Weight Lifting, Muscle Soreness and Lyme

I wish I could help other than saying I can relate to the muscle issues. I get a different kind of sore after attempt to exercise. It's a very debilitating soreness like my nerves are flared and muscles are sick. I hate it

Hi Invictus! yes absolutely, I recently tried to get back into weightlifting, and I used to lift a lot back pre-illness. I was ridiculously sore after my first workouts recently, part of it could be the infections but honestly in my case I believe that due to the long layoff coupled with very inactive lifestyle my muscles responded with tons of soreness to the new challenge. I found that after 3-4 sessions my soreness settled into a normal range for me, somewhat pre-illness like. My problem with exercise and this illness has often been insane post-exertion flares of symptoms that just rattle me to the core for days on end. Also most of the time I just felt too sick and tired for exertion. This is all so much better now, I still get a bit of flare, especially after the first workouts but after that it tapers off, and I feel very good when I workout.

Patient response to weightlifting could also depend on the particular infections and what symptoms they are afflicting you with. Mine has always been more neuro-based although I have had some debilitating physical stuff. If your symptoms are more muscle-based then you might need to go more slowly and be careful.

Personally I would take however many days it takes to have your muscles recover. Then try lifting again, maybe even a little less than your 1st workout. See how your body responds, maybe it won't go as bonkers? are you taking magnesium? I think this can also help with these issues. I know it is hard to do super light workouts because at least in my case I always remember my pre-illness days and measure myself against that and use that as an expectation. I have to fight that, and just focus on doing a little bit and building a routine that I can ease into, even if I'm just lifting for 10 minutes initially (and even less!).

Good luck, I hope you find a framework that allows you to get back into the lifting!!! I've always enjoyed it, the simplicity of the task concentrates my mind in an almost meditative way, weight training sharpens me with a nice singular type of focus and I always find it makes me feel good and feel like I've accomplished something. Also good way to destress. I also think it is good for the body and good for patients (those who can manage to do a bit of weightlifting but only if their body is ready for it). But like always just have to listen to your body and see what works for you! for the longest time I couldn't do anything that involved physical exertion as the efforts only made me much sicker.

Thank you all for the responses and suggestions. It helps to hear that others share your experiences too.

The muscles soreness and tension is much less today, so I'm going to keep going, taking PeteZa's and seberg's advice to go slowly and listen to my body. The smooth rollers sound like a good idea too, astroman.


I'm also thinking that what I experienced may also have been "normal" post-exercise soreness. One "side effect" of Lyme and co-infections for me is becoming "hypervigilant" and noticing body sensations that probably won't have registered before. Plus, I went in apprehensive that something might happen.