My understanding and experience is that massage is good. However, my massage therapist did research and discovered that someone with myositis should NOT get a deep tissue massage, only a more gentle one. Regarding sore muscles, I use a green lotion that is made from menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and wintergreen oil. One friend purchased and gave it to me from an Amish tack and bridle shop in Ohio. Another friend went there and mailed me some, but I'm almost out of it. So I'm looking for a compounding pharmacist to see if s/he can compound it for me. It's excellent for sore muscles. Another product that I've used successfully is called StoPain.

I love massage and used to get deep tissue massage. After PM, I found it pretty painful. I now get lighter massage and it is wonderful. Make sure you tell them you have Myositis. Hopefully they have some knowledge of muscle structure and diseases of the muscles.

I hate massage. Just before I got diagnosed with PM, my primary doctor mashed all over me looking for I don't know what...tumors?

Anyway, it hurt like I was being beaten up by a bully. I almost lost it on the exam table. Probably because I have Fibro and PM. But I swore after that exam, to limit anyone mashing my body. It hurts me greatly. My primary doc didn't realize she was hurting me so bad. Neither of us knew I was full of PM.

What helps me with sore muscles is slow movement of the area. Like, if my hands/fingers are sore, I tear up newspaper to work out the stiffness/soreness.

A kiss to all who read this post...Meow.
=^.,.^=

Thank you all for replying. I am off to the Seasidefor zhalloween. Will try gentle massage when I return and let you know how I found it. Autumm

I go for massage once a month autumm. My massage therapist is also a body talk practitioner and I think this helps her a lot in knowing what to do with my and my DM. my very first massage we went through range of motion of all my joints and for an hour she works on gentle massage on all my limbs and we increased all my ROM and I had no pain. for the past few massages we have been working on my back and shoulders as I have a lot of scar tissue build up from when the disease was active and tearing muscles. I picture the scar tissues like spiderwebs over the muscle and this needs to be broken down so everything can move the way it should. I haven't had any pain with the massage so far.
So I think massage can be very good if your practitioner understands the disease and how it affects your body so they can work with your body to heal and not cause damage.
Hope you have a great time at the seaside. Its cold here in Saskatchewan as winter is coming and I hope the snow can stay away until after Halloween!
Take care everyone!
Roxanna ; )

Another thing I suggest if massage hurts is to consider reflexology. I have an hour foot reflexology session before that felt like the benefits of a full body massage.

It is an option if you can find someone great at it.

Thank you all for your kind suggestions. Have a great Halloween. Autumm