I was diagnosed in 1995 after a car accident. I was also already in therapy for Panic Disorder, which I do believe plays a huge role with FMS. I also have Occular Migraines and IBS with (diah).
I recently tried Lyrica and hated it! Maybe it's the combination of other meds but I will never swallow another one. It was the worst 24+ hours I've had in a long time!
I find that if the day has been difficult and I take a muscle relaxant before bed I have a better morning, but I only do that if I'm actually having back spasms and it hurts to breathe.
I'm afraid to exercise because something as simple as making the bed, or running the vaccuum can cause spasms unless I'm very mindful of how I'm moving. I've gone from 108 to 127 and I'm five feet tall so it really shows. I've also noticed that I have more pain with the added weight.
Has anyone tried a fitness program designed just for people with FMS? What was it and did it work? I really need to get in shape. I'm not lazy - I'm afraid of the pain. Thanks.
I hear you. I'm not lazy either. But afraid of the days I lose to pain because of what I did to myself. Sometimes I just say the heck with it I will pay later. Welcome to our group. You will find people here you have a lot in common with-unfortunately for all of us! I haven't come across a fitness program for FMS. We could sure use one.
Can your doctor prescribed physical therapy for you? A PT who is familiar with Fibro can get you moving again and will not push you into the agony zone. Helped me.
Meanwhile, have you tried gentle stretches before you get out of bed? Think of how cats stretch when they get up. You just want to loosen your muscles a bit. Several of us do gentle Hatha Yoga movements. Nothing vigorous. We don't force any positions. The controlled breathing helps reduce physical and mental stress. Perhaps your local library has some DVD's. You want something like Yoga for Seniors, Chair Yoga or Yoga for Arthritis. There is a Yoga video for Fibro but I am not familiar with it. Google the tem a see what comes up. Maybe they show some clips.
About the muscles relaxant: The best way to manage pain is to keep it under control, not chase it after it starts. If you feel better when taking this med, take it. I take a muscle relaxant every night to help stop my endless fidgeting. It is very low dose and I have taken it for years. I take it with a low a dose anti-anxiety med (I, too, have panic attacks) and my doctor and I have determined that this combination works adequately as opposed to sleeping meds.
It's nice to have you on the group. I hope other members weigh in on your question. Some manage their Fibro without prescription meds so their holistic approach encompasses many physical things like exercise. We all learn a lot from each other here. Hugs, Marcia
I have been walking on my treadmill for 8 or 9 years. I started off with 5 min. very slow. Worked up to 30 min. 3 to 5x a week. Try some weeks everyday, until my feet, ankles, legs hurt. Then rest 2 days and go back at it again. Excersizing in the warm water is fun too. Just find something that can get you moving. The IBS is mostly gone with change in diet, less meds, more water. When I eat too much chicken or beef on rare occasions, I get constipated. You know this group is the next best thing to driving to a monthly meeting. Don't have the gas money to go right now anyways. Welcome, Lynelle
I've found swimming works for me the best. I have flat feet. I am quite over weight. My doctor said swimming would be the best. I don't do a lot. Just some at the local YMCA. I do take Lyrica. Fortunately, I did not have any bad side effects from it. I've taken it for several years for diabetic nerve pain in my feet. My doctor boosted my dosage since my preliminary FIBRO diagnosis (pending the blood test results in a few weeks). I also take neurontin for pain from my permanent nerve damage from my cervical spine.
Bottom line, for exercise, swimming...oh, and also the exercise bike at the YMCA some helps.
I take a Darvocet when I wake up in the morning and just go back to bed and sleep a bit more or read until I can move. If I'm going to garden, or vacumn, sweep, etc, I take a muscle relaxer before I start, if I remember. My back immediately starts going into spasms with those activities, so I do better if I am proactive. Ken is right, water aerobics or swimming is the best exercise for us, but one needs to be in at least 94 degree heated water, or the cold can tighten up your muscles even more. Accupuncture helps, but is expensive. Pt is wonderful. The massages, E-stim and gentle stretches and range of motion exercises really help. One of my favorite things to do is to have a nice cuppa, preferably mint, and sit on the front porch and relax in the glider with my book. There is something so soothing about hot tea, and just taking the time to de-stress and look about and enjoy the flowers is a joy.
Good to hear from you! I know what you mean about suffering after excercize! I do yoga with the help of a chair It helps me. PT told me to do that! Stretches, more stretches is a must. We are all in the same boat with this issue. Just need to learn new ways to paddle. Yes, somedays I go for it.... suffer so much for days after. Just part of my life now. Wish I could have my old life back?!?!Not gonna happen so we plug on and do the best we can. With the help of our Fmily here, Drs. meds, PT!! I can do this!So can you! Good luck let us know what works for you
I found out the hard way that Curves, good as those exercises are, are not for us. when I was going through the 6 wk. FMS class, the PT and OT said only gentle stretches, no strength training, and if one ever is strong enough to walk or exercise with weights, make sure it was not any heavier than a Campbell's soup can. (16oz) With my neck problem, one of the exercises PT had me doing was to use a broom handle, or an exercise band, and hold it out in front of me and raise my arms slowly over my head. That's for range of motion and helps open up your neck and shoulders. One of the reasons we get so tight there is because we're tensing in from the pain,and it tightens up our neck and shoulders.
Hi, glad to have you on here! I also have a 'fear of exercise rebound.' I want to do it, but am so afraid of what follows. I swim as much as possible- we have a pool, and now that the weather has cooled off, I can go to the Y. I love stretches, but be really careful not to stretch too hard, which can really hurt for awhile or cause spasms. I also walk some- I prefer outdoors, but I have a tread mill, too; I turn on the fan and go at it for a little while. I HAVE to have moving air at all times or I feel like I am suffocating! I have some mild asthma- I don't know if that is the problem or something with the fibro. I have a life-long bad habit of holding my breath, which I know is really bad for your health, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it, either. By the way, I don't know what made me start the breath-holding or how to stop it, I have tried for years. Probably stress-related, and probably starving my oxygen supply. Oh, well. Again, glad you have joined us.
