I feel really exhausted after taking a shower, so I take a quick shower and then a long bath so that I can relax.

Sorry hun, I feel the same way. After a shower I feel like ive been hit by a car and so wore out. I even have to talk myself into taking one and I make sure everything that I have to do for that day is done before so I can just lay down for about 1/2 hour and it helps. Even if you just lay on the couch and I make sure I take my pain meds before to help with after. Thats what works for me of course my childern are grow so I can lay down. Hope it helps. sending hugs.

After a shower i feel so much better.I feel clean and the shower helps with the pain.
After getting a towel and drying myself is when the pain hits.Getting dresses is the worse.

Yes getting dressed I feel about 100 years old..

I wish I could "get ready" like I used to - do all my stuff with out the need to rest....oh well...

I cant take showers anymore, I seem to loose track of where I am when I close my eyes (hard to define) so I take baths to avoid falling down in the tub again.
I find bathing much more relaxing then showers ever were tho, I don't have to stand on one leg to shave, or stand the whole time.
Try it, you may find the rest of your routine a smidgen easier if you can get through the cleansing part in a relaxing way!

Good luck

I used to have baths but have relflux of the kidneys and get a kidney infection whenever i have a bath.
I love getting bath oils and bath salts and having a relaxing time.
Usually my youngest son is jumping in the bath with me and my daughter stands at the bathroom door dmeanding that it's her time.
My dog is also hopping in the bath with me and showers are the only time i get alone.

I bought a chair for the shower. Really helps. I'm only 35 - I hate the fact that I feel like an elderly person every time I take a shower - but it makes a big difference. Now I don't get exhausted, it's actually relaxing.

meee!!!! i feel the same way. i have to make sure my husband is here at home so if i am to weak or hurting to bad he can help me get out of the shower and get to bed. I take very quick showers too...

Oh thats terrible to have to have help out of the shower... sorry to hear that! I have to get to my chair after cause I hurt so bad... :(

HATE it so much...

Wow, I hate that others have the same issues, but I feel better knowing that I am not the only one. It feels weird admitting how much showers hurt.. the whole routine right now it so painful. And like 'inlotsofpain' I get a lot of UTIs as well so taking baths often is out of the question as they just cause me more pain and problems.
Once the whole ordeal is over and my hair is dry I feel better but for some reason having the water touching my back is like torture to me. I know it must have something to do with my nerve endings but it is so painful. And I take topomax which makes my feet and hands feel like they have little razors cutting them when I am standing up too much so a long shower is a real 'b@#tch' I should just cut my hair off to save time but that will be a cold day in you know where. LOL It is my last saving grace.
So, it seems like there are quite a few of us that have this issue. For several reasons... too bad there isn't some easy remedy but as we all know with anything to do with chronic pain, there is never an easy remedy.

I AM WITH YOU ON THIS ONE!!! I used to love showers. Now they take everything out of me! I have to spend at least several hours resting after my shower.

I feel the same way. My legs get all shacky and it feels like I cant support my body. My back also feels like I am still healing from back surgery, like I did a few days after my surgery when I still had staples in me.

I'm sorry llady! I thought I replied to this ages ago!!! I think I clicked on it as I as falling asleep, then kind of dreamed I wrote you my response!!! Yup, that's what sleep deprivation does...

I have this exact problem. I asked my boss why right above my knees hurt and were super-stiff, as well as everything else, when I got out of the shower. Other than the actual physical moving, which of course causes pain, he said that we guard and protect ourselves in case we have some sort of pain that catches up of guard. I payed attention the next time I showered, and I realized he's right!!! I was guarding myself so much that it was making me hurt more!!! If I pay attention to this, it helps a little, but it's our bodies natural defense, so it's pretty hard not to do it...

Leyna, I sooo can relate except for the surgery thing!!! I shake so bad I think I'll collapse. My legs often feel like they will just disappear and I'll be on the ground... My mom once asked me if I was doing illegal drugs because I was shaking so bad. UUMMM, NO MOMMY, THIS IS WHAT PAIN LOOKS LIKE!!!!!! Arg.

It used to take me 30 minutes to get ready, that's including showering, drying my hair, and putting on a little face, but now, on average, it takes me about an hour to 2 hours... AND THIS IS ON A GOOD DAY!!!

Since I've been out of the hospital, I've been trying everything I know to calm this flare. It's the worst I've ever had. Last night, I got sooo sick of being in bed, that I decided to try to go to my friend's house for a bit. This meant the whole getting ready process must be initiated. So yeah, it took me 3 hours to get ready. I was shaking in pain the whole time. I was SOOOO proud of myself for actually going to my friend's. I was in so much pain I wanted to stay home, all dressed up and unable to go!!!

So yeah... I understand completely!!! I really wish I could afford one of those shower chairs. I had one at the hospital and it was wonderful, I was actually able to take a relaxing shower!!! Chronic pain is expensive...

Much love and understanding,
Lisa

I may have a little OCD about spelling so here it goes:

1st paragraph: ***Was

2nd paragraph: ***Off

Thank you all for putting up with my oddities!!!

Much love,
Lisa

The shower hurts me but it's the water hitting my body that hurts. I have fibro and I've always contributed fibro to hurting in the shower. Taking a shower is supposed to make you feel good, clean and fresh. It's pretty sad that when we take a shower it makes us hurt more. I don't have the problem afterwards, I don't feel the need to rest, thank goodness. I just dread gettin in the shower because I know that water is going to hurt me.
Great question.
hugs to all
jae