I have been diagnosed with FM & RA.  Between the pain of my joints and the pain from FM it's very hard for me to move.  But I get up and do a little gardening, play with the animals, etc.  Does anyone know of lower back and lower abdomin exercises I can do that won't kill me for days.  I can't lay on the floor anymore my body may not get back up.  All this and I'm only 40, lol.  I try to walk the 10,000 steps which is really not that hard here, as long as I can stay awake.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  If there is anyone out there with the same condition, I would love to talk with you.

Sincerely,

Andi

 

Hi Andi, this is the 1st time I've replied to a post. I too have been diagnosed with FA among other things.

The lack of exercise because of the pain has caused me to gain a extra 50 lbs that I sure didn't need. I resolved that I have to find a form of exercise and a healthier way of eatting. I'm going to try water aerobics and the Alli weight loss system. If I can do it you can! Because I've allowed myself to gain all this weight, I've become very depressed and down on myself. I'm sure there quite a few of us that can relate to this! But if I don't start eatting better and taking care of myself nobody else will. I have had 2 cardiot surgerys in the last year so I figure it's time for me to stop making excuses and DO IT!! If any of ya'll would like to talk or give me a boost of moral support I'd love it. Andi,I'm completely new at this site but I'd love to be a positive motivation for you. Please email me anytime; If anyone knows anything I can do for this FA, PLEASE< PLEASE LET ME KNOW. Brenda 0316

 

 

 

 

HELLO BRENDA, I TOO SUFFER FROM FIBRO ALONG WITH OTHER ILLNESSES. I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT RECENTLY BY TAKING LYRICA, PRECRIBED BY MY DOCTOR FOR FIBRO AND PAIN IN MY KNEES.  I TOLD MY HUSBAND I WANTED TO GET OFF THE LYRICA BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT GAIN AND HE TOLD ME " NO WAY, YOU KEEP TAKING THE LYRICA BECAUSE IT HAS HELPED YOU IN REGARDS TO PAIN RELIEF".....SO I AM IN A CATCH 22 SITUATION...TAKE THE LYRICA AND IT HELPS WITH THE PAIN AND GAIN THE WEIGHT OR STOP THE LYRICA AND MY PAIN LEVEL GOES OUT OF SIGHT.....I AM THINKING OF WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STAY ON THE MEDS. ONE THING I AM GOING TO START DOING IS WALKING.  I KNOW I CAN NOT DO ALOT OF EXERCISE THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN DO THAT ARE HEALTHY SO WALKING IS THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT WILL WORK FOR ME. I WISH I HAD A POOL BECAUSE WATER EXERCISE IS GREAT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE FIBRO AND ARTHRITIS.  GOOD LUCK BRENDA AND I WISH YOU THE BEST.....MGERTEE

Hi my name is Jenny and this is my first post also!

I thought I was the only one who felt like y'all.  I also have FM and positive RA, ANA and ACLA.  Have also been dx'd with osteporosis, osteoarthritis and all that good stuff. And....I am only 44!!!

I tried Lyrica, pain shots, pain pills, massage and lots of frustration and crying.

I found a great reumatoligist who thought that Cymbalta would work well for me.  I am on 120mg a day and I feel like a new person. I am not in as much pain and it is just kinda there but I am not so focused on it.  I have gained about 10 lbs.  but have held steady for about 3 months.  One of the side effects is stomach problems and I had that for about 2 weeks, then it went away.

My husband and I just got back from a trip to Puerto Rico.  About 2 weeks before we went I wanted to loose the 10lbs that I had gained.  So.......brilliant me decided to go off of the med.  I DID NOT loose weight and I gained a whole lotta pain.  I will never do that again.. Rather have the lbs then the pain.

I am a true Cymbalta believer!

Hope this helps someone.

Jenny

Andi,

I have the same as you plus the complications due to high doses of prednisone. Let me tell you that you do need to continue to move as much as you can. I have joined a women's only gym. I have tried Tai Chi, Pliates, and yoga. They all help as well as getting in the water. The tiredness is plus that stiffness and pain is the combination that makes us not want to move. I have put in my mind that i am preparing for the Olympics and get myself to do a little more. When I really heard then I hold make some but still try to do stretches. Fighting weight gain and depression is tough too. Especially since most of us are sleep deprieved!

I go to a really good rheumatologist and get Remicade infusions once a month. 

Hang in there and know you will have super good days and not so good days. But that's what we are all here for...to support each other.

 Linda

 

Hi all,

     I was diagnosed with Fibro at the age of 50 in 1994 and since then I made it my mission  to fight for a "normal" life. Exercise and the right meds is the key. I went the heavy meds route early on but weight gain and the foggy feeling from them made me change around 2000. I now take Cymbalta, Arthrotec, Neurontin, and Norflex. I also retired. (I was a teacher) I moved to a warmer climate and now am able to walk a mile a day, take part in a stretching class and a water exercise class. This has taken me 5 years to accomplish that. I will write more later, time for my walk.

Kathy

I also have Fibro. along with bursitis, arthritis and degenerative disc disease. I have had Fibro. my entire life, but wasn't diagnosed until I was almost 40.

The best excercise I have found is Pilates. The reformer is wonderful. It allows you to stretch without impact. It improves core muscles and strength. It has helped me greatly. Enough to spend several thousand dollars on a reformer, so I could have one at home instead of having to go to the Y.  As much as I hate excercising some days, I know that if I don't I am going to feel worse.

The other thing I have found helpful is trigger point injections. They have really cut down my drug use and have allowed me to move and live with less pain.

Hello, I too have FM--since I was 14; I am now 53. It has been a real bummer learning to live with FM and all the other disorders that can go along with it.  I take it day to day, exercise (on and off), and have tried soooo many meds over the years. Prozac helped me more than anything and Nsaids have given me ulcers more than once. I really don't want to try one of the meds that causes weight gain since I'm trying to lose 30-35 lbs anyway...

It's nice to chat with others that "understand" me; more later.

 

I have just read some stuff about trigger point injections?  What is being injected and how many points are you having done?  My worst pain is in my hips on my back side a few inches from my waist and I was thinking about trying that.  Did you go to a reumatologist?  I haven't taken anything for 2 years, and the pain is really starting to drive me crazy! 

 My manager where I work has FM and she keeps saying you really need to get your sleep under control.  She hasn't had a flare-up for 4 years.  I don't know what not having a flare up feels like.  I've known that I've had this probably 4-5 years, but have probably had it longer.  I thought I was just sore from exercising.

 I use to exercise a lot, walking, eliptical, etc. but my job starting taking so much of my time, I slowly got out of a regular routine, and now I can't get myself to exercise more than 2 days in a week.  I'm on my feet a lot, and walk whenever I can, but that's not enough.  The exercise really helps me keep my weight off and I've struggled with that lately.

I was going to a GP doctor treating me for the pain, but he left the practice and I haven't had a doctor that I feel comfortable with since.  So, I just stopped going and stopped taking medication.  Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

 

girl, the swimming pool could be your best friend!! my friends and i go to the local gym and get in the swimming pool and "water walk"  if they will let you bring a "noodle" or have one for you to use, you could straddle the noodle and move your legs like you are on a bicycle!! now you're 'cycling'.   there are also some ab exercises that you could do in the water.   our gym offers a water pilates class as well. 

i love the pool.

 Hi,

  How do you know if you have Fibromyalga? I have  MAJOR pain on the right side of my body. It started out with my arm and now it is in my leg. I can no longer even lay on the right side of my body. The doctors have taken xrays, but couldn't find anythig wrong.

 

Sincerely, Bert 

Hi, My Name Is Becky,  I started having problems with Depression when my sons were 2 and 6 months old. I could'nt work and then I started Experiencing pain all over. I was diagnosed with Fm and still haven't found a good treatment plan yet. I take Wellbutrin XL and Lexapro for the depression . I was on Motrin 600 mg for the Fm pain, but I found that I was bruising too easily, so my doc took me off of it. Last summer I tried a Water Fitness class and loved it, but a membership is too much for my budget to handle. I'm reluctant to take lyrica because of the side effects...I also suffer from arthiritis, migraines and sleep problems. I am a veteran of the last war....I served at NNMC in Bethesda ' Maryland. I have been so tired lately....what do you all reccomend? I take vitamins and try to exercise, but alot of it causes more pain than its worth. Thanks, Becky

 

My husband has been diagnosed with Fatigue and Fibromyalgia and we've finally found a Dr. who knows how to treat it. There's a clinic (website ; http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/) that has several offices throughout the US. He's not feeling a whole lot better yet - but we've seen an improvement and his lab work up is better. He had a severe case of mono 40 years ago and has been tired off and on for years. It got really bad last year and he was sick 2 or 3 times a month.

 Also - regarding exercises - Tai Chi and beginners yoga are good ones to try.

Good luck!

Praz

I, too, have found great relief from Pilates.  The stretching aspect has been a godsend for the pain.  The strength aspect of Pilates is beneficial, too.  With Pilates and the Atkins diet, I lost 45 pounds and the pain lessened.  I just bought the tape online and started with the 20-minute workout before work and advanced from there.  Now I do the Advanced workout for an hour and I can tell the difference if I don't work out.  If it keeps me off the pain meds, I'm happy.  I do take Trazodone to help me get, and more importantly, stay asleep.  That works wonders for my pain also.  A friend of mine with MS swears by her water aerobics class.

Hi There Becky,

 

My name is Chriss, I do not have FM but my sister has it, and she usually suffers from alot of pain, she uses a heating pad when she can, she also takes vitamins and excercises but she says the excercise hurts more.  I sold her my back Inversion Table, it's awesome!  Works wonders she says.  When I bought it, it was about 5yrs ago for my husband, due to serious back issues, then he had a heart attack and the dr. said no more laying up side down, so I sold it to my sister, I paid 200.00 for it,I'm sure you could get it for less than that now, I bought it out of the Sportsmen guide, which I'm sure of you look it up online you'll find what you are looking for.  It really does work, I used a few times  and really enjoed it.  Look into it  it won't hurt to check it out.

 Good Luck,

 

Chriss