5 drug-free ways to ease fibromyalgia pain
Here's how to relieve symptoms without medication.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
Everyone has occasional aches and pains. There are many reasons for this periodic discomfort, and it can be a part of getting older. But what if they're something more? What if it seems like the pain is throughout your entire body? And what if all of your X-rays, blood tests, and MRIs show that there’s nothing wrong?
It could be fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that’s challenging to diagnose and difficult to treat. Standard treatment options for fibromyalgia often involve taking medication, though some treatments focus on lifestyle changes.
Written byPatrick Sullivan.
Medically reviewed byAmy Gonzales, MD.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fibromyalgia. Page last reviewed January 6 + 13
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fibromyalgia. Page last reviewed January 6, 2020.
- NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Fibromyalgia: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take. Last reviewed June 2021.
- American College of Rheumatology. Fibromyalgia. Page last updated December 2021.
- Bidonde J, Busch AJ, Schachter CL, et al. Aerobic exercise training for adults with fibromyalgia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD012700.
- Skelly AC, Chou R, Dettori JR, et al. Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); April 2020.
- Bernardy K, Klose P, Welsch P, et al. Efficacy, acceptability and safety of cognitive behavioural therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Pain. 2018;22(2):242-260.
- Govillard L, Gorbeña S, Iraurgi I. Cognitive behavioral therapy with and without biofeedback in fibromyalgia: Assessment of functional and clinical change. Health Psychol Open. 2022;9(1):20551029221106044.
- Pfalzgraf AR, Lobo CP, Giannetti V, et al. Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Fibromyalgia: Results of an Online Survey. Pain Manag Nurs. 2020;21(6):516-522.
- Pleman B, Park M, Han X, et al. Mindfulness is associated with psychological health and moderates the impact of fibromyalgia. Clin Rheumatol. 2019 Jun;38(6):1737-1745.
- Skelly AC, Chou R, Dettori JR, et al. Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update. Comparative Effectiveness Review. 2020;227.
- Wang C, Schmid CH, Fielding RA, et al. Effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial BMJ 2018;360:k851
- Cheng CA, Chiu YW, Wu D, et al. Effectiveness of Tai Chi on fibromyalgia patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019;46:1-8.
- Lazaridou A, Koulouris A, Dorado K, et al. The Impact of a Daily Yoga Program for Women with Fibromyalgia. Int J Yoga. 2019;12(3):206-217.
- de Medeiros SA, de Almeida Silva HJ, do Nascimento RM, et al. Mat Pilates is as effective as aquatic aerobic exercise in treating women with fibromyalgia: a clinical, randomized and blind trial. Adv Rheumatol. 2020;60(1):21.
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