good morning everyone, hope you having a good one

[Alice2004]

Stiffness…

I am feed up with myself, I don’t know what to do about it anymore, 😞.. every morning the stiffness kills me and the pain is horrible, every inch of my body is hurting like hell.. I am on Pregabalin 300mg/ day and no help, I even start yoga, Pilates and aqua aerobic exercises, I go 3 times a week it help me but not much improvement and I am scared to go on higher dose of pain medication. I cannot do much around the house and I had to give up work because of this horrendous illness .

I am on the verge of losing my mind… 😢😢

[Gulfstream_Maggie]

Alice you’re not on your own with this.

I think the vast majority of us can empathise with this in varying degrees.

Pain and stiffness, it seems, is to be our constant companion it’s just the severity and occurrences that will change.

Just be kind to yourself. Do what you can when you can. There’s more than enough days in the week.

If you’re having a bad day then go with it, remember there’s always tomorrow 😊

Sending healing hugs🤗

[Loobielu]

Yep, I agree with Maggie, you're definitely not alone with this. The mornings are definitely the worst for me 😭. It takes hours and super mental strength to get myself up and functioning! I only do a few hours of work a week, mostly from home as it would be too much for me to go out to work every day. Medication doesn't seem to work for me either. This condition does make you feel like you're losing your mind! I don't have the answers I'm afraid but I quite literally feel your pain! Oh and well done for getting out and doing the exercising 👏⭐ I'm impressed 😁. Keep going, try not to let the despair consume you and keep reaching out to members on here as they are amazing and understand. Fibro can be a very lonely condition. Hugs x

[Southport-beach]

I feel as stiff as a board every morning but I do a bit of yoga/gentle pilates first thing most mornings and the gentle stretching with soft music in the background helps me to relax and free up my joints and muscles. I found that going to classes was too much for me and I ended up making the pain worse afterwards/on the days between classes. I have a very physical job (gardening for clients) so have to keep my body as supple as I can. If time permits I do 10 mins of meditation (not something I ever really believed in before) after my exercises which helps me relax and get mentally ready to start the day. I use the Daily Calm App - a source of meditation and some gentle exercises. There are also some simple yoga/pilates exercise videos on the NHS website. I hope this helps.

[Brief_Encounter]

It is a horrible condition to live with but there will be some good days ahead I promise. I too had to give up work because of it. I was coming home from work crying with pain and unable to think or function. My house is also a disaster zone. I’ve got house guests coming today and really, really wanted it to appear semi normal for their arrival, but that has failed so I’ve swallowed my pride and will have to let them see the mess. I too take an age to get going in the mornings. The stiffness makes it very hard to get downstairs. My feet don’t bend which is weird 😐 I know it is only a small comfort but know you are not alone xx

[RustyOBear]

Hello Alice, I echo the other contributors, pain and stiffness is the background to this condition but it is variable.

I use Headspace which helpfully guides me to relax muscles, breathe deeply and generally uplift.

Meditation is a non- judgemental state of observing your thoughts and feelings as they arise but not dwelling on them but gently letting them go. So with intense pain I find I notice that it subtly alters and sometimes subsides for a while.

There is no good or bad meditation, you simply do it regardless. It’s just one of a number of ways to relieve the cycle of mental distress we feel.

There are apps some free, some paid for and lots of You Tube videos on relaxation.

When we feel at our wits end it sets off a viscous circle which makes more pain felt. First step is to attend with kindness to yourself, your hot drink of choice, a heating pad, gentle movement ( I do mine in bed before I get up), a favourite meal, some guided meditation or relaxing music, a distracting absorbing activity or book, anything to comfort the mind and body rather than dwelling on it.

You’ve come to the right place for support, to tell it like it is. I hope you can find some relief today and as others have said, tomorrow is a new day.

[Djemima]

I lost my mind a long time ago I take 600mg a day they don't help nothing helps but they must take the edge off keep up your excersize that'll help good luck

[Kacky69]

Hi Alice2004, I have been on pregabalin for manly years and found it wasn’t helping with the pain anymore. I was on the max dose but now I am on 50 mg twice a day, they are a pain to come off. I have realised it was the pills causing me to terrible brain fog.

I can’t vacuum as it irritates the pain, I have done aqua aerobics and yoga and still gave me pain but I now have an exercise bike. I use it when I feel up to it and when my shins hurt. I think the endorphins kick in and stop the pain.

Also I am using CBD oil rub this helps.

[Catsandcakes77]

Sorry to hear this. I am on 225mg at night which means I get some sleep, but have just been put on a dose of 25g in the morning as I still work full-time and it is hard enough dealing with fibro fog, never mind a higher morning dose!! I am still in constant pain and have just had a rather nasty flare up. I also do yoga and am trying to do low impact exercise most days. Most people recommend meditation, but my mind will never be quiet enough. I was using CBD, but it is so expensive and I still had pain. Unfortunately, nothing seems to work, but take the good days as a win

[Ronzanijane]

Hi Alice, l hope you going well, l been used pregabalin, it's was help for sometimes, but if you are in crisis, not very helpful, but with all exercises you doing help more,I hope my answer help .

[Smoggie1]

Do not overdo things as that will make you feel worse the next day or that is the experience i have had and knocks me up for days .you have to gently pace yourself and see how your body reacts.

[Outdoors24]

Hi.

I’m really struggling at the moment too, finding Fibro is weakening me so much. Know I need to go to my classes at my gym (Yin Yoga) (strengthening) and swimming but exhausted and in pain. Mornings are extremely sore!

[Alice2004 in reply to Outdoors24]

Mornings are the worst enemy for me 😞

[MiaMiaowMiaow]

Hi Alice, this is my first ever post on here as I received an email asking me to help you with regards to pregabalin. I joined a few months ago after being diagnosed last year and have just been reading up on peoples posts trying to understand what the hell's wrong with me and how I can fix it. I too was prescribed pregabalin but unfortunately I had a rather severe reaction after my second tablet so I'm afraid I can't really help you with that. I would like to say however, thank you to everyone for sharing. I can relate to a lot of it. It's a living nightmare!