:wave: Hey Fellow Fibromites, I've been reading lots of threads and note mentions of exercise being helpful but have no idea what to try next. I've tried Tai chi, but the very slowness done more harm than good. I've considered swimming, but was put off by being warned about temps of water and changing rooms plus I can't always get out. Does anyone have something that they do at home on a regular basis? What about when a flare hits, what then? do you rest or try to carry on? Any suggestions, advice or tips would be most appreciated, take care keep well Snoozyowl;)

take water aerobics. It is great. stretches are very helpful. get trigger point treatment,shots. That helped. Ask about lyrica. this works for me. ambien or something like rozerm. get somethng to help you sleep is a must for me.
grandmo

:wave: Hey Grandmo Thank you for the quick reply, much appreciated, I do already take meds to help me sleep, for the pain etc. Are lyrica, ambien and rozerm meds? I'm in UK and don't recogonise these names. I'll look into water aerobics and see what I can figure out Thank you Grandmo I'll let you know how I get on take care keep well Snoozyowl;)

Hi all - what is do is a lot of walking ( around a mile each evening) and some light weight (3 lbs) stretching and exercises. Right now it is almost to hot to walk outside - I live in south Florida - so sometimes on the weekends go to our Condo Gym and use the treadmill. I find walking does help even if I do not feel up to it when I start I usually feel better afterwards.

Hope this helps....sunny47

:wave: Hey Sunny47, I do walk, but not the same distance as you, as not able to. I live in a village and we do have some lovely walks thru woods etc and I take my pooch with me, it takes me over an hour including rest stops to walk half the distance you're doing, thank you for the advice take care keep well Snoozyowl;)

First I want to welcome grandmo to the boards.

Snoozy, Well you are walking so that is great! I think walking is the best but you also have to do some stretches. Just what you can do, stretch your arms in the air or hold onto a chair and stretch your legs. You don't have to do too much to start and build up as you feel like it. Eventually try a light weight. If you want to invest in some equipment, try an exercise bike, one of the recumbent kind that sits back a little. Don't worry about doing anything but the stretches everyday and have a plan for the days you don't feel well. I do some small amount of stretching on the days I am not doing so well and the other times I get on my treadmill for 30min. and do some weights and a better stretch. And for the in between days or when I don't have as much time I forget the weights and just do some good old standing twists turns and swinging and reaching with my arms for a few minutes. I use to take an exercise class, but my ladies workout place closed so I just use what I learned and do what I can at home. Good Luck!

Glojer

:wave: Hey Glojer, great to hear from you:D should of known one of my Golden Girls:angel: would come up with the sort of advice I was looking for, I will try the stretches, I'm also looking into water aerobics that Grandmo suggested and carry on walking like Sunny47, but wanted something that I could do at home when the weather is yuk for me or I'm not well. I do ache a lot:( and that is why I've asked as I do find that just sitting is not the answer, of course I've found out that some days exercise or just moving is an ordeal,:eek: but Hey you gotta just keep trying:) Thank you Glojer, look forward to your next post, take care, keep well Snoozyowl;)

I like the golden girls comment. I am probably Rose! Especially on a bad fibro day!

Hiya snoozyowl,

I devised a stretching exercise regime which uses soft, gentle movements and I have had such good feedback. I have posted the details on to lots of interested people with fibro and other medical conditions.

The thing is these are something I devised myself and I can't take any responsibility for anything that happens to anyone using them. When people acknowledge and understand this, then I will post them on here.

Take care

goldenwings :angel:

I walk every day with my dog, but the length of the walk depends on how much pain I have that day. I do feel though that even on bad days, a short walk is beneficial.

My physical therapist has given me elastic bands to use for simple stretching exercises at home. I've only just started doing them, so I don't know how much they will help, but he says that it's important to get the blood running and get more oxygen to the muscles if you have fibromyalgia or related conditions, although it's also important not to overdo it and thus increase the pain.

I've tried water exercise and it made the pain in my hands and toes worse, but I know people for whom it's really worked well. Also, I may have arthritis in my hands which complicates things. So it's something people have to try for themselves, I think. It was fun to do, anyway, and I may try it again later. :)

:wave: Thank you Jenilee, my sis has r/o in her hands and finds running warm water to ease the stiffness first thing helps and warm wax treatment is beneficial too, she can't take water therapy as it does make the athriitis worse for her too. Like yourself, I take my dog/friend with me, before he came into my life I wasn't going out at all, he has given me so much love, companionship and help, he is just happy to go for a walk no matter how short or long its for, but he has a big garden to play in if I can't get out and just waits for either my son or daughter to take him out when they get home from work. Take care, keep well Snoozyowl ;)