HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Help Please..........

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/9/2008 9:34 PM (GMT 0)

I have fibro and I started a yoga class this morning and now @4:24PM my lower back hurts so much that I can't move very much.

My Doctor put me on Amitripylin 25 mg about 3 weeks ago but today I really feel like breaking down and taking some pain meds tonight.

I enjoy my Yoga and it will do wonders for my balance and strength but this pain has to ease up! I'm willing to try the Malic Acid and Magnisum(sp) but there must be somthing else.

The doctor said that water areobics would be great but the pool isn't heated and the thought of the cold water on my muscles make me sick.

I know that getting the extra 40lbs off will help a lot but is there anything else. I also know that in order to loose this weight I have to burn the fat off...........semi-low impact exercise. I don't want to build muscle, just tone what I have.

My dad is a coach and he said to use a heating pad and try and strech(sp?) the muscles out??? How do I do that???

Advice Please,

Lauren

I sound like I'm ranting, I'm sorry, I'm very frustrated and angry at my stupid body.

Posted 9/9/2008 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Lauren, and welcome to the fibromyalgia forum.  I'm glad you joined us.  I know personally that I wouldn't do anything that caused me that much pain.  It can put  you in a flare and that can last quite awhile.  Hopefully this hasn't happened.

 

Moist heat is wonderful for fibro pain.  A hot shower is great.  Get a rice bag that you can heat in the microwave.  This will give off moist heat, too. 

 

Check out the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread on the forum.  There are links in there to good info about fibromyalgia.  One of the links is to Great Stretching Exercises.  These are very gentle and are done sitting down.  They really help and feel good, too.  With fibromyalgia, you want gentle stretching and gentle exercises...low impact.  I find that walking is the very best, along with water exercise.  Walking is good for the lower back, also.

 

I take ibuprofen (with food) and Tylenol for pain.  I also take the malic acid/magnesium supplements. 

 

I do hope these suggestions help.  Lower back pain is miserable.  Don't worry about ranting.  We all do that.  Fibromyalgia is a very frustrating health issue.  Ask lots of questions.  We have some wonderful people here that have good ideas that can help you.  I hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/9/2008 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Lauren,

 

Everyone handles pain differently, so if you really need something for pain, there's no need to "suck it up."  If you really are hurting, then by all means, do what you need to do to stop hurting.

 

Also, I go to physical therapy, and my PT always ices my lower back after I finish with all the torture (I mean, exercises). wink   When I asked her why I should use ice and not heat, she explained that heat is good for when you first wake up, to get that stiffness out, but after exercise, ice is better to prevent swelling.  I am no expert at this, but I'm just telling you what my PT said, and for ME, it really helps.  Anyway, I hope you feel better!

 

BTW-I can't remember if I've welcomed you or not, so welcome!  LOL  Sorry, with all the newbies and the fibro fog, I can't remember who I've welcomed and who I haven't.  So, if I HAVE already welcomed you, welcome again! smilewinkgrin   OK, yeah, sorry-I'm babbling.  I'm a pro it. tongue

 

Take care! :-)

Posted 9/9/2008 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
 Can you please tell me what brand and where to buy online the malic and magnisum??

Posted 9/9/2008 11:35 PM (GMT 0)

Lauren,

First, welcome, we all feel your pain.  I to tried yoga and it did not work for me, I had to much pain.  I also relate to the weight loss, I know that if I lost a little weight I would feel a little better but what exercise program will work.  I have tried many but walking is pretty much it, I can pace my self according to how I feel that day.  I am going to attempt to start doing some light weight training for my lower body.  I am a little nervous about it but if I take it slow maybe I will get somewhere.  Like you I would love to do water aerobics but a cold pool is out of the question.

Do you have access to a hot tub, I know that that helps me when I'm in a lot of pain and having spasms; I use our local YMCA. I also heard that icing helps but I have not tried that, the thought of cold makes me hurt.  I am really sensitive to temperature extremes.

I hope you feel better soon and take it easy on yourself.  Baby steps until you find what works for you.

Meggie

Posted 9/10/2008 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Lauren, I just bumped up the thread all about malic acid and where I bought mine.  Read it and see what you think.

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/10/2008 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
unfortunately most of us have put on weight, firstly the meds and secondly , as much as we want to we cant do the type of excersise that is needed to burn fat, its just the way it is.  Talk to your doc and if you do have pain meds take them if needed.  Our lifes are permantly changed its taken me three years to finally accept that and the forum has helped me realise that also. maybe tai chi maybe gentler although it hurts me even at basic level.  Talk to doc .  A pool is perfect, I use to go twice a week and it helped so much but then I lost the car and had no transport but thinking of starting again myself and borrowing the car of hubby, you might be able to burn some cals that way.    sue2z turn turn turn
Posted 9/10/2008 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lauren and welcome. I haven't put on weight but my body has turned to flab in the past few years. Walking is probably the safest way for us to exercise. There are modified yoga moves that are good. Gentle stretches are good and necessary for our bodies. My lower back has been a problem for me long before fibro so I have to be careful there too. Dancing is good, just turn some music on and dance by yourself. We need to find that fine line between enough and too much for our bodies and everyone is different. Age is a factor, we have from 17 to over 60 on here.

 

For the pain any form of moist heat usually makes me feel better and you have been given some tips on that.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/10/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Lauren and welcome. Sounds like you got some pretty good advice. I exercise in the hot tub, I do some sitting down exercise as welll as some walking in place. Haven't lost much weight but I feel better. I just started using the malic acid and magnisium along with nerotin and feel great. This is talked about on another thread. I've learned so much since coming here I'm sure you will to, welcome again.

      Smiles,

          gennie

Posted 9/10/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I too have a pool , we cant really afford to put the heat on it. And me and the sun dont get along well. So i have to wait for overcast days, where the sun isnt beating down on me it makes me sick. But once I am in that water it is so much mor easier to excercise, i wish i would get in it more.  My sister said she would send me a dvd on pilates, so i may give that a try.
Posted 9/10/2008 2:27 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Lauren and welcome!

I go to Physical Therapy and my therapist is teaching me yoga exercises. I'm sure it is modified for fibro. She states that gentle stretching exercises do the fibro body wonders. Do you have a "YMCA" near you? I know at the Y they have gentle water aerobics with a heated swimming pool. That I would like to try next.

Taking something for the pain will help too. I don't like to take meds but I'm learning quickly that I don't like to suffer! shocked

Don't feel sorry about ranting- that's what we are here for. This can get very frustrating! I'm just figuring out an exercise routine that works for me also. GamJill

Posted 9/10/2008 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Lauren,
When I took my flexibility yoga class I took an over the counter analgesic (aspirin, tylenol, ibuprophen, etc.) before class, did good warm ups and only did 1/2 to 2/3 of what the regular people were doing. Kind of turned the class into "Yoga Lite" for me. This was after I told the instructor I had fibro. Worked for me and let me become flexible slowly without so much pain.
Posted 9/10/2008 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I use my Nordic Trak in the winter when it's too cold to go out and walk. I was also lucky enough to find a used Bowflex for really, really cheap that has seen some good use, too. I feel better about myself even if I just use them for 5 minutes a day!

My boys call me 'Ms. Farparker' because I will always chose the parking spot furthest away from my destination, just so I get the extra walking.

I agree with the concept of 'baby steps'. A little bit of something is better than nothing and before you know it, you've worked up to REALLY something!
Posted 9/12/2008 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
HI,

My lower back and hips hurt too much when I walk. Hence I use a power wheel chair to get around.

However, I have been exercising in a pool for over two years. I love it.

I started with an Arthritis Foundation class and now I swim two hours per day everyday. Occasionally I will take a deep water aerobics class.

You may want to purchase a wet suit, one of those black things that cover your entire body while swimming. It scan keep you warm.

about the water temperature, our city pool is heated to around 85 degrees. That might feel cold when you get in but after you warm up, it is comfortable. Our local YMCA pool is heated to about 80 degrees. I do not like that at all.

But, they have a sauna, hot tub and steam room that I love.

Increasing muscle mass is healthy when you desire to lose weight. Initially you may seem to weigh more but it is a sign that you are increaseing your lean muscle mass.

Muscle is heavier than fat but takes up half of the space. That causes your clothes to feel loser which is wonderful.

I was very overweight when I began working out in the pool. Two years and 5 dress sizes smaller without dieting has made me very happy.

It is a rare day that I do not exercise because if I do not, I am in a lot of pain.

In addition, I can now walk more than I was able to 3 years ago.

Donnaeil
Posted 9/13/2008 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have a book titled Your Personal Guide to Living Well with Fibromyalgia.  It is published by the Arthritis Foundation and has a section of stretches designed specifically for fibromyalgia. 

 

Sometimes I am able to go walking, but I find that I can tolerate these stretches 90% of the time.

Posted 9/13/2008 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
Im hoping the Pilates that my sister sends me is ok for me anybody have any experince in pilates, i have about 5 dress sizes to do cant the 2 miles i usd to evryday. shakehead
Posted 9/13/2008 12:22 PM (GMT 0)

Welcome Lauren.

Everyone here understands your pain. I had a yoga tape here at my home, and I tried to do it, and it almost killed me. It was way too intense. My dad suggested Tai Chi (I think that is the one...) It's very low impact, but it helps with stretching and releasing stress.

Do you have insurance? Because it may cover a little while of PT. Water exercises are very helpful. You may hurt some afterwards, but you would be surprised at how much it strengthens your muscles without killing you. I did it. I had too much pain to do a whole lot, but it did help to strengthen my muscles. Even if you can just get in a pool (I know you said that you don't like them cold) and just stretch your legs and ankles. Walk around in the water with 2lb weights on each of your ankles. It does help. Anyways. I hope this helps...I am just learning how to deal with all of this myself...

Posted 9/13/2008 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yes  just getting in the water is great and moving around will help you too, give you more strenth then it would on land, becasoue its so much easier in the water.

Good Luck turn

Posted 9/13/2008 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
AustenFan, how did you get the book published by the Arthritis Foundation???

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/13/2008 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
I know the Arthritis Foundation does offer a lot free material too, I have a laminated swim lesson the sent me and other materials to, I think you can order different boooks and material on line, go to their site and check it out or maybe i can get a clickable link to where you can order materials from for free. I will try wish me luck idea
Posted 9/13/2008 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
I couldnt find the link i was looking for but i know i have odered several literature from them for free, not the fibro book you want though, Im sorry, I tried blush
Posted 9/13/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Marlee,

 

I belong to a used book swap site called paperbackswap.com, and I got my copy there.  I checked and there was 1 copy available for trading.

 

I also checked half.com (an ebay company where you can buy books and other media), and they had several copies for pretty reasonable prices.

 

I've used both of these sites a lot and for the most part have been pretty happy with the experience.

 

I'm not sure if you can get a copy new/retail anymore. Some of the info in the book seems a little outdated, but I really like the stretches, and it does contain some good info.

 

Austen

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply