Hello and Welcome Jellybean !!!!

Sadly many with fibro have tried a multitude of treatments (med and non med) with little or no success, then there are those that get relief .

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Fibro can be a fickle witch. After 17 years, I have tried everything that I am going to. At some point I had to find acceptance and get on with living the best I can with what abilities I have. That can be very freeing for the soul. Also, I am not saying give up.

I use ice or heat, whichever works at the time, also sometimes alternating helps. Knowing and respecting my limits , pacing activities, minimize stress as much as possible, allowing myself to rest when needed without guilt and negative self talk. There are many muscle rubs out there that can help some. I have flexeril for spasms as needed and I am allowed 0 to 2 pain pills a day. I take the pain pills for my other issues mostly.

Gentle exercise can help too. Sitting/laying around 24/7 doesnt. If I have a day where I am mostly stuck down , I make sure I get up and walk around the house once every hour. My ankle tendon has been messed up since last June, so I have not been able to take strolls around the neighborhood in too long of a time.

Some people here can still manage to work , while others like myself are disabled. Other physical / medical issues can complicate things too. I have lumbar/sacral problems, 2 elbow and one ankle tendons that are fried, chronic costochondritis, chronic gastric issues and much more.

Sounds like you have tried a lot and yay for the weight loss. Do your physicians not understand fibro or dont believe in it?

I have a chronic mental illness as well so I have to be very careful about interactions. I actually have a new pain management physician that is much better than my last who was frankly a real egotistical jerk. So my psychiatrist, pain management and rheumatologist have decided to try combo drugs that address both issues at once. Which have helped some. But I was also told that I was exercising too aggressively given my condition and that I was basically hurting myself. But it's just the constant trial and error, back and forth, and such that is so frustrating. I guess I just want a solution and there really isn't one and that's a hard pill to swallow. The majority of my friends and family don't really understand so I don't have a great support system there. I do in my spouse and children but that's a lot to handle for just our little family.

Ugh! I feel like I'm just spewing so much. I must have needed a talk LOL

What kinds of exercises work for you? I want to get a treadmill because summer is coming and I am heat sensitive so walks aren't going to be possible soon. But I'd love insight on some other indoor solitary activities that I could try at home.

I feel like I have tried everything I can handle, and with all of my other health problems, it seems pointless. I got diagnosed with fibro 8+ years ago, along with RA, arthritis, chronic migraines, IBS, and so much more. It has gotten to the point where the doctors don't know what to do with me anymore, and I have been dropped from doctors because I'm just an enigma. My doctors do believe in fibro, but they know nothing about it. The first business was getting my RA under control so I would do less damage to my joints. When I got that to calm down, they started working on my fibro, and let me tell you, I still have yet to find something that work for more than 10 mins. I used to do accupuncture, chiropractor, and lots of stretching. I have a really hard time keeping a job, I actually retired because my PTSD and major depression disorder affected my work. I am not working a different full time job, but it is not going as well as I need it to. Exercises like Yoga, and Tai Chi are very good for fibro and arthritis sufferers because it is very gentle on your whole body. Knowing your limits is the key. I know I over do it every time I feel like I'm not in pain I try to get as much stuff done as quickly as possible, before I start to feel like crap. I have 4 children and 1 grandchild, so it is awful that I have to sacrifice time with them because I am too sore to move. Zumba was really good for me too, because I didn't feel like I was exercising, I was actually having fun. And you don't need to go full speed with zumba, just do what you feel you can do. I even started rollerblading again, which was a big mistake because I'm a clutz, I fell and broke my wrist, but it was fun and surprisingly not as strenuous as you would think. Just take it very slow, always baby steps.

We recommend the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies" which is available on Amazon. It has a comprehensive overview of this complex illness. And, a lot of ways to try and manage it.

Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, stretching and a water aerobics class specifically for arthritics are all good choices for exercise.

It is extremely important to listen to your body and respect your limits. Pacing is key to co-existing somewhat peacefully with this illness. Take care.

Thanks Fantod. I know that I really have an issue with pushing myself and trying to get as much as I can done at once when I feel a little better. Then of course I pay for it later. I basically had to retire at 35. Which was and is extremely difficult for me because my identity was wrapped up in being a worker bee. It's what I always wanted as a kid, a career. I'm not able to keep house the way I'd like to and besides that I never wanted that life. Because that was a large part of my childhood, caring for everyone else. I don't know. It's just difficult and disappointing all around and I'm still just really struggling right now. Thank you all for the suggestions

I've been on disability for 9 years. It is a hard transition to make. I just retooled some of my interests to better suit this wreck of a body that I inhabit. Working does not make an identity - you do.

I do a lot of genealogy which keeps my mind sharp and it is very interesting. I have learned how to garden and have fairly low maintenance butterfly gardens that I tinker with during the warm weather, I read and do small projects around the house as energy allows. Focus on and be grateful for what you can do as opposed to dwelling on the stuff that you can't manage anymore. Daily living becomes much easier when you can accept the change. Hugs!

Aloha, welcome to the group!

Gentle swimming works well for me. When I can't make it down to the beach, I go to the pool. But we've had so much rain lately, it's been hard to keep up with my normal swimming routine. I've also just graduated a PT program. Have any of your docs referred you to PT? That could be something you may want to try.

And like Fantod said, pacing is very important to keeping your pain under control. You want to try and stay one step ahead of your pain.... because once it goes up, it's hard to get it back down.

I was referred to PT to learn graded resistance training but have yet to go because I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment. The facility is also quite a drive away so going a few times a week would really be a strain. I was also referred to hydrotherapy but there is no facility in the area. I don't have access to a pool either.

I do a ton of reading because I have always been an avid reader and we have a pretty extensive home library. I engage in a lot of learning activities because I have always loved learning. Right now I'm studying neurobiology, specifically neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. I was hoping this could help me better understand and possibly help myself with my conditions. I also like to craft and organize. But even though I have a lot of interests, I still feel very constrained by my limitations. It's really difficult to keep a schedule or have a rhythm because of both my physical and mental health issues. Of course I also really get frustrated that everything takes me like 10 times longer than the average person or the pre-illness me too.

I think I would feel better if I had a purpose. My previous career is over. Which is okay, it's not what I wanted to do forever. Two of our kids are adults now and our youngest will be soon. I can't really care for the house like I'd want to and that's not my desire anyway.

I have to say though, it's really a relief to have others that understand to talk to. Thanks

I completely understand the need to feel like you should have a purpose. I served in the the Marines (got out 13 yrs ago) so having a mission and purpose is ingrained in us. I've spent the last several years trying to find mine and at the moment am sorting out some GI Bill issues so I can take up some college classes. Anyway... I wanted to remind you that because you have chronic pain and you do indeed need more time to do everything (including recovery) that one of your missions right now is to develop a good self care plan and then execute it. There will be a lot of trial and error before you find something that works for you (that comes with the territory).

As far as not having a pool and access being so far away goes, there is the internet and you can find some fibromyalgia exercises on youtube to start out with. Good luck and hope to see you around. Keep us posted on your progress. Please keep asking questions here :)

Thank you. Everyone has been so helpful and wonderful here. It's honestly such a relief. I really struggle with fulfilling my needs and I know that it's more important than ever now. It's so helpful to have others there to remind you.

Exercises for the body: Stretches recommended by my physical therapist, gentle swimming to massage my muscles, chi gong (tai chi), Feldenkrais to learn to be more aware of my body (how I am holding the tightness in my body).

For the mind: hypnosis to calm down, visualization, meditation (which I find hard to do).

I only wish I have the time to do all these!!

Oh, one more thing: Do not overdo and get a flare!

"No pain, no gain" definitely do not apply to us!

I know! I have such a hard time with that one. If I start hurting I will just push myself till I can't move then be miserable for days