Running with fibromyalgia?

Newbie

HI,

I've been a marathoner and ultramarathoner since I was 51 (I'll be 57 in a few days). I was diagnosed with fibro about 3 months ago. I had just come off a 6 month layoff due to 3 clogged arteries discovered after finishing an ultra in bad shape with systems shutting down (possibly the "traumatic" event that may have precipitated fibro) and a very low blood oxygen count due to blood bypassing the oxygenation process.

So, as soon as I got through that I tried running and it was very difficult. I had pain throughout my body and morphine and Norco had NO EFFECT on the pain level. A specialist in fibro and another doctor, rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibro.

I found that I could just barely run 2 miles without stopping and then starting again for another mile and then I was done and actually had to rest up afterwards (which I never had to before even after running 50K races in the mountains!).

So, I just started slowly with 2 miles, then 3 miles, then 4, then 6, then 7 for those I would rest at the halfway point...it took a couple of months to do that. The thing that really helped was that I was able to run with a variety of people (mostly doctors and nurses by some strange coincidence) who were sensitive and patient to stop with me when I needed to (I used to run marathons, running by the aid tables to pick up food and only stopping for a quick portapotty). Now I was stopping at the midpoint of a run to rest. And recently, had to stop several times on a hot day during a 5 mile run (fortunately I had a doctor with me).

I think what has really helped me going is various running partners. Almost every city has a running group. I've found that each of them are sensitive to new members and make sure that they are partnered with someone. Talking while running really makes a difference, but your body may tell you to stop due to exhaustion at some odd times, then you stop or walk (making sure that you're hydrated with water or an electrolyte drink during the run) and eat a banana or something like that shortly after you finish a longer run. If you are by yourself when running, it can be pretty depressing when your body all of a sudden gets exhausted and you're forced to stop...pls look up a local running club in your area...I've traveled around the country and found every single one of them to be very friendly to new people and let them know you have fibro and may need to stop - they will stop with you since they don't want you to get lost and they care about you.

I take 2100 mg of neurontin each day and that enabled me to get off twice daily morphine and Norco (Vicodin ES with less acetaminaphen). It turned out after tapering off both that I felt better as I continued the neurontin and it has taken care of the pain. However, after a 7 mile run I have to take a rest (even falling asleep) within 2 hours of that run!!! So, I can't seem to avoid that. During summer I can get away with night runs before dark, but will switch to treadmill during summer.

Did fibro affect my speed....h...ll yes. I used to run just over 8 mins/mile for a half-marathon and now my average speed for a 6 mile run is 10:30/mile. I have also tried running 4 miles in the morning and 7 later in the day and that has worked out ok to build up mileage. I did 13 miles in one run with some stops and then went to sleep for nearly 4 hours!

I haven't gotten it figured out, but I'm trying my best - its an experimental process and I hope it gets better as I lose more weight and continue running several times each week with a long slow run on Saturday. Also, I've run several 5k races with my friends and that helps motivating the mind and so far the body has followed, but still slowly. It gets discouraging and humbling to see people I have run with or against in prior years take the age-group awards that I used to get regularly and I'm back somewhere in the middle of the pack. But, perseverance, prayer, and faith that God will get me through this without tearing me or my family apart is what keeps me going.

So, however you start your running - basically set a target distance and then cut it in half and plan to stop at the halfway point for 3-4 minutes and then finish the run.

Good luck. Fibro is very humbling.

Newbie

I got desperate to get back to some semblance of running. So, I reviewed Jeff Galloway's stuff on run-walk-run. I did 7 miles 2 days ago and even though my overall time was slower, I didn't have the pain I normally get and no flare-ups.

It was difficult to run for 3 minutes, walk for 1 minute, run for 3, walk for 1, etc. Then I switched to run for 4 minutes and walk for 2 minutes. I don't know which works best, but realized that I needed a longer walk break. The main result was avoidance of a flareup and minimization of leg pain. Unfortunately, it didn't do anything for endurance. I still had to rest within 2 hours of finishing my running.

Running with fibromyalgia?

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK