Pain worse w/ light exercise?

Started going for walks every day about 2 months ago. I only go for about 20-30 minutes, pretty slow pace. But I feel like it's getting harder to go for my walks rather than easier. I thought that once I got in a little better shape the walking and pain would get somewhat better. It's been just the opposite. I'm miserable. My hands, forearms, legs are killing me.

I am on meds for chronic back pain and take Lyrica for the fibro, but why is this happening? What can/should I do? I need to lose weight and I do eat healthy, but it's tough when you can't really exercise!


Any suggestions/thoughts?


Thanks for your help,

Sunny13

I agree that the weight makes a big difference - extra stress on joints, etc.

Exercise is very important though - moving all those joints and muscles - and stretching is super important too. I feel better if I can loosen things up a bit, but I don't always feel like doing it so I make it part of my routine.

Try going to the water - you can walk in the water with less gravity pulling on you. Walk in the shallow water or try a flotation belt and walk/run in the deep water (deep suspension is very good for back pain, 'hanging' in the water). As time goes by you can walk with knee lifts, kicks, side leg lifts, skis, jacks, and various arm movements to work the joints in different directions against the light resistance of the water.

I hit the water whenever I can - and I teach folks like myself and with other issues (joint replacements, MS, etc.) and they can do so much more in the water than they can on land. They can also improve their balance greatly - we practice standing on one leg (with or without wall support) and bicycling the other, kicking, etc. People outside of my classes also come in regularly to walk - you'd be surprised how many do.

Stretching is huge too - personally, I like to stretch in the hot tub !

Just an aside from your post - it has always amazed me how I can go for a walk on land and sometimes it's my arms that hurt the worst!!

You said you are exercising (walking) every day? This may not give your body and your muscles enough recovery time. Try every other day or three times a week and see if that helps.

Everyone's muscles need recovery time after exercise. Fibromites need more!

When you are walking you are using other muscles...even in your arms and neck. You don't walk like a robot. Your whole body moves. It's an excellent exercise for fibro and is highly recommended for this illness too. (Swimming and yoga are good too.) I would continue to walk every day but start out slowly. When I started walking I only could go four houses down and had to turn around. But I went out the next day and could go a little bit further. I now walk at least a mile a day. If you never did much walking and started out walking a half an hour a day, that definitely could cause more pain. Sooooo, start out slowly and gradually work into it. I personally think if you skipped days it would be harder on you. But if you keep walking you will get stronger and your muscles should become accustomed to the movement.

I hope you are not sitting and laying a lot. That will make you stiff as a board and have more pain. You out need to keep moving with fibro. As far as kneeling. I don't do this because, like you. I can barely get up! Even when I'm gardening, i'm bending over to plant things. I also have a short gardening stool to sit on but, since it is short, it's hard for me to get up off that too. So I bend. Works for me!

You will learn ways to work around fibro to do the things you want tO do.

Sherrine