Fibromyalga

I don't have fibro, though I have a friend with it and I come with my own health problems that cause painful workouts. For both my fibro-friend and me, starting easy and working through discomfort have done wonders for our ability to continue to exercise (do NOT work out through pain - if it's legitimately painful STOP what you're doing). I've found that the more fit I am, the less painful exercise has become.

Do some research. A lot of research. I still do not know what caused the sudden onset of a lot of my pain but I will say that fibromyalgia is a catch-all diagnosis. It is a syndrome, a grouping of symptoms. Not a disease. I would push for further investigation into what is causing your pain, or get therapy if you also have anxiety or mental health issues.

I get knots in my neck like WHOA. The level of pain makes me incredibly depressed and its a huge cycle. Push yourself to walk, small bodyweight exercises, anything you can (this is once you completely rule out other diagnoses). I am in pain all the time-but I am finally getting back into shape, and the pain is less when I'm lifting and moving. I'm deadlifting and squatting again, even when it makes me want to cry (because laying around makes me want to cry too).

Don't just give into this diagnosis or it will ruin your life. Do research, hound your doctor and make your own conclusions.

Driving hurts me too actually-especially during "bad times". What really hurts is resting my arm on the window. The window hurts my elbow especially. Hunching over the steering wheel hurts my neck. The seat hurts my back. Long trips make me want to cry. The front of the seat hitting the back of my knees feels like little knives. I've cut off my hair because the weight of my hair hurts my head, and the hair touching my neck feels like bricks.

We all feel pain differently, but for the intense muscle pain of "fibromyalgia" it is proven that movement helps, it is the first line treatment. I started out with like 5 minute walks. I still have days I can't get off of the couch. I have had to change jobs. Sometimes I have to sit on the tub after my shower, because the water hurt and I'm simply too exhausted to dry off.

But if I have even the tiniest bit of energy I push through and do whatever I can, and over time I have been able to get into a routine. Every few months I flare and backslide and it is incredibly frustrating; also I don't recover well at all anymore. I'm sorry if this sounds preach or un-sympathetic, I mean it as quite the opposite. I have been where you are-and sometimes I am still there. As long as you completely rule out other likely illnesses, you have to push thorough the pain if you want any hope of a life. I hurt all the time, but my life is better this way.