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.
My husbands aunt has fibro, though not as severe as his. She mailed him a package of exercises for fibro from the mayo clinic. He tried to so 2 stretches tonight - the first one is where you raise your eyebrows and open your mouth wide to stretch your face. The second one is where you tilt your head to the side. He did these two stretches for just a couple of minutes total. Afterwards, he was in a LOT of pain. He said the muscles were burning intensely in the areas he stretched and he had a sudden surge of pain in other parts of his body as well. After a few minutes it started to subside but he was completely exhausted
Can anyone please help me understand what might have happened and whether it's a good idea to continue trying? I know he probably needs to talk to the dr about this but I am hoping some of you might understand.
I asked him to think about what he wants to do, since it's his body and he is the only one who knows what it feels like. I suggested he could try the stretches again but do it more gently and not stretch as far. My other suggestion was that he could start with just a couple minutes of deep breathing per day. But I don't know....all I know is I want to help him learn how to manage this awful condition and be able to start to enjoy life again...thanks.
Can anyone please help me understand what might have happened and whether it's a good idea to continue trying? I know he probably needs to talk to the dr about this but I am hoping some of you might understand.
I asked him to think about what he wants to do, since it's his body and he is the only one who knows what it feels like. I suggested he could try the stretches again but do it more gently and not stretch as far. My other suggestion was that he could start with just a couple minutes of deep breathing per day. But I don't know....all I know is I want to help him learn how to manage this awful condition and be able to start to enjoy life again...thanks.
You are trying to be helpful but I cannot emphasize enough to you how painful having Fibromyalgia is and how debilitating it is living with Chronic pain each day.
You cannot even begin to imagine the pain and the fatigue. It is overwhelming to say the least. I know you are trying to help your Husband to "enjoy life again" but it is very hard to do when it literally hurts to move and you have no energy.
It is depressing mentally and physically painful. I would have him talk to his Doctor and you go with your Husband to his Doctor's appt. and make a list of questions and or concerns and take the list with you.
Is your Husband on any Medications for pain or on an anti-depressant? Just wondering.
The deep breathing is great. Also guided meditation is good too as far as relaxing. There are a lot of really good guided Meditation videos on You Tube. A lot of people have anxiety when living in Chronic Pain each day. So the breathing exercise is a good idea.
It cannot hurt. But definitely have him talk to his Doctor about any specific exercises for Fibromyalgia that can be your Husband so he does not hurt himself or do something that will cause more pain.
Also, start SMALL. Like if the stretch says "go six inches", start at *two* inches. If the exercise says "do 20", do 5.
Essentially, fibro acts like our muscles already just went through a Mount Everest climbing workout, so they're essentially already "shot" before we get to exercise----so think of it as treating the whole body as if it is *sprained*. Only smart PT person I ever had fibro-wise said that was the route.
And always get relaxed first with a warm bath or shower, and drink extra fluids (with electrolytes but not sugar), to help.
Absolutely go to the doc and take a list of questions, etc.
A lot of us find gentle yoga, pilates, and/or warm water pool exercise to be a great place to start and stay.
"No pain no gain" is a load of horse sh*t. Pain gains you nothing but pain and more susceptibility to injury. For an FMer, it's like adding kerosene to a fire. I was always an athlete type and I sometimes think, given how many of us here were, that's half our reason for FM--- athletes do love to "push through" and then? Well, FM pushes *back*!
Gentle good vibes to you and your hubby,
Leo
Don't do 10 stretches, try one or two the first day.
Take a day off in between stretch sessions.
Sometimes the muscles involved are in spasm so it would be good to see a doc and get an experienced physical therapist's input.
One of the reasons we're so hard to treat is that we're all so different.
I know this is really hard on you. Just remember its much harder on him.
Hang in there.