Can someone recommend exercise that won't make fibromyalgia pain worse?

Question

I walk a lot, but I am looking for something that will get me in better shape. My knees are especially bad (they make crunchy/crackling sounds when I walk), and ANY kind of jumping, bouncing on my feet, etc., makes my legs hurt a lot. I've tried water exercise and had to stop after a while because it was making my pain worse. Doctor said I should walk -at least- 5 miles nonstop every day, but after a week of that I really hurt and can't walk at all. I also have trouble with lifting even small weights; lifting is easy, but I end up with pain in my joints for several days after. Since the whole point of exercising more is to stop being in pain from the fibro, what can I do that won't make things worse?

Answer 1

Just clicked over to send you a message (per your answer to my posted question about finding a literary agent), when I saw this question and felt compelled to answer. I also suffer from fibro, which as you know many people still do not even consider a real or actual condition. I am an attorney and my pain was so bad after giving birth to triplets eight years ago that I did not even have enough enenrgy to enjoy the first few months of their lives. First of all I know that you do not need nor have you solicited any validation for your painful and often mind fogging medical condition. My pain was so sever that I started working part time, b/c as a trial attorney I am on my feet all day. Gradually my condition worsened, I do place a percentage of the fault on my treating physician. He was quite the male chauvanistic pig, who did not beleive that Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Endometriosis, Severe menstual cramping (back or abdomon), or P.M.S. were , in his words "true validated, medically confirmed illnessess or injuies or conditons that can be connected by a resonable degree of medical certainty to any physical, treatable or not, medical condition......" Upon my thorough and in depth research of the above alleged complaints made primarily by women, I can conclusivley state to a medical certainty that Fibromalgia is nothing more than a mental and/or emotional occurance in a woman's life that normally presents at a conveniently, well planned time. The initial complaint is ordinarily brought on, not by true physical symptoms. If one looks deep into the records of women who lodge this as their chief medical complaint one might be surprised to find a strong correlation to th eonset of symptoms to some major change in the females life IE: Divorce, threat of the husband to file for divorce, a woman who recently discovers her husband is romantically involved with another female, usually much younger, more attractive and better educated than the complainant. It is akin to what women describe as the male counterpart's "mid-life crisis" To be bold, let me state that subjectively I believe that women use this as a weapon or pawn to maintain a relationship with a parter who has lost interest or outgrown the female. The female is seeking sympathy & in many instances this "alleged, serious medical condition & the fear of the unknown by the male counter-art is enough to keep the marriage intact, albeit ubhappily & unsatisfied. The physician went on to state that at the current time he was not at liberty to discuss any of his significant knowledge on the "alleged medical conditon comonly known as Lupus, b/c his partners were still in the process of determining whether or not to treat (AND GET THIS)--- whether or not to treat patients who are not covered by insurance or medicaid patients who complian od lupis-like symptoms. The idiot then added, " We have turned the issue of Lupis over to our risk managment team to determine if it is cost effecient for us to treat such ~~so called complaints~~" " As we are never reimbursed an amount by medicade to sufficiently cover a routine pap smear, it is unlikely that this clinic will be in a finacial position to treat claims that have no grounding in th emedical community. The blood work, alone for the initial work up on this "conditon as I will force myself to call it, I simply will not refer to this notion as a medical illness", cost our clinic approximately $160 per patient, that is our bare bones cost, for the necessary equpment to retrive blood, pay the fleabotomist, fortunatley we have a lab in house or it would be substanially more of a burden to our clinic. For every &160 that we are out of pocket & can document, medicaid reimburses us a total fee of $44.20. You do the math. Every time a medicae or uninsured patient comes into our private clinix specifically requesting this bloodwork we rxpend $160, and after filing parerwork so thick it should satisfy a report to the C.I.A on espionage, we begrugendly recoup less than $45.00. I hate to sound harsh, but physicians , a smuch as we want to save the world, we must also make a living and support out own families. We simply cannot perform unnecessary medical procedures: specifically when the top physicans, the most elite internist, GP's, ob-gyn, & specialist do not consider this newest of a long list of female ailments.to constitute a medical illness. it is claims such as this that cause the rise of insurance each year, so to our patients all over the world, learn to recognize a real medical symtom from getting a little overheated or even fatigued b/c your significant other does not pay the attention to you and romance you th eway he did (20) twenty years ago. As for Chronic fatigue syndrome, I will not waiste the time nor will I insult the intelligence of my audience. Lets just say it is sufficient to note that 'we all get tired, HELL, ANYONE HERE NOT TIRED?" I would like to see one of these whiney housewifes who have absolutley nothing to do except watch General Hospital, work an 80 hour shipft in the E.R. or perhaps the OR. Hah! Good Luck, you will be fatigued all right, check back in 20 years, we docotrs will still be fatigued and you will still find Luke & Laura on your story"

Cramps: all i can say,"take some motrin, tylenol: Get moving with your life, men do it everyday. How would you eat if we called in sick ever time our tummy hurt, aww"

P.M.S. who the heck did us this diservice? Women managed that tim,e of th emonth fo rcenturies. Now with P.M.S. we have to be more caring, considerate, theiir feelings might hurt.

Women let us focus on H.I.V. H.P.V, Cancer, successful transpalnt surgery, restoring eyesight to the blind. Please !

Now of course I hate that man, and he should be removed from the medical profession. I fopr one know that fibro exsist, depite this man's cruel accessment o fme. I saw a specialist in Dallas, Texas and with the right medication I am doing great. My ex hubbie even testified on my behalf at a hearing when I claimed my full dissability insurance, b/c the pain wa sso unbearable i could not work. he (also an atty) told them that he never really believed in Fibryo, and he aplogized to women all over, he said that he knows the pain I sufer, my mood swings, my fibro fog etc. I was awarded full disability, but one year later even though i could have stayed home indefinatley and just drawn my dissability ins. check, I wanted, needed to go back to work.

Sorry for the tangent,

*****the exercise I highly recommend to you is Pilates. I know that trend may have come & gone in your area, but the bottom line is it works, there is no discomfort or pain to any of my joints (and i do machines and floor work) the most amaziong thing is how fast it works, you really do see a drastic improvement in 3 weeks. I weighed bertween 95-105 my entire life (until prego with trips) but even at 105 and 5'6 i always had a little belly, told it is hereditery. within two weeks i saw the most amazing thing-----my stomach had that indention, it was a happy day fo rme. people think that Pilates is not real excercise, b/c not muc cardio etc. Beleive me you work your butt off, your heart rate is up, but you never get that so ovwerworked feeling that i get from tennis, treadmill, anytjhing. I swear by Oilates. It worked so well for me & i have tried every exercise known to infomercials, nothing has ever worked like pilates, nor has anything kept my interest this ling. it is so easy 9on your muscles, joints. I do hope you will give it a try.
You answered my question, and as a preoof-reader you put me in my place a few times. I do apologize, of xourse when i submit a manuscript I spend a great deal of time proofreading etc., here i just seem to ramble and i don't alwways go back to proofread, too darn tired. thanksd for the advice. i would vote now for your answer but i think i have to wait 3 more days (don't realy now the rules

take care

Answer 2

I highly reccommend swimming and cycling.

I cycle mostly, it's easier on the knees, but I still get sore. You have to have a fitting bike and proper tires for the terrain you will be on. I do not reccommend a mountain bike as there is more traction and it is rough on the body. I do suggest going to a bike shop and trying out a few bikes until you find the right fit.

If you have a good rheumetologist, you could perhaps get him to prescribe you some physical therapy. They will teach you some great exercises in and out of the water that you can do daily to help with pain.

Also, Cymbalta, as a medicine worked great for me to get me going again. Basically, I took it for a couple of months, started into my activites and once I felt 95% better I stopped the meds. BUT, you have to keep up with your excercise or you'll lose the ground you've gained.


Also, The treadmill, while easy to do, can sometimes harm you more then help you. I suggest going outside for walks and get fitted with proper shoes. It's makes all the difference. Elipticals are good, but only if you are tall. For short people like me, it hurt my hips and knees to the point that I could barely walk after just one session.

Answer 3

I don't know anyone with FMS who can walk 5 miles a day. Is the Dr. a Rheumatologist? I suggest going on a web site search for this answer. I personally have found nothing that works for me. I get tendonitis in the arches of my feet with walking, etc. rest of body. I hope you find your answer.

Answer 4

Swimming, bike riding, eliptical machine

Check out the link below

Answer 5

Try some exercises on this site

Answer 6

i have that too. swimming helps me alot.