Now I don’t work, spend a lot of time resting..I haven’t had pain like I used to. I’ve learnt to pace myself..but I’m still confused if it’s fibro or not. I just wondered if u have fibro, and u spent weeks laying down and resting, would u still have pain??
Hi Sophie - great question, great answer from fimi and great question back. Quick answer: Yes and No.
I can see how closely you're looking at details, and in my experience that's the way to improving.
And this is definitely one of the more contradictory, confusing details.
But actually it's almost never just one right thing, it's often about getting the
balance between several rights, or sometimes we feel: several wrongs. So focusing this shows a general problem.
My symptoms are probably more extreme than most, but that may serve as an example.
Essentially they just detail fimi's "resting
but stretching"...
On the one hand I have activities, which I could do for 1-2h on brilliant days, 5-30 minutes on "bad" - normal now. If I overdo them I get a severe overall whole body Ache, esp. in all my limbs. So after them I need a lot of rest, depending on how much I under- or overdid it (exponentially: 5' too long may be OK, but 30' too long can cost me hours or days).
On the other, staying in any posture or action for longer than 10 minutes causes local pains. This can be standing, sitting or lying. Walking, housework and esp. anything with arms up can be even less than 5 minutes, cycling can be 20 minutes. For all these I have found many workarounds - a swiveable adjustable bar stool if I have to sit at a table, but best in certain alternating twist-stretched positions on the floor, with back and sometimes head support. But essentially I am switching postures and actions all the time. Including at night: the many breaks may make my sleep less restorative, but being able to move and sit a bit is a relief and can make me feel better.
For both I need reminders incl. alarms, because if I realize it too late, there's a longer backlash, but I've also got better at feeling it, and also my wife helps, esp. cos she sees it in my face before I feel it.
Regarding your couch example: I did spend a lot of my first year
on my couch, using pillows, to get the overall Ache down, but that causes local pains, plus doesn't allow twist-stretching much, plus alternating positions is difficult, plus the reclining may be good for my legs (blood vessels), but not for my total circulation.
Stretching (and actually all exercises, acupressure, gadgets): Try all kinds, via books, videos, own ideas, but
very short, if necessary 2 or 3 seconds, and increase from there.