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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Muscles & Bones
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Weight training

deleted_user
deleted_user
Curious if there is anyone here who weight trains and has any feedback on the combination with Fibromyalgia.

I have been lifting weights for years and I am trying to figure out if that is contributing to my pain. Somedays I feel like I have had a huge workout when I haven't and other days I work out pretty hard and miraculously feel no worse for wear or at least no worse than usual. I have taken a break from the gym and not found a lot of improvement-in fact found my stiffness to be worse during those "rest" periods.

The only things I have been able to find on weight training and fibromyalgia are for beginners, which suggest very low weights and very infrequent and short work outs.

My mental well being is a lot better when I can work out so I would hate to stop lifting but if it causing me more harm than good I will consider changing the type of exercise I do...

Any experience, information, thoughts are appreciated.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I can only repeat what my rheumatologist and primary care physician told me....you have to keep moving and exercising or you won't be able to. I hurt whether I exercise or not, but have noticed that I have more flexibility and stamina when I walk, swim or do aqua exercises several times a week.
horseluvnhoosier
horseluvnhoosier
I have been weight training for over 10 years, long before I was diagnosed but not before I had fibro. I feel my best when I am in the gym working out even though using the machines and the free weights are both difficult due to the pain where my body touches them. I guess endorphins are released so I feel better while I am there. However, as soon as I go home I crash for about 3 hours (I also have CFS) and the next day I am dizzier than usual. I hurt whether I work out or not so even though I hurt worse after the gym, I don't let it stop me. I just think it is better in the long run to keep up your muscle strength. I just hope I am not doing more harm than good.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I used to consistently do circuit training and daily cardio work outs w/ fibro. I felt there was some difference between work out soreness and fibro pain.

I ended up getting smacked far away from my work outs by unrelated health issues, and now long for when I was in that great work out groove.

So I encourage you to keep doing it if it is working for you. We need to be moderate and listen to our bodies but we don't need to retreat from vigorous activity if we can manage it still.

You go for it girl!
deleted_user
deleted_user
From what I am learning is it just takes someone with Fibro twice as long to recover from working out. That is what my PT told me anyway. Just keep that in mind with your work out. I feel soooo much better if I do my yoga in the mornings but I will admit sometimes it is like pulling teeth to make myself do it when I am hurting.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think we are gonna hurt no matter what so I do everything I can and want to and I always feel better mentaly at least. I love my swimming and since the meds like to put wieght on us its my way of keeping it off. You go girl!
tiredgurl
tiredgurl
I think weight training is good if u don't overdo it and make sure you really stretch after your workout. I like using weights to tone.