Hi all, Just wondering what exercise do you find helps your fibro...I dnt swim so am looking for something else x

[sezzle06]

[crop]

I use Joseph weisbergs stretches from 6 steps to a pain free life every morning and evening and I walk 30 mins to an hour every day. Seems the more you move the less you hurt xx

[sezzle06]

Thanks I walk the dog, I want to shift some weight too but not sure what kind of exercise my achey body will cope with

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi there sezzle,

I used to swim a mile a day before my Fibro kicked in with a huge vengeance about 8 years ago, I'd had it for ages, but it came and went, now is seems to be a permanent lodger I do miss my swimming, I have had a shoulder replacement and am awaiting the other, so if hat happens, I may take to the water again as I love it soooo much Realistically I walk as much as I can on the days when pain allows, my doglets walk themselves when I'm down and out, which is great.

It isn't easy to be prescriptive about what exercise to recommend though as all of us are affected in different ways by our fibro and other health issues, it may be that you have to try gentle things like yoga or Pilates , but it will have to be something which is right for you. You could also try joining a slimming club if it is weight you want to lose, a combination of diet and exercise is always the best way to actually achieve weight loss.

I wish you well and a happy 2014

Foggy x

[sezzle06 in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Thanks foggy I will try something gentle like pilate. The rheumatology dept recommend swimming but I swim like a brick!!!!! Lol x

[sezzle06 in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

P.s...hope you can start 2swim again x

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to sezzle06]

Aww bless you, I hope so too, it's about the only thing I do or did well ... Thank you

[mandajane]

Maybe start with Thai Chi. Yoga and Pilates are hard 1st off for someone with a pain condition. Some of the stretches are tough!!! If you can't swim just going to the pool and walking around will help. Resistance from water is good. What we all have to remember us what's been said already the less you move the more the fatigue and pain will increase. It difficult to do anything when you hurt but small changes do help xx no I am off to follow my own advice!!

[ladyship]

Hi sezzle06,

My pain Manager has suggested ti chi which i have booked up for 6 weeks to see if it can help me.Also I was told i was not to try swimming yet as it would be to exhausting but she said try water walking just do half or 1 width at first then build on that eventuality i will be able to start swimming gradually again. Try the water walking if you have someone to go with. I will let you know how helpful it is to me. I start the ti chi 8th January.Hope i have given you some hope for exercise. ladyship xx

[nedd]

Had had the good fortune of 3 weeks of hydro therapy within the pain management course in Oxford. It was about water resistant exercise. It was lovely as the pool was so warm.

What undoes me in a sports centre is the cold water. I have no shame poncing about in the baby pool. But even that doesn't see warm enough. You don't have to swim to have a lark. Can you take a mate.

I walk up and down my living room or kitchen to get me moving of a morning. If its too wet to take whippet.

And I have been known to gently bob to a bit of music,

It's all exercise.

My favourite but I don't dare do any more. Is playing catch against the wall with a tennis ball. But My shoulder gives me hell the next day. It's amazing how much you move. You can do this inside too.

A body in motion stays in motion is one of mantras when I am laid in bed and can't find the where with all.

Just start with tiny steps but build it in to a routine and make a star chart to reward yourself. It's motivating to see how many times you do it in a month. Another tip from course. Then when you hit 10 sessions have a large cream cake or something.

Good luck

[jayfer]

I'm starting Ti chi at the end of the month. I was referred back to physio who suggested this as I have already done aqua exercise with them. Ask your GP as he had to approve me to do this ( apparently comes out of his budget) Good luck x

[linlit]

hi i do tai chi i was refered by the pain clinic 3 years ago and found it very helpful, even though i no longer do the classes i use the exercisesi learnt to help me out of bed in the morning also during the day.

The relaxation techniques i learnt are also very helpful

I also did water arobics which i loved but the pool became too cold so had to stop but thet have just built a brand new one so i may be able to do it again, and you dont need to be able to swim to take part.

lin

[fenbadger]

agreed with all those. Swimming is great for many things but expensive and sometimes hard to find time for, you have to get there and back, get changed twice etc. 1 hour swim (if only) can take 2 hrs easy.

It's dangerous to suggest a regime that may be unsuitable.

My stock answer is "whatever works for you". There are loads of exercises can be done at home without equipment. just moving limbs & joints may be enough. Your physio dept should be able to advise if you can get referred through the red tape. If you get pain exercising, is it "good pain or bad pain". only you can decide. If it's "bad pain", stop at once.

What works for me is cycling. It's not weight bearing so the joints don't get thrashed. I'm also a warden on my local nature reserve. The long walk at MY OWN PACE is therapeutic in itself and I'll keep it up as long as I can. I don't get too involved in strenuous workdays.