Hi everyone,
My name is Lindsey and I am glad I found this group! I have had 2 car wrecks (and one big baby) and I have back and neck problems. I have a bulging disk in my lower back. Sometimes I will wake up in the morning and not be able to walk without a cane; usually I don't even know what caused me to throw my back out. Other times I will wake up and can't move my neck.

I have not exercised in 2 years because I don't know how to do it without hurting myself!! I hate being in pain and am scared to start, but I know i need to start or this will keep happening. Right now all I do is walk during my lunch hour. So far this has not caused many problems.

Please add me as a friend so I will know what ya'll are doing for exercise.

HI I'm Tracey.I'm 32 and I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Hypothyroidism, makes loosing weight an uphill struggle.

Currently i'm using a static bike on the lower resistance setting and Exerbest gym class workout on the wii. Both are low impact so no stress on my joints.

I have a blog http://tiredofbeing2tired.blogspot.com where i post a daily blog about how im coping, what im trying and what i find out about CFS alont the way.

I was recommended this site as i have wasted money on weight watchers and tescos diets both of which didnt loose me a single lbs but cost me lost of £££'s.

I'm also allergic to wheat, severely allergic to wheat and aspartame, which means alot of diet and none sugar food/drinks are a no go too.

Coping everyday and my husband stops my buying chocolate. To date I havent had a single peice of choclate single boxing 2011 to 1 month and counting. It's not easy tho, I crave chocolate everyday.

Hello everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself, I am new here. I am a 35 year old female living in Norway, and have had ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and fibromyalgia for almost 5 years. Right now I have recently started a water aerobics class and loving it. I am feeling good about making some changes and definitely seeing some improvement in my pain after cutting out the fast carbs and junk in my diet. Look forward to get to knowing everyone here.

Hello. I am 55 years old with arthritis in both knees and both thumb joints. I am determined to still exercise and get moving more. I'm hoping to find ideas here on how to cope with the pain.

Hello my name is Charlotte and I am a 28 year old single mum to a little girl who will be 7 in February. I live in Kent, England. I have a combination of Neuropathic and Nociceptive pain in both my knees. Due to the way I walk with my knees, it causes inflammation in my hips and also suffer Chronic Trochanteric Bursitis. I take a huge range of pill, for my pain and then to treat the worst of the side effects from them. I also take beta blockers for my heart and pills and puffers for my asthma, In total I have 13 different prescribed meds each day including 8 pills, 2 puffers (one is actually 2 drugs Serevent and Flixatide rolled into one puffer), 2 liquids and a sachet to be mixed with water. All these mess around with my appetite and weight, though they are not solely responsible. I am hoping to have the opiate med (Tramadol) to be changed for another (Palexia AKA Tapentadol). The hospital will not allow the pain team or anyone to prescribe it because of the cost however, they can make a recommendation to my GP and he can prescribe it. This is stronger and is more closely monitored, but it has fewer gastrointestinal effects so I may eventually be able to drop a med or two. I cannot climb stairs and can no longer get in and out of a bathtub, my bathroom recently had to be adapted to a wet room and its SO MUCH easier to wash etc.. I use a stick to get around most days so I find most kinds of exercise difficult and in some cases impossible. Feel free to add me xx

Hi Everyone! I'm from Arlington, Texas. I just joined yesterday. I wish all reading happy losing the healthy way!

I am 48, married,and have 3 children ages 20, 18 and 16 (all girls). I have chronic pain from Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) and Fibromyalgia (FM). Between three pregnancies and all the meds I have taken in the past 20 years to combat the pain I have I added 90 pounds to my frame!

I broke my ankle, have fought a BAD bone infection for a year and a half and, well, now I'm chosing amputation of my lower leg to get me back on my feet. No pities, please! It's a SCARY decision, yes, but I'll be able to walk well again in just a few months!

I have about 63 pounds left to lose. So here I go! Thanks for reading.

Cheryl

I suppose I should probably introduce myself here. I'm Elisabeth. I was born with a genetic bone disease called Congenital Multiple Osteochondromatosis or Multiple Hereditary Exostoses. Yes, it has 2 names. What this means is that I have bone and cartilage tumors on every joint of my body. Most are small, some large, some have or do impede painfree movement. I've had multiple major orthopedic surgeries since I was 3 years old and can only look forward to more in the future. Of the tumors I've had removed, the smallest were the size of walnuts, the largest was the size of a grapefruit. I don't have any visibly large tumors like that anymore.

Yes, this is a pretty debilitating condition. As were the surgeries. But I used it as an excuse most of my life to remain overweight and out of shape. I've just decided not to do that anymore. I'm currently doing things with my body I never dreamed possible. I can't believe I can actually run. Nothing changed as far as the bone disease goes. I just kind of turned off the part of my brain that says I can't do that. I still experience pain.

I've also been diagnosed with clinical depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.

HI. My family has called me Dee Dee ever since my oldest sister could not say "baby" and Dee Dee stuck, although my mom named me Carolyn when she said she heard Christmas carolers outside her hospital window. I am a happy grandma of two wonderful boys, 4 and 1, one daughter 33 and one son 31, so I am over-the-hill, but living life to its fullest with chronic pain. I have had two back surgeries, one for a fusion, one for a tumor. This has been ongoing since 1998, but I maintain by keeping moving. I, too, live in Washington State close to beautiful Mount Rainier. I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia on top of the chronic back pain last month. I am happy to have a place with wonderful people who understandand and will give me lots of tips on overcoming these conditions. Thanks for sharing everyone! :flowerforyou:

Hi - Just read through the members post to this thread. My name is Barbara and I live in Northern VA. What really struck me as I read through the introductions of all you unique and wonderful people are the reminder that fibro is really a secondary diagnosis after suffering pain from something else for so long. I'm recalling a book from Arthritis Foundation that a rheumatologist gave me when I was diagnosed. Has anyone else read that book?

My body ailments are numerous depending on what joint I am talking about so I won't bother with the list but overall I feel fairly broken at 49. My earliest joint pain memories go back to my knees even as a teenager. Then it went to back, which I always attributed to dealing with cars seats and the way we bend trying to get the kids in them. After years of back 'episodes' I ended up on disability from work for well over a year - a long painful period of being drugged up and suffering that I am so thankful to have lived through and can look back on now 15 years later. Presently, I have been able to work full time again and am thankful for a job that allows me very flexible hours.

Mornings are always the most challenging. First, I generally have to talk myself out of bed. Then when I do get up I go for the caffeine and my lounge chair until I feel I can face the world. Anyone relate to that? I have deep empathy for anyone that has hit the depression level as I am familiar with that as well and recommend you see a doctor that can help find a drug that helps with pain and depression. For many years I fought off psychoactive drugs, but now realize it is more important for me to live a normal life and I can only do that with the assistance of pharmaceuticals.


Wow - I'm writing way too much and need to get back to work. Glad I stumbled on this group and look forward to our interactions.
Barbara

Hi,

I'm Lauren, I have arthritis secondary to Crohn's disease and Fibromyalgia. I'm also really bad about eating for comfort so all in all I've gained a lot of weight in the past twelve years (most of it in 3 years!). I'm in need of losing over 100 lbs but often feel like I'm playing a losing game. I start up a work-out regimen only to be stopped by horrible pain for days-months. I have managed to lose 30 lbs in the past year, but have hit a plateau recently. I joined MFP to help me get over the hump.

I'm hoping to make some friends to help with support and help me realize what I'm doing right/wrong.

Thanks,

Lauren

Good morning. Just walked into work and there is a homemade King cake on the counter. Had to do a lot of positive self talk to remind myself that my goals are more important than that cake. The cake is not worth blowing my goals for today. If I have only a taste I will not be able to stop at that. I can have King cake another time if I like.

What other positive self talk messages do you find helpful? :flowerforyou:

Also, the book my doctor suggested when I was first diagnosed with fybro was "The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Good Living with Fybromyalgia." I see it is on Amazon and cheap second hand copies are available. It looks like it might have been updated since I first read it too.

Hi everyone. My name is Christine and I am 29 years old. I was diagnosed with MS Sept. 2008. Shortly after I was diagnosed with MS they found arthritis in my back. I've also dealt with depression and anxiety since I was about 15 years old.

I'm looking for some good, supportive friends in this journey.

hi , I am 47 years old,. i have a wonderful husband, three grown children, and four grandkids. I have had my goll bladder out, a hysterectomy, and have had fibromyalsia for 17 years . there isnt any thing out there that helps with my pain . i just deal with it. I cant over do it with exercise or i get really bad so i keep that light. sometimes i ride my bike a little and i really like to use my kayak in the sommer. i have gained a lot of my weight from when the dr had me trying different meds that never helped but always added 20 to 40 lbs,. also gained some after the hysterectomy. now i would like to lose 60 to 75 lbs. it is very difficult for me to lose weight. hoping the accountability will help. nothing seems to work but i just keep trying. so any good ideas will be appreciated

Hi, my name is Diana. I am 31, and have been living with an undifferentiated connective tissue disease for the past eight years. It includes elements of arthritis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, so it can be very difficult to manage at times. During better phases, I do a decent job of eating healthy, doing regular, low-impact cardio exercises and maintaining my daily routine. But during bad spells, you often can find me curled up in bed with a box of pizza rather than at the gym or out with friends. I have always to been able to maintain a weight that is in the normal range, but I don't believe that a person's actual health is totally reflected in that number. I really want to be more healthy through diet and exercise -- and just a lot more active in general -- so I would love to meet others experiencing similar challenges in order to give and receive support!!

Hi. I am Lori, 44 yo and have been living with chronic pain for about 15 years. I have congenital stenosis, arthritic spine, fibro, 2 lumbar surgeries, neuropathic pain and numbness in all limbs. Beat cancer twice I take some heavy duty meds to help, but am in pain any time I am conscious. I find it hard to motivate myself at times to get on the treadmill...or do much of anything. I am 5'9" and 178# I would be happy at 145, but super happy in the 135-140 range. My main issue is excercsse..its so hard when you are in pain. I am looking forward to warmer weather for swimming, but other than that, light yoga/stretching an treadmill, when I can ...is about all I can manage. Anyone else like this?