Any chronic pain fighters out there?

desiresdestiny

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for support in my fitness lifestyle from other chronic pain fighters. I will be supportive as well. I'm 29 and been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, degeneration in my tmj and osteoarthritis. Add me

debrakgoogins

I have a permanently dislocated sacral joint due to an accident a few years ago. That injury led to 6 surgeries with a 7th coming in February. Aside from that, I've had 3 knee surgeries and I have arthritis. I still work out and have a great trainer who works with my limitations.

tcarp8

I used to run. I now have arthritis in my knees and hips. Still walking but probably won't be a runner anymore.

desiresdestiny

debrakgoogins wrote: »

I have a permanently dislocated sacral joint due to an accident a few years ago. That injury led to 6 surgeries with a 7th coming in February. Aside from that, I've had 3 knee surgeries and I have arthritis. I still work out and have a great trainer who works with my limitations.

I've found and continue to find exercise that work for me as well except when I'm in a bad flare that leaves me unable to walk. Sounds like you have an amazing trainer. I'm gonna add you if you don't mind

blackburn23

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia approx. 6 years ago. I fight mental fog on a daily basis and I ache and hurt like I have the flu on most days. I have flares around my joints because of inflamed connective tissue. I am very sensitive to medicines and am unable to take the prescribed medicines used for fibromyalgia. I manage my pain with ibuprofen and tylenol when needed. I have learned that exercise helps, especially with the "fibro fog", but I have to be careful to not overdo it. Exercising too vigorously can cause days of extreme pain and tiredness. I have about 70 lbs that I would like to lose.

AlannahQuick

I have chronic degenerative disc disease and it cause some issues when exercising but you have to find what works for you and your pain. My weight played a lot into back pain and so when I lost weight it would relieve the tension enough to keep me going in the gym. People with constant pain are fighters!

desiresdestiny

blackburn23 wrote: »

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia approx. 6 years ago. I fight mental fog on a daily basis and I ache and hurt like I have the flu on most days. I have flares around my joints because of inflamed connective tissue. I am very sensitive to medicines and am unable to take the prescribed medicines used for fibromyalgia. I manage my pain with ibuprofen and tylenol when needed. I have learned that exercise helps, especially with the "fibro fog", but I have to be careful to not overdo it. Exercising too vigorously can cause days of extreme pain and tiredness. I have about 70 lbs that I would like to lose.

I'm very sensitive to meds too. I have had so many reactions that Doctor worry about giving me any. I live off of ibuprofen but it doesn't do much.

desiresdestiny

AlannahQuick wrote: »

People with constant pain are fighters!

Agree

debubbie

blackburn23 wrote: »

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia approx. 6 years ago. I fight mental fog on a daily basis and I ache and hurt like I have the flu on most days. I have flares around my joints because of inflamed connective tissue. I am very sensitive to medicines and am unable to take the prescribed medicines used for fibromyalgia. I manage my pain with ibuprofen and tylenol when needed. I have learned that exercise helps, especially with the "fibro fog", but I have to be careful to not overdo it. Exercising too vigorously can cause days of extreme pain and tiredness. I have about 70 lbs that I would like to lose.

I was diagnosed with fibro four years ago when the pain had become unbearable. The doctor put me on meds that made me feel like a zombie, the next set of meds made me feel like I was in hyperdrive and my heart would beat out of my chest, and the third med my insurance wouldn't approve so I went back to the first at a lower dosage. I decided to try other ways to alleviate my pain without the mind numbing meds, they made the fibro fog worse and they had to go. I lost weight (70 pounds) over the last two years, started running in the last year (really helps with the fog), and regularly go to a chiropractor and massage therapist. The massages have been the biggest help because they are able to work some of the trigger spots loose and a lot of the pain dissipates and I feel like I can function again. Also, being able to get quality sleep is a huge benefit. The flares get worse when I am stressed or running on a few hours of sleep a night.

I have found all of this out through trial and error to see what works best for me. You may find that some of these work well for you and others not so much. I think the biggest thing is to listen to your body, get adequate rest, and don't push too hard when you are having a really off day.

Feel free to add me if you like. Good luck on your journey and finding relief from the chronic pain.

blackburn23

Thanks everyone for your encouraging posts. It really does help to know that others understand what chronic pain is like. Thanks also for sharing how you deal with your pain and what your fitness programs are like. I am soooo motivated right now!

Amberdoodledawn

I have scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, harrington rods, decrepitis knee joints, and chronic pain and fatigue. Every year or two I will have a flare up ( bulging disc, stress fracture ) and have to be put back on prednisone rounds and major pain meds that I have to take with food. I continously fluctuate 40lbs. The older I get the harder it is to lose the prednisone weight. This time I am struggling and want to lose the weight to avoid/postpone another impending surgery.

Amberdoodledawn

adhoopi wrote: »

I have scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, harrington rods, decrepitis knee joints, and chronic pain and fatigue. Every year or two I will have a flare up ( bulging disc, stress fracture ) and have to be put back on prednisone rounds and major pain meds that I have to take with food. I continously fluctuate 40lbs. The older I get the harder it is to lose the prednisone weight. This time I am struggling and want to lose the weight to avoid/postpone another impending surgery.

I mostly just take my dog for walks and ride a recumbent bike due to the reduced stress level on my joints and spine.

Azurite27

I have scoliosis caused by a short leg. I've learned to do what I can rather than being limited by what I can't. I'm limited to very low impact exercises but I've learned to work with that, working on resistance and endurance rather than speed or intensity.

Never compare yourself to others when it comes to fitness. Everyone has different abilities and potential. Only compare yourself to yourself, or in other words work on a better "you". Feel free to add me.

desiresdestiny

Azurite27 wrote: »

I have scoliosis caused by a short leg. I've learned to do what I can rather than being limited by what I can't. I'm limited to very low impact exercises but I've learned to work with that, working on resistance and endurance rather than speed or intensity.

Never compare yourself to others when it comes to fitness. Everyone has different abilities and potential. Only compare yourself to yourself, or in other words work on a better "you". Feel free to add me.

I so agree with you. It took me a while to get to this point but it's true. Only each of us knows our own struggle and what we can and cannot do.

debrakgoogins

adhoopi wrote: »

I have scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, harrington rods, decrepitis knee joints, and chronic pain and fatigue. Every year or two I will have a flare up ( bulging disc, stress fracture ) and have to be put back on prednisone rounds and major pain meds that I have to take with food. I continously fluctuate 40lbs. The older I get the harder it is to lose the prednisone weight. This time I am struggling and want to lose the weight to avoid/postpone another impending surgery.

Have you tried swimming or water jogging? There is no impact and you can get a surprisingly good workout in the water. I lost my first 20 pounds by eating better and doing water exercises.

Foggiblu

I never understood it when I would hear commercials for pain clinics. I use to think, why would anyone be in pain all the time. I guess when I was young, I thought everything could be fixed. Well here I am at 57 and everyday is painful. So I get it now. Desiresdestiny are so young at 29 to go through this and I wish no one so young ever had to be in chronic pain.

I believe years of being lazy have caused much damage to my whole body. I have back problems and Fibro...but heard that yoga can really help. Tried Lyrica (huge weight gainer), couldn't deal with the side effects. So I take hydo everyday...ugh.

Anyone else doing yoga with success? I start next week with a friend, but I've been saying this every week.

desiresdestiny

Foggiblu wrote: »

I never understood it when I would hear commercials for pain clinics. I use to think, why would anyone be in pain all the time. I guess when I was young, I thought everything could be fixed. Well here I am at 57 and everyday is painful. So I get it now. Desiresdestiny are so young at 29 to go through this and I wish no one so young ever had to be in chronic pain.

I believe years of being lazy have caused much damage to my whole body. I have back problems and Fibro...but heard that yoga can really help. Tried Lyrica (huge weight gainer), couldn't deal with the side effects. So I take hydo everyday...ugh.

Anyone else doing yoga with success? I start next week with a friend, but I've been saying this every week.

Yeah got the tmj diagnosis at 27 and then all the arthritis stuff followed. Funny through I've been active and worked out prior to all this.

I haven't tried yoga but I do Pilates. I follow a DVD and have tried some of fitness blender Pilates workouts as well

ElJefeChief

History of compression fracture, L3, history of bulging disc, C4, lots of PT and lots of pills in my history (the latter of which made me very sick in the end). I have ongoing issues with stenosis-type symptoms, here and there.

Best thing I've done for my chronic pain is losing a lot of weight.

T1DCarnivoreRunner

I have thoracic outlet syndrome that comes and goes. When it comes, the symptoms range from neck, shoulder, and arm (all the way down to fingers) pain to the same areas just becoming painfully numb. Usually, it is just painful. At times, my hand is just not very dextrous (I can't pick things up very well, for example).

Also, I've never gotten a diagnosis (I gave up years ago) on this, but I've always had back pain since I was a teenager. At that time, every dr. I ever saw just checked if I had scoliosis (I didn't), and just concluded that it must just be all in my head. It doesn't really affect movement like the thoracic outlet syndrome sometimes does, but it is an annoyance.

Finally, this isn't as much of a pain issue anymore, but I've dislocated and separated both of my shoulders a whole lot of times. On the left side, after 12 dislocations and 1 separation, I had an open bankart surgery to repair it. That was 5 years ago and I have not dislocated it since. It just pops every once in awhile, and it can be painful from over-use.

cornmesserchronicles

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1999. I was one of the first to get Ssdi based on that diagnosis. Needless to say at that time not much was known and my treatment was completely wrong. I was put on very strong pain mess along with 30 other pills a day. If it hurt I did not move. My depression became so severe I just wanted to die. In the last 4 years I have been battling back. I quit smoking, got off all my meds except for one light pain med I take at night because that is when the pain intensifies the most. Now I am trying to lose weight. I have lost 21 pounds but it has been very slow coming off. Moving, walking, even standing and sitting very quickly becomes extremely painful. I have ballooned to twice my weight and now weigh in at 295.2, down from my all time high of 317. Lately I have not been very careful with my diet but today was my first day putting in a renewed effort. I sincerely think I will have less pain if I lose weight. But.... I AM A FOOD ADDICT! I pray that I can contain my cravings.

OyGeeBiv

Ankylosing spondylitis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, IBS, dry eye, multiple car accidents with injuries, multiple joint surgeries, drug sensitivities, pain, fibro fog, and have completely lost the ability to multitask. I gained almost 100 lbs on prednisone. Withdrawal from prednisone was very difficult, and still after more than 6 years, I wish I could go back on it.

With all that, I've come to realize that I still have to take responsibility for my own life. I still need to eat right and exercise to the best of my ability. I can't do what healthy people do, but I can to do what I can do. The hard part for me is actually doing what I can do, and not using the above conditions as excuses. And balancing that with knowing when to stop. When I'm having a good day, I tend to overdo it and regret it the next day. But, believe it or not, my memory is so shot that sometimes on a good day I forget that I have bad days.

NailsnfitnesS

Hey I just diagnosed with DDD in my l.lumbar I had it for TWO years and my dumb chiro's didn't tell me…so Im behind in my healing process and gained all my weight . Im 155 now from 135 2 years. I won't run-I am babying my back. Cant do dead lifts.. Now at the mercy anyones help who is willing. I am willing to do this. My back is better but last night I had to ice it down I just added a low dose of muscle relaxers and worried about long term side effects. Not addicted-but my muscles are very tight in the back that i FEEL ITLL HELP LOOSEN THEM UP A LITTLE. OOPS ALL CAPS. I could use some support guys if you can help me add

WisteriaLady

Was diagnosed with fibro last december. I used to enjoy my long walks and was on my way to a great weight loss. Now I cant walk 20 minutes without needing a sleep or being in pain. My weight has gone up again. I have days were I feel very weak that even standing up can be too much.

BigMikeP81

On top of being very overweight I had an aortic aneurysm which caused me to have a risky open heart surgery in May. They told me basically it can take up to two years for my chest bone to heal properly. They piled on restrictions and limitations. I'm finding it difficult to find exercise other than walking that won't put stress on my chest. I also recently found out I may have an issue with my rotator cuff so my mobility in my shoulder is not really up to par as well.

mbaker566

@Foggiblu Yoga makes me functional some days. I liked it so much I teach aerial yoga now. I find it easier on my joints. restorative and yin yoga are great to get joints to release and gives you time and space to get centered.
I learned to acknowledge my pain but not let it define me.

I have Behcets and myalgia. I live with random pains, achy joints, sun burned feeling skin, migraines, sore throats, etc plus the fog and the fatigue. I started with aerial yoga, then i started long walks with the dog, and then i did the c25k and then the b25k and now I'm working on a half marathon. the key has always to go slowly. build up slowly. my body likes to inflame-so i am prone to tendinitis and other -itises.

The way I look at it, I can hurt or I can hurt and be healthy. I also tell myself I feel pain but that my body exaggerates it so I can go a little further.

I've lost weight when i was on lyrica, losing weight on gabepentin and colchicine and pantoprazole and lamotrigine

Obnoxa

AS, RA and osteo here. Coming off all the meds now due to weight loss and movent (yay!) Although I refused biologics because of the lymphoma/cancer suspicions so I ate a lot of pain killers, anti inflammatory and stuff to protect me from those.
Last bone density showed some form of arthritis in 83% of my joints so yeah, I get it.
Unfortunately
Not sure what you're doing but for AS I've found stationary bike/elliptical has been the best combined with resistance bands where I can control what moving and how much. I get SI joint pain on the bike if I get cocky about duration but other than that, been working quite well.

StormyFireriver

Hi I just joined FitnessPal. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in June 2015 after years of pain. I basically ignored myself since I was dealing with an autistic child. In my quest to get healthy I was also diagnosed with adenomyosis and had a hysterectomy in February 2015. I was already overweight and have added an additional 20-lbs since my surgery. I'm looking for supportive people. I want to win my battle with my eating problems and would also like to help encourage others hoping it will also motivate me. Exercise is not happening yet. I'm lucky to make it through the day but I'm hoping that if I lose some weight it will relieve some of my pain and tiredness. Please feel free to friend me and we'll encourage each other. Thank you for listening. Stormy

singingflutelady

I have severe fistulizing Crohn's disease which causes constant abdominal pain, arthritis type symptoms in most joints, headaches, rashes, fatigue and lots of other stuff. I try to push through it because I don't want the disease to win but autoimmune diseases suck big tim

singingflutelady

Obnoxa wrote: »

AS, RA and osteo here. Coming off all the meds now due to weight loss and movent (yay!) Although I refused biologics because of the lymphoma/cancer suspicions so I ate a lot of pain killers, anti inflammatory and stuff to protect me from those.
Last bone density showed some form of arthritis in 83% of my joints so yeah, I get it.
Unfortunately
Not sure what you're doing but for AS I've found stationary bike/elliptical has been the best combined with resistance bands where I can control what moving and how much. I get SI joint pain on the bike if I get cocky about duration but other than that, been working quite well.

I am on Remicade and it is a life saver. The cancer risks are very very small. All of the cancer cases have been teenage boys and usually with those also on imuran (which I also take)

desiresdestiny

Obnoxa wrote: »

AS, RA and osteo here. Coming off all the meds now due to weight loss and movent (yay!) Although I refused biologics because of the lymphoma/cancer suspicions so I ate a lot of pain killers, anti inflammatory and stuff to protect me from those.
Last bone density showed some form of arthritis in 83% of my joints so yeah, I get it.
Unfortunately
Not sure what you're doing but for AS I've found stationary bike/elliptical has been the best combined with resistance bands where I can control what moving and how much. I get SI joint pain on the bike if I get cocky about duration but other than that, been working quite well.

I've been doing a lot of walking videos lately. I also love the elliptical.

Obnoxa

AS, RA and o

singingflutelady wrote: »

I am on Remicade and it is a life saver. The cancer risks are very very small. All of the cancer cases have been teenage boys and usually with those also on imuran (which I also take)

I wont lie, I fully admit I'm a bit of a stress monkey when it comes to meds; I'm the chick who shoots down even some advil post surgery.
I'm not an anti-pharma soap boxer but I am slightly paranoid, and it just takes one seed of doubt to make me freak myself out

desiresdestiny wrote: »

I've been doing a lot of walking videos lately. I also love the elliptical.

Awesome! Walking is always a go to for me as well!