My doctor said do what you can. If today you can walk 2 miles at the track, go for it. Tomorrow if it is only 1/4 mile, well do that too. Anything helps. I think, though I don't do, but need to start, that yoga, walking, tai chi would help me. The only problem with yoga is that I can't put pressure on my wrists without a lot of pain.

Weight bearing exercises are good for our bones and help to keep them strong. Walking is weight bearing for me. I did just buy 5# weights to start using. Something is better than nothing.

Achybones, do what you can. If it is causing you a lot of pain (not the good pain from a workout we used to experience) then don't do it or modify it.

Just my two cents.

i am in physical therapy and also do aqua therapy. I do mostly stretching exercises and some easy exercises that help loosen me up.

I have been told walking, pool therapy , recumbent stationary bike, ,gentle swimming, and include stretching. I dont tolerate it either when you are going to PT and they put you on machines and start using the rubber bands ,

Whatever exercise you do start out at a small amount of time and slowly work yourself up to a longer amount of time.

I would like to get back in the therapy pool this winter on my own and do the routine they taught me in the past with a goal of working up to trying the recumbent bike. I cant walk outside in the winter - I cant tolerate the cold. I was told to try the recumbent bike because it will support my spine.

This PT place charges 5 dollars a day or 30 dollars a month to allow you to use the pool and/or equipment on your own. Not too bad of a charge.

Hi there! In my opinion I say do what works for YOU.

The 1st 9 years I wasn't able to do much walking at all or even PT for that matter. Only some light swimming 1-2x a week. Then after finding the right shoes and inserts (after trying shots in my feet, molded inserts, and different shoes, etc) I was finally able to start going grocery shopping without using an electric cart and then eventually began walking to the end of the street and back. But it took months before I finally made it all the way around the block. For a while earlier this year hubby and I even started going to the gym on Saturdays for an easy going work out. Walking on the elliptical machine for a few minutes, then I was able to get up to 10 mins and slightly faster. But it took months of slowly working at it. Plus some stretching on a mat. I was so proud since I haven't stepped foot into a gym in years but only to use a shower after using the beach. lol

If I were you, I would find something easy going that gives you a little bit of a workout but at the same time doesn't disrupt your life with pain each time you do it. And then slowly increase the work out, or if you're brave experiment with a new workout to add to the mix. For example light swimming and stretching for 10-15 mins 2x / week for the 1st 3 months and then if you want to try riding a bicycle, find time to ride a bike down the street and back 1x / week (or use a stationary bike) in addition. Or you can try yoga instead of biking. Personally I found both the bike and the yoga to be pretty painful, so I stuck to the walking and swimming.

But like I said, you should find what works for you.

Thank you all for the info.

A question about swimming: I only know how to swim backstroke. I wonder if that repetitive motion would aggravate my already tense painful neck/shoulder muscles.

Also, coldness makes muscles tense up. The pool that I use is a regular YMCA pool with temperature of about 83 F (?) When I first jump into the pool, it's cold! Then after say 10-15 minutes of swimming, I don't feel cold anymore. That was ok before I got fibro. But now, wouldn't that initial coldness shock my muscles to tense up? Isn't that bad?

I do little weights. I have a set of from 1 pound to 5 pounds. Now I only do the 2 pound ones. I have a treadmill and an elliptical, but don't do the elliptical anymore. Some days I do 15 minutes on the treadmill, then 30, then 5, it just depends on how I feel. I do mild stretches every morning. That's about the extent of my exercise. My rheumy told me do what I can, but take it slow. I'd love to do water aerobics, but it's not convenient.

Try to find a water aerobics class specifically for arthritic. The pool is usually warmer. This is a slow moving class unlike regular water aerobics.

Tai Chi and Yoga are also good choices. Walking will work too. Just start out very, very slowly. Take care.

I used to be an exercise fanatic. I sold people on the idea that exercise is the cure all that is until it started to do the opposite for me. Being upright, exercising although it's great mentally for me, it's a disaster on my body. The more exercise I get the worse I sleep, the more pain I experience. I don't preach exercise as the cure all anymore. I do think it's great for your overall health if you can tolerate it. I do what I can do within my 3 hour able to do stuff window. Everyone is so different when it comes to exercise. One must do what one can do.

Thanks for sharing this. I like stretchibg. That sometimes causes pain, even though I am gentle. For me, if Im in a flare up, everything causes pain. Have a great holiday season. God bless!