It is a very thin line between doing some physical activity and over doing it. If you want to increase your activity level you need to do it very slowly. For example try increasing light activity by about 5 minutes for 4-5 days and then 5 more minutes for 4-5 more days. I know it is awful slow, but iI have found that it is better to go very slow that not slow enough. For me personally I have to keep reminding myself that if I go slow in the long run I will be able to do more. . but sometimes I don't listen to myself. . LOL

It is exactly the same for me. It is very important that we get moving even when it's hard, but one must remember not to go too far. Very often it is not clear where that line is exactly.

So I do my best to be mindful of my body and how I'm feeling. If I need to rest I try to allow myself to do so without feeling too guilty.
I am learning to ask for help when I need it. (Which has never been easy for me to do).
I am very lucky to be surrounded with loving and supporting family and friends.

Another thing I do my best to be mindful about is my emotional state. If I know that I just had to go though something difficult, then I know to take things a little easier for a while.

I wish you all the best!

Hi littlemart,
I get the exact same way. I was very active before getting fibro and possibly lupus, that's the next theory. I use to lift weights and do cardio everyday. Now I try to just be normal and I can't breathe, can't keep up, and the worst part burn with pain. If I stay up on my feet most of the day, just walking (I can't jump or run or the burn is so extreme and it will last forever). The burning and pain will stay intense and into the night. It's not until morning that the burn isn't as bad, but its all back once I'm up for an extended period of time. Working out is so hard. I try everyday, and it always makes me feel worse. I have never felt more energized or better like I use too. I feel like I need to stretch my legs all day and they just ache so bad. The burning sucks! I'm sorry you have to deal with this too. I'm sorry that anyone has to deal with this. It makes me very depressed.

Thank you guys. I ask because I also have MS and a bunch of other autoimmune problems. They all seem to eat up energy and cause terrific pain.

It is a fine line not over doing it. I'm good for two days and then I'm down for three days. This is the hardest to except. I was always doing something a good getter. Yes it is depressing some days. I get through it with the support of my son and my husband. Good luck today you.

Sure, physical activity will ramp up your Fibro. but the alternative is far worse. Keep moving as much as you can and rest when you need to.

The more you move the more you will be able to move.

Good luck

I also have MS and tire very easily. So any little thing I try to do wipes me out and starts the pain all over again. The Fibro and the MS share symptoms so I never know which one is kicking me at any one time.

You need to define what exercise is for you. What someone else does may not be right for you. Starting out just walking seems to be something that is easlly manageable. You can walk on your street, around your backyard or up and down a hallway in your home. Just keep the pace the same and the length of time the same for 4-5 days or longer if you need to. Don't start walking on your street and decide you want to go and visit a neighbor 3 blocks over, unless you've been walking for a while.


It's normal for pain to increasse with physical activity when you're not user to it. That is why it is so important to build up slowly. We are so eager to feel better and function better that we overdo. The timing of when we do it is important too. Don't do it if you have something else to do soon because you will be in a hurry and not realize it. In the beginning it is important to be able to rest for a little while after exercising. Also try and time it so you take your pain meds shortly before starting because it will help you be consistent in the length of time you exercise and it can help with pain afterwards.

When most people talk about exercise they are talking about getting their heart rate up and keeping it there for a time frame. That is Not what I'm talking about when I say exercising in the beginning. As always it is best to check with your dr if you have any heart issues, no matter how low and slow you want to go.

Guess I was talking about small things like house cleaning or raking. Stuff like that. I try to walk around inside the house.. it's a long house. That doesn't bother me. But the pain from Fibro, MS and Osteoarthritis makes all the little chores BIG chores. Sweeping the floor is generally a small thing, but I tend to over-do it anyway.

Thanks to all of you

I have only fibro (mod-severe) and knee osteoarthritis (beginning).

But recently during a fibro flare I also had a virus and everything made me tired.

I had to rest after taking a bath, after doing the dishes, etc.etc.

Luckily, my temporarily worsened fatigue lifted as the flare subsided and the virus lessened, but I really feel your frustration because you must live with it day in/day out. Hang in there and take care of yourself---the way you are now.

I don't know about you but I feel so stupid when I overdo it once again. I have this magical belief that if I can just do what I used to do, it means that I am cured from fibro.

But guess what---I only get an idiotic flare-up. I tell myself, in order to prevent more self-induced flare-ups, that ''I am this way now; I have to rest.." or whatever self-talk works. Good luck & hang in.

Forgot to add: Bruce Campbell, Stanford psychologist and former chronic fatigue patient has an excellent website http://www.cfidsselfhelp.org/library about how to arrange your activities to your tolerances. I've gone back to it a lot.

On the emotional side, I've found Toni Bernard's book very helpful:
"How to live with chronic pain and illness,"

Shakota6 thanks so much. Yes, I feel like I should be able to do anything I used to do a few years ago. I still try to lift things that I shouldn't. I just forget. Go on doing what I THOUGHT I could do and then pay for it later.

Honestly, I've found the best solution to the housework issue is to pay someone else to do the "big" stuff. I can manage the dusting and dishes and laundry and everyday maintenance, but floors, bathroom cleaning, and anything heavy takes so long if I pace myself that it just doesn't get done.

So...I pay someone else to do what's too much for me, and pace myself for the rest.