Exercise

[Ems16]

Hi lovely people, I have been struggling to find exercise that may help with fibromyalgia - does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

[Shadows-walker]

Aqua aerobics, and gentle walking . Yoga is also good but only if you have straight forward fibro , not good for MCTD . Run things past OT at local physio dept ,best bet .

Hugs

Chris .

[Ems16 in reply to Shadows-walker]

Think I may get involved with a physio and ot as at times I'm finding it difficult to walk without holding onto things. Need to work out how best to combat that.

[Annita]

Hi,

I go to Tai Chi, as the instructor says 'every move modifiable' if I get sore or tired out, I just sit down. I'm the youngest one there at 41. Im still a beginner but I enjoy it.

I hope you find something that agrees with you x

[Ems16 in reply to Annita]

Thanks. I'm 23 and went to a yoga class and was the youngest there by about 40 years. Ha ha didn't find it useful for me as kept getting questioned as to why I was there.

[TheAuthor]

I do a daily gentle physiotherapy. It is just gently rolling knees, ankles etc; and slowly bending of the knees and toes etc. I find this very useful. I want to genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Ems16 in reply to TheAuthor]

Thanks.

[dawnlancaster]

Yea its called the sleeping excersize you close your eyes laydown and imagene your at the gym its great lol x

[Ems16 in reply to dawnlancaster]

Ha ha I like this one. Lol but lying still hurts which is rubbish.

[dawnlancaster in reply to Ems16]

Yea i no its not good .i do sewing with a machine which keeps my brain going x

[Julesq27 in reply to dawnlancaster]

That's made me chuckle x

[PRAZEGIRL]

Hi I am having the same problem. I go swimming so I have exercises to do in the pool but find it difficult to do things at home. I have fiubfpd some for lying on the bed.

You raise you legs up and hold in your stomach do the 10 times on each leg. Also.hold your stomach in an lift your body up as though you where doing stomach crunches. They are quite good and they do work I try and do them every day. Hope you are OK like the GP told me if anything hurts stop doing it.

[countess]

Hi Ems, have you heard about graduated exercise programme? It was discussed on R2 Jeremy Vine show a couple of weeks ago. I've been recently attending pain clinic physio session with specialist physio & nurse supervising (watching me like a hawk!) to ensure I don't overdo it & boom/bust.

As an ex PE teacher, it's hard to accept the new 'me' but I've done so well that they've given me a month off to work on my own (only to go down with a flu/virus thing👿)

The key is 'small steps' & the programme is individually tailored around your needs, each week I discuss how I'm feeling & we can adapt accordingly & it's developed as we go along. I was gob smacked at how little I started with but they were VERY firm about not doing my own thing & pushing too hard or adding time onto duration of each element. Once I got my head around that, it was great fun & I was referred to as a "success story" to another patient last week in an attempt to encourage him to reduce meds!

Although I don't feel too great right now, I'm learning to judge how I'm feeling & adapt my expectations as well as the physicality of whatever I'm doing.

Hopefully it will help you to research this in your area - BUT I did wait a very long time to get on the programme 😿

Good luck & let me know if you need further info.

[Ems16 in reply to countess]

Aww that sounds great I have never heard about the graduated exercise program - it sounds really intriguing. Would you please be able to message me more about it if possible? I was such an active person but the problem I have is my fibromyalgia doesn't have triggers that make it flare up it just flares up without warning. It's hard to stay active when you don't know when you will next get a flare up. I loved the gym and gymnastics which I am still trying to coach but it is getting harder and harder.

I have been on one of the pain management courses where you are involved with nurses, physios and psychologists. I found it really good but was the youngest on the course by a long shot and kept getting told that it was no life for me to live with by the older people on the course with me being diagnosed so young which really got me down. I have tried to prove them all wrong and that it won't ruin my life but I always find it hard thinking at the back of my mind what they have said.

[Julesq27 in reply to Ems16]

I know that feeling I was very active too always worked full time run around after the kids going to the gym loved dancing and kickboxing and horse riding now I can't move at all, the worse the weather gets the worse I feel. Been in bed for 10 days now driving me crazy it feels like a lifetime and really dosent help when older generation give you dirty looks for parking in a disabled space!

People stereotype and since it's an invisible illness it's even worse for us. I feel for you xxx

[Kerryjess in reply to countess]

I've never heard about this programme either! Can I ask are you in U.S.A. Or UK? My last session at pain clinic was over a year ago. I was told I would get review in 6 months but am still waiting, so no injections in back for all of that time. The told me they have a backlog of two years, so I've given up on that. They only seem to offer pain relief at my pain clinic, not physio or other options. my only exercise is going to the local spa and continuing the series of exercises I was given a few years ago at hydrotherapy. Now I can't even swim properly as I need a hip replacement and when I do breaststroke, The pain hits with a vengeance. I have developed a mermaid flip which must look very strange but at least it allows me to get up and down the pool for some exercise lol! X

[Julesq27 in reply to countess]

How do you get on the program? Is it a referral by a GP? Rheumatologist? I'm desperate and really need to start something. I've bed. Diagnosed over 2.5 years ago given lots of tablets and just left to it! X

[lb003]

I find Yoga or Pilates the best for me, but only when I have a good teacher, who understands that I need to stretch noto strengthen. I think it's because my muscles are so tight. I am still quite flexible at 50 and strong, but have a lot of painful arthritic joints along with the fibro. It's the pain and fatigue that I struggle with most. It's the fatigue that halts me in my tracks.

My local physiotherapists run pilates classes and that's great as they are very good at altering exercises for me.

Ems16, Yoga is for everyone so if they think you're too young find another class that embraces everyone. They'll be someone who loves to have you in their class😊

[Ems16 in reply to lb003]

Thanks Ib003 really appreciate your reply. Think I will try and find another yoga class somewhere who will embrace me for who I am.

[Shadows-walker in reply to lb003]

Hi I was told no yoga with my condition,and I really enjoyed it , as I said in a earlier post I have MCtD

Hugs ☺️

[countess]

I'm in the UK in Shoreham by Sea on the South Coast. I know this is a relatively new thing but I've also had CBT seperately which has also helped in the acceptance phase. ignore the negative oldies, I'm 56yrs old & this is a complete nightmare for me - have had to give up my career / vocation & take early retirement but still no pension yet & GP has had forms since July!!! However, I'm now looking out on the most stunning view of lagoon/ beach huts & the sea feeling very blessed but broke!! I'm not claiming any benefits so if anyone knows what I should do it would be much appreciated.

Suggest you get back onto the pain clinic & ask about this in your area.

Also check out Jeremy Vine's show it must still be on iplayer from 28/10/15 (just checked date as I emailed them!)

Let me know how you get on & ho for it ..... GENTLY which will allow you go build up!

Countess x

[stripes64]

Hi Countess

The benefit system as I'm sure you are aware can be quite a nightmare, this site is a good place to start turn2us.org.uk then a little research on claiming ESA and PIP will help, don't be put of by my nightmare comment as your entitled to help.

Exercise I find household chores wipe me out however careful I am but in the morning I do some very gentle stretching to help my legs get going and wish there was a hydrotherapy pool close enough to use, I do find my pig headed and stubborn self not to give up works quite well too lol

[MariLiz]

Yoga or TaiChi, start with something very gentle at first. Maybe a good idea to get advice from your doctor before you start. MariLiz

[Eddie1]

Hi I try slow stretching like yoga before I get out of bed it helps a bit first thing

[Redhots7]

Low level yoga class for stretching is what I am gonna try !