Sleep, relaxation and massage
It’s important to get plenty of rest, but the pain of fibromyalgia can make it difficult to sleep. Learning relaxation techniques such as breathing, visual imagery and meditation can reduce stress and make it easier to get a better night’s sleep.

Another great way to relax—and sometimes alleviate pain—is to get a massage. Deep tissue massage focuses on the deep layers of muscle, while other forms of massage, such as Shiatsu, tend to target tender points and ease tension in the muscles around them.

Acupuncture, acupressure and chiropractic care
Study results on acupuncture and fibromyalgia have been mixed. Acupuncture seems to have an effect on the release of neurotransmitters in the brain, which may ease fibromyalgia symptoms and increase your pain tolerance. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but without the needles. Though it’s probably not as effective, you can self-administer acupressure during flare-ups.

Chiropractic care is also used as a tool to treat fibromyalgia. A chiropractic adjustment can relieve back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and headaches, as well ease tender point pain and increase the range of motion in your spine.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback
When other forms of treatments don’t work satisfactorily, cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback may help. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to identify negative thought patterns that exacerbate pain, such as anger, sadness and anxiety and replace them with positive thoughts.

Biofeedback, on the other hand, tries to identify what’s going on in your body while you’re in pain, such as an increased pulse or tensing of muscles. For example, a machine may be used to identify the muscle tension that may occur when you are in pain. Once you’ve identified these signs, biofeedback helps you to learn how to control them, such as by relaxing your muscles, which may help to reduce the pain.

Managing fibromyalgia typically requires a mixture of treatments, because one is not likely to eliminate your symptoms on its own. However, in the right combination, and often with the right medications, you can become virtually symptom free or at least can reduce the symptoms significantly.