Fibromyalgia

[Nuffield]

Hi everyone I have fibromyalgia and had a nasty flats up in November I'm still in a lot of pain and am waiting to see a rheumatologist,I have started gong to the swimming pool water walking and exercising my arms under water it seems to be making the pain and stiffness worse will it start to help of am I wasting my time

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Be careful that you are not over-doing exercise as this can cause paint to increase. It can be difficult finding the right balance - but starting low and gradually building up can lead to improvements in pain levels

[Nuffield in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thankyou Hazel have felt really unwell today after last night's swim but did wonder if I had overdone it

[Cat00]

It's important for me to go everyday. Each morning I'm very stiff and in pain and also at the beginning of my exercise, by the time I'm done I'm not in any pain anymore and usually feel great. If I don't do it everyday I seize up. Plus I'm much stronger because of this routine, which makes me feel safer and helps me feel less like a patient and more like a person.

[Midori]

Although your limbs are supported by the water, the effort to pull them through is pretty strenuous exercise. You will feel stiff for the first few times.

Is this a regular pool or a hydrotherapy heated one? Warmer water may make things easier for you.

Ask if your pool has a hotter one for exercising. If they have a kids pool it is often warmer than the regular one, and you may if you ask, find there is already a club for the older, stiffer clients. Alternatively, your doctor may be able to prescribe or refer you to a group.

Cheers, Midori

[Wrecklesham]

Hello Nuffield, I agree you can overdo excercise. I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 15 years ago whilst still living in my narrowboat, so still doing OK. All the doctor did was press on certain points of the body and if x amount hurt you had fibromyalgia. I was given pain killers and like you carried on with an active life as told. The pain became so bad about 7 years ago I went to the Doctors and insisted on seeing a rheumatologist I had to threaten to stand between surgery and waiting room and tell them I wouldn't move and also tell every patient who came in how useless they were, even worse I had health insurance. Needless to say I saw a consultant that week. He did an ultrasound and when he looked at it told me as it has been neglected for so look 6 of my vertebrae were crumbling and well last past surgery. You really have to be pushy and not take no for an answer.