Exercise with no flares?

Hi Grammy G: I found this website: www.helpguide.org/articles/exercise-fitness/chair-exercises-and-limited-mobility-fitness.htm

The phrase you used "pressure on my feet" made me take notice, because wow--can I relate! I try to walk on carpeting and walk as much as I can. Do you use anything like the soft Dr. Scholl inserts in your shoes? A place like Wal-Mart now has a huge selection, including gel insoles, which really do help a little. I like the soft arch supports, too.

I've had pressure on my feet for a long time and hope to revisit the neurologist for it in the Spring (this year has been too expensive with a family wedding and lots of dental work for me, also). I describe it as if the floor were coming up, and my feet were being pushed down hard! There's just no 'give' there. Is yours like that?

Soaking my feet in warm Epsom salts water helps somewhat. I also change shoes about every 2-3 hours; for some reason that gives me a little relief. My shoes have thick soles, but are lightweight.

I have very high arches, and I think that's my main problem. I sometimes use stretchy arch bands to lift the arch. Other times, my feet are too sensitive for the bands. Then I break down and take a small dose (100 mg) of gabapentin (Neurontin). I do dislike meds, though, but they sometimes are needed and can help.

Here are some ideas from Dr. Oz: www.doctoroz.com/videos/no-excuses-chair-workout

and some others:

/url]http://www.livestrong.com/article/549229-10-chair-exercises/[url] (sorry this link isn't working for some reason. Just do a search on 'livestrong.com 10 chair exercises' and you should easily find it).

I haven't tried these exercises; just came across them. Wish you the best!

Hi again:

Even if you don't have a bathtub, you could easily make some magnesium oil, using the Epsom salts. It's not really an oil; just has an oily feel to it.

It's salty, so it's also drying on skin, so maybe you'd like to test it first to see if it's something you want to use.

I started using it several months ago, and it does seem to help my leg muscles somewhat. I also rub it into my shoulders.

There are a few super easy recipes for it online, like this one:

wellnessmama.com/5804/make-your-own-magnesium-oil/

Note that she uses magnesium chloride instead of Epsom salts. I haven't tried that yet. I just picked up a bag of Epsom salts at Wal-Mart. I like to add just a drop or two of lavender oil. Nice scent! But don't use too much---Wellness Mama covers this if you scroll down. Best wishes!

I forget where i read this..but think i read that you can soak a cloth in epsom salts and use it on the muscles or feet?

We could also use a small plastic basin to soak the feet..

Certain types of therapies cause us to release toxins ..with fibro we seem to not release well... My daughter was told epsom salts soaks would speed the release of toxins after physical therapy..she thinks it does help..

I'm not familiar with magnesium lotion, but did a quick search and there are several of them! It would be a nice alternative to the oil, I think.

Just an uneducated guess here, but I wouldn't think you would also need the magnesium oil if you already take magnesium orally and use the magnesium lotion.

What Lj said really seems to make sense: soaking a cloth in Epsom salts and using it on muscles or feet or soaking feet in a small plastic basin (I keep a bucket in my bathroom just for that). I don't know why, but my feet always seem to bear most of the burden of fibro, so soaking them feels great.

You said it, GrammyG! Fibro can steal our days, if we're not careful.

When I'm having a nasty bout of it, I sometimes look back on the day to see if I accomplished what I wanted to. Uh, no, not usually.

But I do find that sometimes when a flare is over, there seems to be a 'grace period' when things are smoother and things actually ARE accomplished. Wheeee...

Fibro. The gift that just keeps giving. Here's to a good weekend for everyone, with pain far in the background (or better yet, gone for a while).