Has Excercise Helped Anyone?

[LuvSuperman]

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone who was experiencing chronic pain and fatigue began an excercise regimen and then felt better? Last year, after a slow start and pushing through the pain, I was actually able to go to the gym about 5x a week, lose 25 lbs, and I was feeling better all around, not just after working out. But lately my pain has been at an all time high and I tried going to the gym in Sept and every time I did just 20min of cardio, it took me 3 days to recover from the flare-up of pain. Now I can't even DRIVE to the gym, let alone work out? But I would start really really slow if it' supposed to help me, i just don't want anything to make me worse! I hurt too much to risk flaring up. But I was also just dx with peripheral neuropathy and I've read alot that improving circulation can really help that. Also, any one have trigger points from myofascial pain syndrome? is excericse bad for that or good?
thanks for any help!
AmyBeth

[peonyprincess]

The best exercise that I found was water aerobics and swimming. We had a membership at the YMCA during the winter and I try and go at least 3-4 times a week. The water feels wonderful and I have no problem with pain during the exercises and I have noticed that my pain does not increase when I get out of the pool. We also have a backyard pool that I spend most of my sunner days in and I always feel relaxed and revived. Maybe I should become a mermaid.


Nancy

[Linda_L]

Well done for starting to exercise and loosing 25 lbs!

I'm a real believer in exercise. I was very lucky in that I was very fit and active before I got ill and I think that if I didn't have that base of fitness there it would have been very difficult for me to have recovered enough to resume my life. I am now fully active again (with some limitations) but I have learnt a lot about how to exercise for myself. This is not a professional opinion but a personal view on what I have and haven't found helpful.

I have had to learn to pace myself and only do what my body can manage at any one time. I don't push through all pain..for me it has been learning about what pain is okay to push through and what pain needs to be rested. All exercise causes a bit of discomfort during and sometimes after but it should never be really painful. I understand that when you are having a flare it is better to rest until that flare is under control and then resume some light exercise after that.

I do aerobic exercise using a heart-rate monitor to make sure that I don't over do it.

Swimming is by far the most beneficial exercise for me in terms of relief of pain and stiffness (although because it feels so nice I also find that I can overdo that if I'm not careful)

Cycling (stationary or for real) is also good for me as it is generally non weight bearing but gives a good cardio vascular workout.

I have found it more difficult to find a weight bearing exercise that I can tolerate, although I know that we need to do that in order to prevent osteoporosis. I do a little running and walking but really limit strenous weight bearing exercise to no more than 10 minutes at a time.

Finally, yoga, pilates or tai chi are all gentle forms of exercise that I find help with general well being.

I think exercise is supposed to increase the body's endorphine levels and this acts as a 'natural' pain reliever. With regard to the facial pain, I have heard that acupuncture can be helpful for that although I haven't tried it.

I would say make sure you are not in a flare before you resume exercise and when you do start really slowly and carefully! Good luck

[neongirl]

I took a modified yoga program for senior citizens (I'm not senior). I then went into gentle yoga, and finally regular yoga. Then I had a car wreck 2 yrs. ago, and a horrible Lupus flare, so this time around I started with a light free weight program, and now senior yoga again. I hope to get back to where I was before the accident, but it is slow going. Some days excercise makes me feel better, other days I start to get a fever etc. and I have to stop immediately.

[frono]

I'll be honest, I'm an exersize GEEK!!!!

I lost 120 lbs 15 years ago and swore I would never gain it back..and I haven't. I am currently training for a 5k just because I have a dx's of chronic severe asthma and I'm one of "THOSE PEOPLE" who have to prove I can do it.

I had a terrible flare July-October and my joints were in excruciating pain but I found (for me) that if I moved around it got better, not worse, so I made sure I continued to at least walk everyday. I also think keeping my muscles strong will help my keep joints strong just by supporting them. If it was a really bad day I took a few extra pills and walked a little slower but I always walk. Plus, it's good for my heart too!!!!!

Tiercy

[gingertoni]

I moderatley exercise walking mainly nothing heavy going, I keep to a constant amount to just keep my overfitness going. It does seem to help me do more, otherwise I get lethargic and then cant do anything a vicious circle then starts.

[Flibble63]

I am a big believer in exercise. I think I would be much worse if I didn't do it. I walk about 5 miles every day and do some weight lifting. I become very cranky and stiff if I decide to take a few days off. I am one who pushes thru the pain and fatigue but I am not sure that is a wise move for everyone. I have a great book from Claire Weeks about myofacial trigger points. I am always using his techniques on people. Good Luck. Laura

[Jen79]

The only thing I found that wasn't hard on joints or body was water aerobics and it is a overrall good body and cardio work out. I took it about a yr. ago for a credit when I was in college. Only thing I have seen docs recommend to anyone with a lot of health issues also. I hope you find something that helps you.

[Soundy]

I walk daily as a part of living on a farm... the barn won't come to me ...on good days I walk to the barn to feed etc...bad days I drive to it and just walk from crib to stalls and pens

If I overdue it may take a day or two to get over it ... have little cartilage in hips and knees and some fused vertebrae in lower back ...all which make movement painful

I do have some myofascial hot spots over my shoulder blades that feel like I have been cut and alcohol poured on me... excess movement aggravates it but I can ease it with hot showers

[Soundy]

Something I should have said is that although exercise makes me ache , if I don't move around I get stiff and ache even more ...