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Fibromyalgia, anyone?

Posted: Mar 24, 2013

I've been out of transcription for over 6 months. When I was sitting at my desk and working, all my muscles would tense and lock up no matter how many times I got up to stretch. Over the ensuing months I was able to relax quite a bit but recently I have decided to start testing again for another MT job and I found out the pain has all returned. I was only at my desk for 2-3 hours and I did get up and stretch but when I tried to get up it felt like the muscles in my lower back and thighs were permanently locked in a painful bent position. Does anyone else have this problem? I'm 54 and can't wait until retirement. Tired of feeling like crap. ;

I have this, or something like it - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
I tighten the hell up whenever I sit down for long periods - also, getting down on the floor and back up, bending down to get into a cupboard and get back up, I am stiff as hell (sorry for all the hell's, but if you are experiencing the same thing, you know what I mean).

What I found is, if I go for a really really long walk, FREQUENTLY, like every day about two miles, then the next day I am all loosened up! That is, in warm weather, cold weather it's not as good an effect, but it helps a lot still.

Is it arthritis or fibromyalgia? I have a coworker in her 20s and she stiffens the hell up when she is on the floor (at naptime we have to sit by the cots of those who won't go to sleep, and that could be half an hour or an hour). My legs feel like logs. I have to stretch. If I dance to disco, that helps a lot too. But I have to move A LOT every day if I don't want to tighten up. If I lose more weight, I'm sure that will help too.

But I feel your pain. I wonder if my stiffness is worse because of this cold weather we're having. It's really bad today - I had to put some stuff away, organize a closet today, go up and down stairs - I am SO STIFF!!!!!!!!!

Okay, thanks for giving me an opportunity to rant and rave. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to retire. I hope I can get more teaching/tutoring work (with benefits) and get out of toddler day care, I can't take it. Or else go get an MFA in painting. OR SOMETHING!!!!!!!

Hope you feel better. I'm 52.

I have FM - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
I have FM and it's extremely hard to not stiffen up. I chose to do gentle yoga stretching. (Always check with a doctor before embarking on a plan).

I am not talking about twisting into a pretzel, but I got a book to learn the stretches (very carefully), and now follow a routine, every day, every day. It takes all of 20 minutes.

I sleep better, am much more relaxed, and can sit for long period without stiffening up. If I DO stiffen up, I do one or two of the yoga stretches (depending on what has tightened up). It takes all of 30 seconds to a minute to do one or 2 stretches.

I would suggest that, unless you have a physical reason you can't.

If you choose to do it via a book, do not expect to get to the poses they show. Just do your best, very slowly. Your goal is not to get into the positions you see in the book. It's to get to what your body can handle.

Never, ever push. Gently, slowly. Eventually you will become more limber. You'll probably "top out" and not achieve another higher level, but that's okay.

Stiffness - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
What I've found helpful is taking a calcium and magnesium supplement with a zinc on the side. My muscles feel more relaxed and the stiff, heavy feeling I get in my limbs is waning. I also do some gentle stretching throughout the day, and also when taking a hot shower or bath.

I know a young woman who, after visits - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
to THREE different children's hospitals for fibromyalgia, was put on a gluten-free diet and is now living without pain/stiffness. Of course, this will probably only work if you are gluten sensitive. Her mom, though, has put the entire family on a gluten-free diet (hard to do) and everyone feels great. It took about six weeks for her daughter to improve.

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