My arthrtis doc said they are indeed called muscle knots and with massage they can be split up, or in other words broken down into smaller knots that make you feel better! That is such BS i my opinion! My husband tries to rub them out and the next morning I feel as if I have been run over by a truck! I am pretty active, but then also I sit alot too and I get them no matter what I do! I do find that if I ask my husband for a massage and ask him to be easier with them, it does hurt as much in the morning! BTW....I never exercise so they cannot be from that!

Please look into chronic myofascial pain... that's the condition where trigger points occur in various parts of the body, and they can refer pain elsewhere. Massage CAN help, provided it's done correctly. I started seeing a physical therapist, because I was suffering from abdominal pain and pelvic floor dysfunction and the massage helped with the points across my abdomen. There's a book that I found quite helpful. I linked the amazon listing because it's pretty thorough, but you should be able to get it from your library. Lots of good advice for managing fibro too.

http://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Therapies-Fibromyalgia-Syndrome-Myofascial/dp/1594773238

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900090/

Check out this article for some of the distinctions between fibro and myofascial pain.

And here's one more:

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whyfmscfsarelinked/a/myofascialpain.htm

Hope it helps!

Those knots are called Trigger Points. The can occur due to exercise, past injuries, stress, etc. This is part of the myofascial pain syndrome.

I used to do deep sports massage, but now it is too painful for me. Instead, I have trigger point injections done by my pain doc when they get bad, and trigger point massage. You need to get a good masseuse though, because I've had many on the young ones do more harm than good. Asking for someone who deals with fibro is best for massage. I did a combination of myofascial release and trigger point. You can get great relief with an experienced masseuse. You may want to take a light muscle relaxer or do trigger point injections before so you can really break up the knots for a good long while. Then you'll have to flush your system of all those built up toxins with water.

Good luck and feel better!

I have knots too yes they do get broken down. When getting massages make sure you let them know of your fibro and check if they have experience with fibro. Hope this helps.

Dr Devin Starlanyl is one of the best, if not the best, I have ever seen in terms of myofascial pain and fibromyalgia. She has both, and has done extensive research and written a number of books on the subject.

There is a lot of useful information on her website: http://homepages.sover.net/~devstar/

I've been getting trigger point therapy for about 2 yrs now. It is definitely not for just anyone with fibro as it involves deep pressure on the trigger points and this can be extremely painful. The pressure causes the knots to release but if you've had them a long time it can take multiple trtments. My muscles seem to constant knot up over and over again. As I said it can be extremely painful but Oh, when a knot releases it feels so good.

Zombiekit......THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting those links. the 2nd link was every so helpful! I KNOW I have this MPS, but my rhuemy was an idiot that just wanted me to go buy everything I could that was herbal and I do not have the money to do so and my regular doc that DX me with fibro, doesn't seem to want.

In our small town, we have one rhuemy that DOES NOT believe in fibro. The other rhuemies are about 45 miles away and we just do not have enough money coming in to make weekly trips to see a rhuemy doc!

I am going to see if I can print this article off on the 2nd link you posted and give it to my regular doc when I go see her next and tell her to read it!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Hi. I have myofascial pain syndrome along with fibro. Massage and heat help with the knots. You have to find a really good massage therapist who is adept at treating fibromyalgia patients. Also, you must drink plenty of water after the massage to flush out the toxins that are released during the massage.

I ditto Peace on Devin Starlanyl's books and website. She is awesome. I have The Fibromyalgia Advocate written by her. I also have a good book called: The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies. I have a massage tool that I got from Amazon and I use it to work on the tight, restricted muscles.

Tender points are not the same as trigger points. Devin gives a great explanation of this in her literature. Best Wishes!

Thanks so much for all the replies, and all the great information. I will set out to find a massage therapist specialized in FM and read the book by Dr Starlanyl!

I've had myofascial pain syndrome for a very long time and fibromyalgia for a couple of years and have learnt how much these conditions are intertwined. Different sides of the same coin. Evil twins, etc. And it's also true in terms of treatments, treat one and the other will benefit.

Treat the muscle knots should make a significant difference to how you feel, less stiffness and pain for starters. The two best resources on mps are:

"Healing through Trigger Point Therapy: A Guide to Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction" by Devin Starlanyl and John Sharkey is the best book on both subjects I've seen and gives you loads of information so you can manage most of your trigger points yourself. It's available in paperback and on kindle http://www.amazon.com/Healing-through-Trigger-Point-Therapy/dp/1583946098/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411085127&sr=8-1&keywords=devin+starlanyl

Plus:

www.saveyourself.ca which is an electronic book looking at the science of managing trigger points, both by yourself and with a therapist.

My best tip is to use comfrey oil to massage your muscle knots, it's really helps and by massage it's a simple case of use your fingers, feel the knot, the edges, the middle etc and squash it in any way that feels good. Could be direct pressure, or pressing and pushing the skin sideways; for a few seconds, or until it goes. The only thing to watch out for are going beyond your own tolerance for pain. If it gets painful stay at that pressure and don't double the pressure and end up in major spasm.

There's an mps board, might be worth checking out.

Good luck :)

Great post scootermom.

I all so would like to say thanks to all the great reply's and all the great link on information. I will be reading through them.

I have had massage therapy, and chiropractic therapy for years, it helps but not with out lots of pain to go with it, but with out it I can't move. So suffer we must it seems.

I just look forward to the not too bad days, and try to find beauty where I can. Breath, and do my best to just be.

Sending positive thoughts to all.