When you're experiencing a really bad flare up, do you guys find it beneficial to exercise everyday (walk,swim,stretch) even though it is VERY painful, or to just stay rested and lie down as much possible? Thanks for any thoughts!

it depends. if its attacking my SI joint, i often can not move, so its really a mute point. if its affecting my neck more, then walking is actually advantageous. i guess i listen to my body, and if the exercise seems to help, i do it. but if the exercise seems to make things worse, i pamper myself, and don't push it.

I've always found it helpful to stay active when I'm flaring. But honestly, it's so subjective with flares. We've all been at that point during a flare where you just can't do anything. If that's then maybe a nice hot sauna or hot tub will help. But whenever possible I've found that moving around doing something is better for me than just sitting or laying around doing nothing at all.

I wouldn't do any viogorous exercise or anything if in a lot of pain. WOuldn't even go for a long walk. I found pushing too hard could be just as bad as doing nothing.

I also would not just rest as much as possible.. I would rest a bit more than usual and keep myself getting on my feet to move around a bit and do simple stretches or exercise without any resistance for short windows.

I cut back some and do what I can to ease the exercise pain, such as taking a hot shower before exercising, working out in a warm room, avoiding any jarring movements, starting slower than usual, and playing some loud rock (to mask the screaming in my head). I will also take extra NSAIDs as needed.

Hey there,

Well... I guess everyones definition of a "flare" may be different. When I was in a "flare" all expercise was out.. only possible was some light stretching. I was typically in too much pain.

Tim

Keeping changing position, and moving around the house as much as possible - not full on exercise - works best. Sometimes its hard to get up and move about, but I just know that the longer I stay still the worse it gets. Its really hard if I'm also tired because I do just want to rest up, but that just makes things worse for me.

Thanks for the responses. I think you're right, a little bit of movement, no matter how painful is helpful. Yesterday, I spent the whole day off my feet and I could not sleep at all last night. My legs and feet kept twitching, I think it was some sort of restless leg syndrome from the inactivity.

Hi,

when I had my first major flare up I was unable to move with incredible pain. Luckily I was in Valencia Spain near a health club that had a hot pool and a cold plunge pool. I would sit and stretch in the hot pool until very hot, and then sit in the cold pool for as long as I could physically handle it. At first the cold pool was for 10 seconds but after a few days i was in there for 2 mins (against the advice of the health club supervisors.

At the time I was on normal pain killers (panadol) which did very little and the only relief was the contrasting water temperatures. The cold was best as I generally lept out of there.

I should think it is different for everybody but the benefit to me was remarkable. I would like to find the same in Perth Australia.

The NSD, yoga, and increasing amounts of gym exrcise are helping enormously!

Good luck with it all.

Thanks, Scott! So glad you got relief and that you are feeling better. Are you doing yoga in a class or at home? I do a little yoga at home. I kept having problems with classes because I would feel worse afterwards. The floors were too hard and the class level was too difficult. I love yoga, though, so am considering doing another search for a class.
Best wishes,

In Giraud Campbell's book about arthritis, he writes that when you are so inflamed, then sometimes all you can do is very gentle movements, just to get the circulation going. That makes sense to me. I try and do at least a few minutes of yoga and take a walk each day, whether that walk is 10 minutes or twice that or more. It does help a great deal, I think.

Excellent response, I find the more focused my prayer is the more I am able to deal with and even channel the pain. God Bless

When I'm in a flare l find a long hot shower or bath to warm up and ease the pain in my muscles and joints before a workout helps a great deal.

Hi Jan: I find taking a lukewarm shower before exercise helps warm up my joints. You don't want it too hot , as that can increase inflammation. Gentle stretching and walking is wonderful for your joints when you are in a flare. When you are done, try applying ice to bring down the inflammation.

Shari