Have Doctors Gone Too Far on Exercise For Fibromyalgia?

[ShyestofFlies]

With the exception of my cfs specialist, every doc I have seen has recomended exercise and offered no other alternative. Nothing for my pain, fog, fatigue, literally nothing, including the doctor that diagnosed me. When I tell them I used to walk 2-7 miles a week, but now struggle to walk around my house- they do no care. They are convinced all my problems will evaporate with exercise. No suggestions on intensity or type that would be easiest or most beneficial.

Before cfs, when I was walking I was not in less pain, my fatigue did not reduce, my mood did not improve, my fog did not lift. If anything I would have new symptoms when I was done and be in more pain sometimes, other times I'd be about the same just more tired. Granted I did not suffer from just FM at the time.

If I were to exercise now, I am afraid of what would happen. Going food shopping for an hour, walking slowly, supporting myself on the cart - wipes me out for a week. Intentionally going out of my way to exercise for a 10% reduction in my pain and no other benefits seems rediculous to me. The exercise they recomend for fibro is moderate exercise, basically force yourself to do what a normal person does. To heck with you if your body can't handle it as well.

 

[Cort]

With the exception of my cfs specialist, every doc I have seen has recomended exercise and offered no other alternative. Nothing for my pain, fog, fatigue, literally nothing, including the doctor that diagnosed me. When I tell them I used to walk 2-7 miles a week, but now struggle to walk around my house- they do no care. They are convinced all my problems will evaporate with exercise. No suggestions on intensity or type that would be easiest or most beneficial.

Before cfs, when I was walking I was not in less pain, my fatigue did not reduce, my mood did not improve, my fog did not lift. If anything I would have new symptoms when I was done and be in more pain sometimes, other times I'd be about the same just more tired. Granted I did not suffer from just FM at the time.

If I were to exercise now, I am afraid of what would happen. Going food shopping for an hour, walking slowly, supporting myself on the cart - wipes me out for a week. Intentionally going out of my way to exercise for a 10% reduction in my pain and no other benefits seems rediculous to me. The exercise they recomend for fibro is moderate exercise, basically force yourself to do what a normal person does. To heck with you if your body can't handle it as well.

I don't think they can handle the truth.....

 

[San Diego]

The exercise they recomend for fibro is moderate exercise, basically force yourself to do what a normal person does. To heck with you if your body can't handle it as well.

Also, to heck with not being able to do activities of daily living. Who cares if you can’t cook, shower, or get out of bed the next day as long as you punched the exercise ticket.

 

[bobby]

Also, to heck with not being able to do activities of daily living. Who cares if you can’t cook, shower, or get out of bed the next day as long as you punched the exercise ticket.

That is maybe the biggest flaw in these approaches: they don't take into account PEM or any other setback you will get afterwards. I think activities of daily living should be a top priority. If you have leftover energy after ADL, ok, you can go spend it on exercise if you want. If not, don't even consider it, cause it's ludicrous. Basic common sense IMO.

 

[San Diego]

That is maybe the biggest flaw in these approaches: they don't take into account PEM or any other setback you will get afterwards. I think activities of daily living should be a top priority. If you have leftover energy after ADL, ok, you can go spend it on exercise if you want. If not, don't even consider it, cause it's ludicrous. Basic common sense IMO.

While I was mild and even moderate, I focused on exercise. (big mistake). It never occurred to me that exercise was causing me to be unable to socialize, work, bathe, etc.

Sounds stupid, but I’d been an avid exerciser my entire life, and I thought I was fighting against the crushing symptoms, not making them worse.

It took getting bed bound for the concept of PEM and relapses to get through my thick skull!.

 

[bobby]

Sounds stupid, but I’d been an avid exerciser my entire life, and I thought I was fighting against the crushing symptoms, not making them worse.

me too! I got all the wrong advice, and believed it too, cause it sounded so logical. if I'd fight hard enough, I would win. only got things stabilized once I understood how this beast works.