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Real members of MyFibroTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Should I listen to PCP or own body?

A MyFibroTeam Member asked a question 💭
Massillon, OH

When I suffer severely, I know from experience that NSAIDs help a lot. I asked, and my psychiatrist agreed, to let me try NSAIDs since they tend to increase Lithium to toxic levels. When I checked with my PCP he said to stay on tylenol and tramadol. I also received the lecture to be aerobically active as well as other exercise. I agree with the exercise but have no way I can see to do the aerobic part since I have bone-on-bone arthritis in both knees so walking fast is very hard. Exercising… read more

June 13, 2017
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Answer Summary

Members rallied around someone struggling to balance their doctor's advice to stay active aerobically despite severe knee arthritis and... Read more

Members rallied around someone struggling to balance their doctor's advice to stay active aerobically despite severe knee arthritis and conflicting guidance on NSAIDs versus safer pain alternatives like Tylenol and tramadol. Several members offered creative low-impact solutions, including arm movements to raise heart rate, slow walking uphill, resistance bands, recumbent bikes, yoga, tai chi, and holding challenging poses to get cardio benefits without putting stress on damaged joints. A recurring theme was the difficult tradeoff between NSAIDs that relieve pain but carry serious risks like stomach bleeding and elevated blood pressure, with members sharing their own experiences transitioning off medications like Aleve and Arthrotec to gentler options like Celebrex, while emphasizing the value of daily movement practices that work within each person's physical limitations.

A MyFibroTeam Member

Tai chi is good too. There are lots of yoga flow moves that are like tai chi only harder. So, doing tai chi helped me transition into yoga. There are lots who stick with tai chi tho.

June 14, 2017
A MyFibroTeam Member

Debbie, totally agree with claire. One trick I use is walking slowly up a really steep hill. As well, holding a hard yoga pose can get your heart rate up. Put some entertaining time in cruising YouTube for yoga videos, start slow. I've been at it 2 years, and now, I can do "flow yoga" where I try to breath slow in and out the whole time but I usually have about 10 min in cardio out of an hour, says my Fitbit heart rate monitor. Resistance straps can help you bring your heart rate up with no ballistic movement. And, lastly, recumbent bike. The weird type where you lay back, kind of. They can be stationary or street ready.

June 13, 2017
A MyFibroTeam Member

theonly thin that I.m being offered after going through another stress clinic is thi chi......???

June 14, 2017
A MyFibroTeam Member

Yup, me too. I aim for daily practice. I was just reading about Pilates for fm. There's a lot there that us arthritis sufferers could do!

June 13, 2017
A MyFibroTeam Member

Yoga has been the most helpful thing for me.

June 13, 2017

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