. Depression and anxiety are one of the hallmark symptoms of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. But massage alleviates these issues in almost all patients. It’s not clear exactly how this happens. But it’s likely that massage helps regulate hormonal actions. The hormones being regulated may affect the chemical mechanisms of emotion.

Fibromyalgia is a condition with very little known about it. Unfortunately, there is so much misconception that patients recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia usually feel lost in the mire. 

Every fibromyalgia patient deserves the respect and support of family and healthcare professionals. Moreover, it’s important to understand that their pain and suffering are very real . 

Luckily, patients with fibromyalgia benefit greatly with massage. In fact, massage for fibromyalgia is one of the most sought after treatments to relieve the pain and tenderness. 

The massage techniques that work best are myofascial release, connective tissue manipulation, and Shiatsu. Most therapists combine all three techniques in one session. Patients find that doing so can keep pain away for days or weeks. 

Without judgement or stigmatization, we must administer therapeutic massage along with a good dose of compassion and understanding in order to improve each patient's life.