Anyone else with Fibromyalgia!!

kimiel51
kimiel51 Posts: 299 Member
edited October 6 in Motivation and Support
Just wondering if anyone has any exercise tips for someone newly diagnosed with Fibromyalgia! I'll need to start again slowly. I don't want to make anything worse!!

Replies

  • ladybird_
    ladybird_ Posts: 55 Member
    I find that no matter what there is good days and there are bad days what ever I am doing and I find it hard not to get lost in the bad ones. What ever you try for exercise remember that fibro slows down your muscle recovery rate, that is part of what causes the pain. Have you been given any medications? I have tried several in the past years since this began (I started getting symptoms May 1999) I will never forget the day I woke up with this pain in my body, but I have not let it rule my life.
  • theome
    theome Posts: 101 Member
    I was diagnosed with SLE back in 04 with RA and a few years ago I was being tested for fibromyalgia but lost my insurance. If I have it or not I know the feeling of being in pain all the time and what I have found to help the most is a strict routine. Plan to work out everyday even if you physically can't. Everyday make sure you at least get up and put on work out clothes and even if that's all you accomplish, the next day you might feel better and go further. It sucks to feel like crap and stay in bed all day and then feel a bit better on other days but "not in the mood". Not sure if that makes sense
  • kimiel51
    kimiel51 Posts: 299 Member
    I find that no matter what there is good days and there are bad days what ever I am doing and I find it hard not to get lost in the bad ones. What ever you try for exercise remember that fibro slows down your muscle recovery rate, that is part of what causes the pain. Have you been given any medications? I have tried several in the past years since this began (I started getting symptoms May 1999) I will never forget the day I woke up with this pain in my body, but I have not let it rule my life.
    Savella is the medication I was given to try!
  • Lost_it
    Lost_it Posts: 290 Member
    I have fibromyalgia & osteroarthritis in my back. I find doing yoga helps. I have the Wii fit & fit plus & find that some of the exercises on it are to bad on my back. I also have an ellptical trainer & stepper that I use.
    I have heard that exercising in water is the best for us...I may have to try it out this year.
  • kimiel51
    kimiel51 Posts: 299 Member
    I have fibromyalgia & osteroarthritis in my back. I find doing yoga helps. I have the Wii fit & fit plus & find that some of the exercises on it are to bad on my back. I also have an ellptical trainer & stepper that I use.
    I have heard that exercising in water is the best for us...I may have to try it out this year.
    I wish we had a swimming facility in this town! :-(
  • DoingItNow2012
    DoingItNow2012 Posts: 424 Member
    I have it. I am still learning about it. For me the pain is there whether I workout or not, so why not work out. I've heard that intitially when working out it will feel worst, but keep going. I have gotten used to my level of pain, sad to say, so I just keep doing what I want knowing it's there. When it gets bad, I take pain killers (anti inflammatory). Doesn't get rid of the pain, but dulls it some. Sometimes you can tell when a bad flare up is coming, and in that case i take something the night before to help me function the next day.

    I am staying away for prescription medication now and for as long as I can. The next thing i am going to try is an elimination diet to see if I can identify trigger foods. I know junk foods (sodas, chips, etc) makes me feel worse, duh right. So I work really hard to limit them. As a matter of fact haven't touched Soda since my last major flare up about 4 or 5 months back.

    I've gotten so used to the pain, sometimes I forget I have it. Meaning I will start complaining of fatigue and major pain after sometime has passed without any major Flare Ups, then I remember "oh yeah" . Or sometimes other people remind me with their questions.

    Life is too short. I figure I will try to do the things I want before I cannot. Who knows what other surprises the body will bring you later. If the Doc clears you, Just Do it!
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    Be patient with yourself. Learn to listen to your body. Don't push too far. That's one of my biggest mistakes- I want so badly to be normal, fit, healthy, that I'll get to the gym and I'll do a hard work out. I'll make myself run on the treadmill or lift until I'm shaking... and there is almost always a huge price to pay afterward.

    Also, watch out for depression. When you're chronically in pain, and you can't do what you want to do (like pick little girls up and swing them around), it sucks... and the sadness and discouragement sets in and it can stick around for a while. Smartest thing I ever did was find a good therapist. Way more helpful than my doctors have been. I don't see one now and I seem to be doing okay because I've learned some good coping skills... but.... yes, that's my advice.

    By the way, the disease doesn't always get worse. Mine has gotten better over time. Losing weight was a huge help.
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    P.S. I like yoga a lot too! The slow, gentle, stretchy kind, not the kick-your-butt kind. I've tried tai chi once too and loved it... just couldn't find a reasonably priced place close to my home.
  • DoingItNow2012
    DoingItNow2012 Posts: 424 Member
    I agree with Rebekah monitor and manage any depressive symptoms. Gotta be able to maintain a positive outlook overall. When I was first diagnosed, i was really bummed. Then became glad to know what was wrong and that it was not worse.

    I think my level of pain is not as high as others, but then again how do you really ever know that? Even though they say it's due to a lower pain tolerance, I find that you develop a high tolerance for pain having had to deal with it for years. I usually tell people if you here me complaining it's bad, because the pain is always there.
  • danmoffett
    danmoffett Posts: 110
    Fibromyalgia?

    Read a book called "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis.
  • fjrandol
    fjrandol Posts: 437 Member
    Fibromyalgia?

    Read a book called "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis.
    or not. A gf diet and fibromyalgia do not necessarily go hand in hand.

    I have fm (diagnosed 07/2011) and currently take effexor and meloxicam (which have helped quite a bit, btw!). Not pain-free, but I am finding it far more manageable than before I began receiving treatment.

    I attend a pilates class 2x/week, and try to walk regularly. Currently I'm making ample use of my treadmill, as the cold air outside exacerbates my pain levels. I've also recently been trying Jillian Michael's 30DS and found that it's within reason if you adapt the workouts (would not attempt this without being on some sort of exercise regimin first; JM is a beast!).
  • ladybird_
    ladybird_ Posts: 55 Member
    The medication that helped me the most is Lyrica (Canadian Brand name for Pregabalin) it was given to me by a rheumatologist in Edmonton.

    In just two weeks it had actually relieved the pain and bruising in my calf I had suffered with for 5 months after an stupid accident suffered while on my first vacation in 6 years but that's a different story. It's use for FMS is off label so I do not get covered for the cost and have had to stop taking it for now, but I will for sure take it again when the cards are right.

    For me, anti-inflamatories And pain medication do not solve the problem, only cover up a little of the pain, and I have tried lots of them in the last 12 years. I have also struggled with depression for a long long time. If I could just forget that I once upon a time was "normal" maybe I would be better? Depression is one of the main reasons I have my weight issues. I have tried many pills for it but they do not seem to help.
  • DoingItNow2012
    DoingItNow2012 Posts: 424 Member
    The new years weekend is catching up to me. That "bruised" feeling has spread. yeah Fibro!
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