What is this exercise that people are doing two three times a day.........I find breathing hard enough exercise at the moment:-((

[Lizzyear]

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me asking .....what are these exercises that you do 2/3 times a day? I can't ever imagine doing any exercise, just in the most horrendous pain! I feel breathing is exercise enough at the moment:-((

[sange]

I used to do chair based exercise and when in bed my friend told me do stretches with bands for 5 min ..found some move it or loose it chair stuff on you tube but i am not good alone need a class so since I have put on a bit of weight I thought I might try to find my old trainer but I was told at the expert patient training for people with long term illness that exercise on referal is available from our GP ..so thinking ..hope you find what you need keep searching

[lou60]

In my case I mainly do stretching and flexing all the joints, this was taught at physio. You do need to be careful not to overdo it, it's a very fine line. xx

[lou60 in reply to lou60]

Ps. You can also learn how to breathe properly this is not as daft as it sounds as when we are in constant pain we tend to have tension causing shallow breathing which in itself is exhausting. xx

[Lizzyear in reply to lou60]

Thank you for your replies. I'm finding it hard even when out of a flare. As have had a shoulder part replacement that has left me in sooo much pain and the other shoulder and hips are arthritic. Find it hard to use the local pool as not warm enough for me really, by the time I'm dried and dressed, got no energy left, leaves me wiped out for days! Any suggestions would be most welcome. Gentle hugs x

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to Lizzyear]

Hi there, I too have had a complete shoulder replacement, not a titanium one but one they call a "hybrid" and is synthetic, so I really feel for you and the pain you are going through and you have my deepest sympathy and understanding.

Like Lou has said, I mostly do stretching exercises and flexing joints if I can cope with it, but some days it just isn't possible and the fatigue just takes over.

Swimming would be good as it supports all your muscles etc., but if you find the water too cold then that defeats the object. I was lucky enough to have a holiday in Kos back at the start of September and swam (ish!) in the beautifully warm sea and it did me a power of good. Sadly with the current weather things have gone downhill again.

I'm sure more people will pop by with advice, but I'm sending positive healing vibes your way

Foggy x

[Lizzyear in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Thank you for your reply, sorry to hear the weather is causing you more suffering. I also cope much better in the warmer weather.

Take care. Gentle hugs :-)))

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to Lizzyear]

Thanks you lovely kind friend, much appreciated

Foggy x

[rosewine]

My exercises are prescribed by a physio to try and loosen the tension in the muscles around my joints and help the arthritis in my back and hips. I am also due to start hopefully 6 sessions of hydrotherapy in a heated pool at the hospital on friday as the exercises are only having a limited effect. Mind you it has taken 5 years for anyone to do anything on this front for me as far as physio is concerned! I think my new doctor is keener in referring for things like that as he seems to hate pain killers and thinks everyone is addicted to them and having far too many so is keen on any therapy that doesn;t use them. I used to be a very keen swimmer but had to give it up when I was struck down with costo chondritis as doing any strokes only made the pain worse. When I felt a little better I tried going to the public swimming baths but the changing rooms and water were so cold that in order to survive I was having to really push myself to swim fast to keep warm and by the time I had got out and changed I was frozen which just tensed all my muscles up again. I am hoping that exercise which is supervised in the warmth of the pool will help. if there is an immense improvement I will probably then perhaps pay to join a gym that has a hot tub and do some of the exercises I have learnt. The physio has said that if none of this works he will try pushing down on the taunt muscles in my back to try and ease them as supposedly they are so knotted he could not even feel the joints underneath.

Since being ill I have always done gentle stretches before getting out of bed in the morning and have tried to do them during the day as the pain builds up. I feel a bit at the moment as though I am training for the Olympics but I don;t think there will be any medals at the end of it.x

[TheAuthor]

Hi Lizzyear

Mine is laying on my back and bending my legs and rolling my knees slowly side to side. Another is to do the same with my ankles. I hope this helps?

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[fenbadger]

I do daily exercise. Up, down, up, down. then the other eyelid.

Not entirely facetious. I wonder if you can get a referral to help. Breathing is clearly an issue and I'd want to sort it first. Then "chairobocs", maybe mild tai chi. You don't have to do everything in the book/DVD. Stop when you have had enough.

Is your learners' pool a couple of degrees warmer? they used to be. Which leads to hydrotherapy. Are you close enough to your hospital to make it worth a try (if you can get a referral). Those pools are usually much warmer - the warmth helps loosen the muscles and ligaments.

My base level exercise is as simple as look left, right, left. It sounds daft and feels daft when you start BUT it really helps. And how about bed based movements like Ken's. You might include crossing and uncrossing your arms across your chest (still in bed). The major goal is not to run a marathon but get your joints more mobile and less painful. Exercise is not necessarily a workout.

Is there any particular part of you that is more painful (and maybe stiff) than the rest?

Good luck and lots of hugs

[bluejeans16]

This may sound totally stupid but i was watching daily brunch the other day and the presenters were trying out a new form of exercise. (can't remember what it was) I was saying to my mom afterwards that i could almost touch my toes but when i did it I was completely out of breath afterwards. This is stupid 12 months ago i was doing 40 press ups a day now if I do 5 I feel like I am dying.

[sue32]

I believe it's called High Impact exercise. The link I've found is

nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pag...

Hope it helps!! XX

[mikipaulo]

Good day! I am so sorry that you experience so much pain. It is very difficult to imagine exercises when you are so ill.

My doctor suggested & I found it workable to do the following...ALWAYS based on how I feel that day! ALWAYS to tolerance!

BAD BAD DAYS, when staying in bed, I exercise by curling into a ball & then stretching full length. Some days I only manage once an hour on each side. Other days it is a set of four times an hour on each side.

BAD DAYS, when able to sit up, I chair dance for 5 minutes per hour. Nothing special...just turn on my mini tape recorder & move the legs & arms to the music.

BETTER DAYS, when up & around house, I get up, stretch good, and walk the entire inside (each room's available floor space) 4-8 times per day.

GOOD DAYS, I walk outside just around yard or down road &'back...always to tolerance. I stretch & move my arms at little stops along the way. Keep in mind it I to tolerance! Some good days I can walk half a block & back. Other days I can walk my half a block & back several times that day or even severs times in a row. (I only go half a block & back because I wave stranded myself unable to walk from pain & fatigue a mile from home. Not fun).

BETTER DAYS: I go to walk at zoo, stores, or mall with my husband. (He has had to sit in stores with me to rest or bring the car around the mall for me a few times but it is worth it to me.)

[mikipaulo]

Continued...

ON BEST DAYS, when I feel energetic, I walk or swim the pool, use light weights in my walking, or use my bands to actual exercise programs once a day. Again...only to tolerance! With fibro you don't need to push yourself till you are tired. Just the opposite...that could crash you.

BEST HEALTH, when having weeks of good days, I alternatingly do one of the exercises routinely. Key word routinely!

I used to love my Hatha Yoga tree times a week. Hatha Yoga is gently slow moves. Kept me stronger & leaner. But...fibro progressed too far. It is my hope to get back to that some day.

You see....no one thing works & we can plan a routine very often, and our tolerance in fibro changes frequently, sometimes even daily.

But, my doctor is absolutely correct! Moving is exercising & exercise does relieve pain.

Good luck & God Bless!