An estimated 4 million Americans live with fibromyalgia (x). And I’m one of them! I developed fibromyalgia in college after 9 years of living with untreated rheumatoid arthritis. It has been 10 years since I was diagnosed with fibro, and I’ve learned a lot about it since then. Today I’m using that knowledge to help you find fibromyalgia relief.

I am not a medical professional. I always cite my sources for medical information. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Kate the (Almost) Great! 

What Is Fibromyalgia? 

Before we can talk about how to find fibromyalgia relief, we do have to talk about what fibromyalgia is. 

The Mayo clinic says, “Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues” (x). For me, the key words in that definition are widespread musculoskeletal pain. But something to keep in mind, and this is true of all chronic illnesses, is that every patient is different. Some people are affected more by fatigue, more by sleep issues, or another symptom altogether (x).

For example, the Cleveland Clinic says that some other symptoms include anxiety, GI issues, face or jaw pain, headaches, or tingling or numbness in extremities (x). There are some patients who experience all of those with some musculoskeletal pain. Essentially, not one patient is exactly like another. 

Additionally – and this is new information to me – Mayo says that “Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations” (x). So if you have fibromyalgia and it feels like you feel regular injuries worse than others, it might be true. 

Can Chronic Pain Go Away? What You Should Know

In addition to widespread muscle pain and fatigue, a key fibro symptom is something called “fibro fog”. This is when someone struggles with “the ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks” (x). While this in general is also called “brain fog,” brain fog affects people with a wide variety of conditions. It can be called fibro fog when it affects someone with fibromyalgia specifically.

Additionally, while fibromyalgia falls within the arthritis umbrella, from what we know right now, it’s not an autoimmune disease (x). The American College of Rheumatology says that you have a higher risk of developing fibromyalgia if you have a rheumatic condition like rheumatoid arthritis (x). 

If you couldn’t tell, fibromyalgia is hard to describe unless you’re describing what it isn’t. And that’s because fibro can mimic other conditions, and there isn’t one definitive test to diagnose it (x).  

I also want to say that a hallmark of fibromyalgia is what was called “trigger points” and is now more likely to be called “regions of pain” (x). Healthline says, “The pain in these regions feels like a consistent dull ache,” and if you have pain in 4 of 5 of them, you might have fibro (x).

Finally, I have to address something that I would be remiss to ignore: some patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia don’t believe they have fibromyalgia, and they’re probably right. Sometimes a patient is diagnosed with fibromyalgia when they are searching for another diagnosis. Sometimes they are later diagnosed with that condition. Unfortunately, there are some doctors who use fibro as a “catch-all” condition for when they can’t figure out what someone has.

What I’m trying to say is that fibromyalgia can be used as a “here’s a diagnosis, go away now.” But, of course, sometimes, it’s used that way and it turns out to be the correct diagnosis. 

What Is a Chronic Illness? And Other Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Different Ways To Find Relief for Fibromyalgia Pain? 

First and foremost, it’s important to note that so little is understood about how fibromyalgia works, which makes it difficult to find relief. And, as always, every patient for every condition is different. But here are some things that can help patients. 

Yoga – Some people experience improved symptoms when they regularly practice yoga. It’s important not to push yourself – just because yoga might help your fibromyalgia doesn’t mean you should take intense yoga classes or try difficult positions – so be sure to tell an instructor that you have fibromyalgia so they can help you make changes to poses. As for why yoga helps, Healthline says, “The practice increases muscle strength, incorporates meditation, and teaches different relaxation techniques” (x). 

Acupuncture – Acupuncture, according to traditional Chinese usage, involves restoring normal balance of life forces by inserting very fine needles through the skin to various depths (x). And the Mayo Clinic says that, “​​According to Western theories of acupuncture, the needles cause changes in blood flow and levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord,” which is how it helps people with different health concerns like fibromyalgia (x). When it comes to fibromyalgia specifically, a study published in the Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine found that “people with FM who received acupuncture benefited from pain relief for at least two years, compared to those who didn’t” (x).

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Massage therapy – As fibro involves muscles, getting massage therapy can help with muscle pain. As a note, this is different from getting a massage! Massage therapy “involves the use of different manipulative techniques to move your body’s muscles and soft tissues” (x). That’s very different from getting a massage to relax. You don’t want to cause problems with your muscles while you’re looking for a way to help them. Massage therapy “can reduce your heart rate, relax your muscles, improve range of motion in your joints and increase production of your body’s natural painkillers” (x). 

Medical marijuana – One of the reasons why I think we need to legalize marijuana on a federal level is because we’re not going to have widespread research done on the benefits of it until it’s legalized. Anyway. While we have limited official studies (in comparison to other treatments), we do have some. One such study on fibromyalgia patients using medical marijuana found that patients experience ​​a reduction of pain and stiffness, an increase in sleepiness (which is helpful considering how sleep affects fibro symptoms), and improved mental health, among other things (x).

Biofeedback – Full disclosure – I know almost nothing about biofeedback! The Mayo Clinic says that biofeedback is where you learn how to control some of your body’s functions (x). Practicing biofeedback involves being “connected to electrical sensors that help you receive information about your body” (x). Since biofeedback involves learning how to control your body, you could use it to reduce muscle pain and tension. 

Life with Chronic Illness: One Patient’s Life with 6 Illnesses

Kate, How Do You Find Fibromyalgia Relief? 

Now that I’ve talked about different ways that fibromyalgia is treated, I want to talk about things I do personally to find relief from my fibromyalgia symptoms. 

I do need to emphasize that my fibromyalgia is really connected to my rheumatoid arthritis. If my RA disease activity is high, then my fibromyalgia will be worse. This was especially true in college before I found my infusion. 

I do have days where my RA is okay but my fibromyalgia is not, and vice versa. But if I have an RA flare, then I generally will have a fibro flare. And it has been a LONG time since I had a fibro flare without an RA event that caused it. That’s just how my body works.

I’m still sharing how I find fibromyalgia relief, but I wanted to share that so you have more background information when reading the next section. 

Heating pad – These are so helpful if you have muscle pain of any kind. They work wonders for my fibromyalgia pain! Wonder why?

Healthline says that applying heat helps because “it boosts circulation, which then allows nutrients and oxygen to travel to joints and muscles. This circulation helps repair damaged muscles, relieves inflammation, and improves [stiffness]” (x). All of those lead to improved pain.

It doesn’t have to be done with a heating pad, as heat of any kind can help. But heating pads are a targeted and portable way to get heat where you need it. And since I can’t tolerate being hot due to my POTS, I’m unable to take hot baths like I used to before POTS. 

This heating pad is $30, and is the perfect size for large muscle groups. But if you need neck and shoulder relief, check out this heating pad shaped for those areas, which is $40.

Sleep – One thing that guarantees that I’m going to have a bad pain day is if I sleep for less than 6 hours at night. I really need a minimum of 7 hours, but I’m going to have a bad day if I get less than 6. So if that’s the situation, then a nap will probably make me feel better. Not massively, but even just a bit is appreciated. 

9 Arthritis Products That Help My Rheumatoid Arthritis

Comfortable clothes – Sometimes I have bad pain days so bad that it’s like every atom in my body hurts. On those days, every action is important, every step, every movement. And wearing the wrong clothes can absolutely make things worse. 

Clothes for the Chronic Pain Warrior in Your Life

Go to the chiropractor – The thing about chronic pain is that it’s different for everyone and that means everyone has different things that help their pain. In my personal experience, I benefit significantly from going to the chiropractor. 

I find the chiropractor especially helpful for fibromyalgia because it’s so difficult for me to manipulate or improve some of the tender points due to their location. A chiropractor can reach and improve certain locations of my body that I can’t reach.

The chiropractic techniques that help me are Active Release Techniques®, Graston Technique®, and the classic chiropractic adjustment (what most people think about when they hear about going to a chiropractor). These help with soft tissue pain, which is what fibromyalgia pain is.

All chiropractors are not made equally. Research research research before you visit one and be open with them about your symptoms before they begin. If the place their office is in looks sketchy, dirty, questionable, etc., don’t go. 

Apply Icy Hot – There’s a reason why Icy Hot is as well-known as it is: it can help you deal with your pain. Icy Hot isn’t for everyone or for every type of pain, but I find it helpful for my RA and for my fibromyalgia, just different parts of the body. When it comes to fibromyalgia pain, I especially like to use it for the tender points in my low back. 

Icy Hot comes in a wide variety of forms. This roller-ball form helps keep your hands clean when you apply it. It’s also in cream form, patch form, or, my favorite, spray form. The spray helps me reach areas that I can’t get with cream or roller-ball.

Living Life with Chronic Illness: Common Problems & Their Solutions

What do you do to find fibromyalgia relief? 

Like this post? Check out: 

Resources for Chronic Illness: How Organizing Can Make It Easier, Mental Health and Chronic Disease Management: What You Should Know, What’s In My Tool Box for Dealing with Chronic Pain, Self-Care Tips That Chronic Illness Patients Need