I have gotten a massage monthly for the past decade and will never stop. Just last night i was telling a friend that if I won the lottery I'd get one a week. They are AMAZING!!!

A friend of mine who had CFS (now recovered) had a massage last year and it caused her to relapse. I've read that there are certain ways that people with CFS should be massaged so as not to aggravate the condition. So it might be worth finding someone who knows how to massage people with CFS. I

Good point, Lucy. Unless you are used to massage you might want someone to do lymph drainage ...

Massages can increase the blood flow if you have fibromyagia. With CFS I would think they would help with the joint and muscle pain, and relax you. Granted all people have different reactions. Sometimes it helps my fib and others it seems to make me so sore that it feels worse.

thanks for your help...I definitely don't want to relapse when I'm starting to feel better, but I feel I have some knots to work out...it's a fine line to walk, just like everything else with CFS!

I've found massages from a pphysio to be very helpful. Cranio Sacral massage is beneficial because it stimulates the extra cellular space fluid where CFS'ers often have an over abundance of Nitric Oxide. Increased blood flow increases oxygen to bust out toxins. The medium massages in terms of firmness are the best for me. Sometimes you can feel smashed for the day after but then you have a week or two where you know you are better for it. However 'deep tissue therapudic Sports Massages' would do more harm than good I beleive. They would induce pain and fatigue.
Al

I forgot to say that during past episodes of CFS shiatsu massage has been amazing. I had a really good shiatsu woman though and I no longer live in the area. I think it's important who you have working on you.

I just had a massage this afternoon. It was a little slice of heaven.

I think iy is importan to find a massage therapist who has a little understanding of ME/CFS?FIBRO so that they massage accoringly...I found when i was able to afford them they had to be very gentle otherwise they released too many toxins and made me feel worse....otherwise i found them great..especially for better brain concentration and flexibility...drink plenty of water afterwards to help flush out toxins....I would love to go back to them again..

Massages can help for CFS - my husband is a massage therapist so I get some and have done a lot of trial an error over the past 3 years. I find that for a full hour massage I have to drink lots of water the day or 2 before and I have to plan to be down a little for the day after and still drink more water. It does cause you to feel worse a little bit but its not a relapse for me - just a toxin flush. That is for a full body 60-90 min massage though.

I find the best way is if he just does one area and keeps it gentle. Like neck and shoulders one day, lower back one day, limbs a different day. Then I feel good and do not need to "prepare" my body for the toxins. He usually work on one area for 15-20 mins.

It took us a couple of tries to realize that he was doing too much deep tissue massage on me because before I was sick - that was the best kind for me. Now gentle efflurage and some light muscle massage works the best. And helps me feel better, be more relaxed and have less pain.

Be prepared to try different approaches or start small (a 15-20 min massage the first time) and work your way up. It's well worth it as the touching REALLY helps your mood and comfort level and massage is great for the muscles that don't do much work anymore.

Dito
Al

Has anyone tried a hot stone massage? I've heard good reviews for them too! It sounds like a good relaxer and not too deep...

Naturalnut gave you great suggestions having the therapist using lighter touch and drinking tons of water. I ask a lot of questions from where and how much training they have (some places you can just set up a table & give massages - scary) to talking while I am on the table. If it hurts, I ask the person to lighten up. It has helped me a lot and I can afford to go once a month.