Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
as an aside: I was poking around on here, and after a while, I knew I wanted to start a specific topic but couldn't remember what that topic WAS. I went off to do other tasks, and it came to me, so let me post it quick before I lose it! lol
I am finding that I MUST stretch, excessively, almost all the time to keep from feeling too painfully stiff. I feel like I have a constantly coming~on charley horse just about everywhere. Know how you have to massage it or stretch it out right away to keep the muscle from seizing up too badly? So I twist my legs, push my feet down hard in strange directions, stretch my hands towards my arms inward at the wrist. I reach my arms backwards, pull up on my toes, everything is exaggerated, but it does give me some relief. I feel somewhat like a freak, though, with all the strange contortions I'm doing to get that relief.
Is this familiar to anyone else??
Here's a tip I learned: when trying to stretch the neck, don't shrug the shoulders upwards: pull your shoulder down and your head up or to the opposite side so that the neck muscle is stretched. When it relaxes, it feels better. That might be along the same lines as these weird backwards stretchign I'm doing everywhere else.
In the morning, I find I have to really stretch everything very exaggeratedly and excessively before I get up. It truly lessens the pain I will have upon getting up.
I am finding that I MUST stretch, excessively, almost all the time to keep from feeling too painfully stiff. I feel like I have a constantly coming~on charley horse just about everywhere. Know how you have to massage it or stretch it out right away to keep the muscle from seizing up too badly? So I twist my legs, push my feet down hard in strange directions, stretch my hands towards my arms inward at the wrist. I reach my arms backwards, pull up on my toes, everything is exaggerated, but it does give me some relief. I feel somewhat like a freak, though, with all the strange contortions I'm doing to get that relief.
Is this familiar to anyone else??
Here's a tip I learned: when trying to stretch the neck, don't shrug the shoulders upwards: pull your shoulder down and your head up or to the opposite side so that the neck muscle is stretched. When it relaxes, it feels better. That might be along the same lines as these weird backwards stretchign I'm doing everywhere else.
In the morning, I find I have to really stretch everything very exaggeratedly and excessively before I get up. It truly lessens the pain I will have upon getting up.
As I start treatment for this, I am hoping to learn better coping skills and pain relieving techniques.
HUGS from down south :)
Kathy
Harey - I know how u feel. I too use a cane at times. Many in my apt building are in their 80s n even 90's. They seem to get around better than I at times all things considered. Nurse advocate here says, yes, but with you (me) it is the disease. Then I try to stay away from the "why me" crap lol.
hagd ev1
Like you, I really don't care what anybody thinks anymore. As long as it makes me feel a little better! The calf stretches, I think, are the funniest. :o)
I hear you, I do it too. This is why I don't go to movie theater any more.
I just can't get through the whole movie with out needing to get up, and move around, and stretch.
Gentle hugs, Sherrall
Don't forget to stretch your smile muscles, too. This will make you feel better - really. Smiling, even when you don't feel happy, can raise endorphin levels.
Have a good day.
Yet, I've been taking baking soda in water, to neutralize my body because people with fibro are apparently too acidic, for the last three weeks - 3 x 1/4 tsp. It is supposed to help your system remove the lactic acid in your muscles and it has helped with the muscle pain and therefore I stretch less.
If you don't have high blood pressure then the salt shouldn't be a problem and baking soda is an accepted remedy for kidney stones.
It's a very inexpensive treatment and maybe something you could try.
I do not get spasms all the time or daily but do get them periodically. I feel like I am always moving... can't sit to long, stand to long..walk to long .. even when sleeping feel like a fish out of water.
Excercise has not helped my pain levels but feel it is important to try to keep moving as much as we can so I do. Just at a slower pace.
take care gentle hugs
Hey, allshallbewell, I never heard of the baking soda in water, and I've read a bit about body pH levels. So you put 1/4 tsp in a glass of water 3 times a day? Is that it? And you find it has been helpful? I'll try it!
The stretches I do are gentle, and slow. Before I even get out of bed, I make sure to stretch legs and arms... Even while brushing my teeth, I'm bending my knees to stretch my calves, then arching my back to stretch the thighs... On occasions when I have to jump up and rush, I really find myself much worse than when I can take time to stretch first.
And of course, after sitting for any length of time, I'm so stiff and in pain, it's hard to walk normally.
I asked a naturopathic nutritionist (on her card) if she knew anything to help remove lactic acid from my muscles. When she said baking soda, I was checking the internet hours later.
There's sport data reflecting improved performance and shorter healing time with some interesting studies and a I clicked on article about horse doping with baking soda in the (?) 50's.
I was worried about kidney stones but baking soda is a treatment for them.
I take 1/4 t 2 or 3 times a day in water and try to take it on an empty stomach so not to neutralize my stomach acids when I need to digest food.
I feel it in my muscles when I've forgotten the baking soda yet I've made quite a few changes in the last three weeks and I am experiencing significant improvements.
I've been keeping a log since January 1, 2010 and for seven months I have tried to maintain an average of 4 hours of purposeful activity per day and not often succeeded yet each week is giving me a higher average, not as much pain, clearer thinking and, most importantly, I am getting rest from my sleep.
I could break out in a song and dance here,
maybe shed a few tears.
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=973764