??? Even with just my fibromyalgia I felt like I was able to push myself to get stronger and the pain was less. In the last few months though when my condition started to rapidly deteriorate and the Sjogren's was diagnosed I now notice that if I push myself in the least I am done for the rest of the day. My hips kill me and really disturb my sleep. I want to push myself to get stronger but am at a loss right now- being so new to this condition I have to experiement. What have you all noticed regarding exercise? I'm afraid if I cut out the aerobics that I'll have to get back on my BP meds and I really want to stay off as many meds as possible. What is a good program?
hi there
i hear you, way i felt a few weeks back, i started tai chi, gentle but excercises every muscle, plus its working with chi energy so it helps me sleep that night and helps pain.
My teacher says dont try to keep up if you cant , but i can and do, the class its mostly age 60 im 37, but a great bunch they are, one person has athritis, one has osteoporosis, so its not strutting down the gym with a bunch of hard core fitness freaks, you l not feel out of place, tai chi kept comming up as suitable excercise and i am really enjoying it, first few weeks i felt sore and achy doing it, and was so fatigues i had to throw myself out the door to go, but i seem to get a little stronger everytime i go, also it is good for high blood pressure, so it wont send that shooting up
T x
Hi :)
One of my knees was really bad for a while and it made exercise hard. I knew I was having surgery and wanted to be as fit as possible for it - and the physical therapy afterwards. I found I could exercise in water. It was easier on all my joints. Getting dressed afterwards was a 'killer' but I'm sure it was good for me.
The pain was due to OA in my case. Exercising in water does seem to work though.
Take care - Scottie :)
Scottie, I have a partial knee replacement, too. This does put a limitation on what you can do. I don't think it's good to get on your hands and knees, or kneel. I tried a yoga class, but there was too much "hands and knees and kneeling" involved and I stopped. I can still do a lot of yoga at home without injuring my knee.
I, too love my water exercise, but have fallen away from it. I have stopped doing anything but lying on the couch all day. I need a good swift kick in the pants to get going again. Lucy
I used to bench press 550 if you can believe it - squat well over 700
I walk every day for about an hour, it's low impact and you can walk as fast as you want. At the local Lupus group I belong to, they were talking about exercise and walking was highly recommended. It gets you out into the fresh air and lifts your spirits :) On my walk, I'm lucky enough to go though a lovely grassy park which I can now jog around :) Before walking it pays to get some really good supportive sports/walking shoes. Even if they're expensive, they'll get a lot of use :)
Good Luck, Lesley (NZ)
Hi. Since I've only been ill for a few months, I'm still learning how this disease effects. I can tell you I used to be an avid runner. The past year has been inexplicably difficult---until I got diagnosed. At first I could still run, but as the months went on it became more and more difficult. And I noticed it really wiped me out. A few weeks ago a friend talked me into doing a long race. Big mistake. I walked more than I ran and was dizzy and nauseous. It set me back a few weeks.
I love to hike, and walking is good, too. I have not given up on running, though. I'm going to listen to my body.
I think , with this disease, your body will dictate what you can do. In my case, I couldn't "push myself" even if I wanted to. My body just wouldn't go.
Good luck to us all!
Isn't this a bug-a-boo! I was and still like to be active like everybody. But it sure is hard to figure. I find it difficult to get past that initial "ooo new muscles being used" thing when I first start back into a new or more vigorous exercise or gardening what ever. That brings on enough inflammation to put me out of the game before i can get started. Really hard to get past that so in fact i rarely can so I don't know how to be able to finally hit a safe place to continue a more vigorous regular exercise routine.
Any suggestions? Sandra
I try to walk 15-20 minutes in my lunch hour. It's fine if I don't do it everyday, but if I do, I get so tired that i can't wlk out again for days. Sadly I can't swim in a pool as I have allergy problems to the chemicals, so have to content myself with sea swimming on holiday.
Kathyx
I push until I am all but falling over. For example, I went to Walmart today, first time I've been in a store since this flare, or unknown origin began on 2/13/09. I didnt feel good, but, I was so sick of being in the house! So, off I went. I think I was there about an hour, which, wow!
But probably about 15 miniutes in, my back hurt, my legs were shaking, but, I pushed and pushed. It got to the point where I was so exhausted, and in so much leg and back pain, I almost cried, and barely made it to the registers and out the door.
But, I pushed hard!
Whew, that'll do me for another month maybe!
Cathy
I find for me that I often have to MAKE myself do something, even if it's to go to Walmart. I get stagnant sometimes just withering on the couch. Lucy
I find this post very interesting. My rhumy keeps telling me to excersize. My regular doc wants me to lose weight. But, it seems that I only have the physical currency to spend on one thing a day. If I choose to spend that currency on excersizing thats it for me for the day. I have so much more that I need to do. Just going to the store will do me in for the day. So, easy for them all to say to excersize but I'd like them to spend a day in my skin then nag me about it.
Steve
I have found that swimming & water aerobics but deep & shallow work best for me. I aim for 4 sessions a week, but with the cooler/damp weather & being sick w/ bronchitis, I have cut it out temporarily. I can push myself harder in the cardiovascular sense if I am not weight bearing. I can barely walk 1.5 miles but can swim 0.5 mile. Weird. Stretching after I am warmed up also helps my muscles relax. I love to jacuzzi after to reward myself. I try not to exercise the the point of or do a move to cause pain. Pain is BAD!
If I don't exercise, I feel worse--achy, tired cranky & sore. If I do exercise, I sleep better (generally) & have improved energy.
Oh, and regarding pushing myself....I find other activities exhaust me, extending shopping trips being one of the worst. Housework & yard work also wear me out. But in the last year that I have been exercising, I see an improvement in my ability to get things done. I am quite far from where I think I should be but just a little better. Oh yeah I lost some weight too. But that is besides the point.
Theosof, I am concerned that you feel like you are deteriorating. I too thought I just had fibro for a long time prior to "deteriorating" some more & getting diagnosed. But, after starting treatment for SS I think I feel better than I have felt in years. Hang in there & don't give up. Maybe you can change up your exercise routine to be less weight bearing or talk to your doc about pain management or other alternatives than giving up exercise.
take care,
Mary in LA
??? Hey- thanks everyone for the suggestions- I see that we all have issues with exercise. I guess I have to change my work out schedule around but I talk with my Rheumy first to see how much I can push. I so want to lose weight- I had lost 30lbs but got sick and it all came back. My doc said as I get to feel better and more energetic with the increased Vit D (mine was really low) and placquinil the weight will naturally come off- hope she is right. I know I have to be patient but it is hard. You all are great and thanks.... Hope you all begin to feel better.
it's a tough question to answer, before I'd try to work out and was always left more exhausted and would get sicker. Since I did this newer diet with no gluten, preservatives, chemicals, red meats, this doesn't happen.
I went out for a short ski (cross country) on the lake and only got about a mile before I had to stumble back to my bed! My joints are screaming and my face (45 spf sunscreen on) is stinging like the dickens!
2 years ago I could have gone 7 miles easily.
On top of that my balance is off now days and I almost killed myself climbing the bank back to the house!
Guess it's back to walking for me. I truly hate this.