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.

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ShawnaMama 01/09/2013

Okay, for many, many years (as long as i can remember) i have always noticed being tensed up, so to speak. I grip the steering wheel VERY tightly, my shoulders are almost ALWAYS tighten/"shrugged up", i will be watching tv and notice my toes curled/tightened up, same w/hands and legs. So, i've always thought it was anxiety. But i really don't have much anxiety whatsoever. So, wondering if it's been nerve related Fibro symptoms all these years!!!! So, I would like you all to please give some feedback, even if it's an absolute no way/can't relate at all response - then i'll be able to know if i'm the only one, or if lots of us are experiencing this. Thank you friends

deleted_user 01/09/2013

Hi,
I get this too sometimes, I just don't realize because there are so many issues with Fibro. isabee

ShawnaMama 01/09/2013

thank you for responding. (:
it's trippy, huh? i don't recognize it all the time, either. When i do, i try to relax the muscles that i'm involuntarily tightening. More often than not, i notice several minutes later, it's happening again :/ Frustrating. I feel like it really contributes to the viscous cycle of exhaustion :(

PeaceN2You 01/09/2013

I used to find myself doing this when I was trying to go to sleep at night.

I "discovered" it when I started using guided visualization to relax for sleep, and one of the exercises was to start at the top and focus on relaxing the muscles in each area of your body.

Until I did that, I had no idea I was unconsciously tensing some of my muscles in a way I could control (once I realized I was doing it).

ShawnaMama 01/09/2013

thx PeaceN2You. It's sooo weird. Have you been to a nuerologist? if so, did it help? would you recommend me seeing one? Am i grasping at the wind? so frustrating. I just want to feel like the old me.

fibrolizzy 01/09/2013

I used to do this all the time, when I was teaching. Like you, I didn't realize I was gripping the steering wheel or had my shoulders all hunched up. I believe mine was stress-related.

deleted_user 01/09/2013

I think it could be related to pain... just like on a cold winter day... we hold ourselves "tighter". I do this constantly, I just try to make myself aware of it all the time so I can relax those muscles. Once you notice you are doing it, you are half way there to stopping it.

ShawnaMama 01/10/2013

thank you so much, fibrolizzy and jenalone! yah, i have been becoming more conscious of it lately, and also relaxing the muscles every single time. hoping & praying it will become more natural as time goes on.

milily 01/10/2013

It is common to guard against pain - involuntary tighten muscles and/or hold yourself in a guarded position. I keep catching myself doing that with what I have going on right now. It makes the pain worse.

ShawnaMama 01/11/2013

thank you for that milily. that makes absolute sense. i didn't even think about that! so great to be able to bounce thoughts off of each other. i'm grateful for you all - have a great wkend everybody (:

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