I am a passenger on a vicious cycle. I have to come up with a catchy name for it, but in the meantime, let me explain the cycle to you:
A-I have pain.
B-I have trouble sleeping because of the pain and because sleep difficulties are a symptom of fibromyalgia.
C-I don’t get enough “good” sleep, but sleep is important in controlling the fibromyalgia symptoms.
D/A-I have pain because my muscles are not regenerating at night.
(And here we go ’round again!)
The cycle can (and does!) also go like this:
A-I have pain.
B-Stretching and light exercise are supposed to be good for fibromyalgia, so I try to do those things.
C-After said stretching and exercise, I feel as if I’ve been run over by an 18-wheeler, and someone is pulling my arms and legs out of their sockets while walking on my back in stilettos. (Good times!!)
D/A-The discomfort quickly turns into pain.
Now, I’m not saying I shouldn’t be trying these things, because they are some of the recommended ways to deal with fibromyalgia. However, it’s very difficult psych yourself up to do something when you know – without a doubt – that there will be pain to follow, yet no pleasure in the process. Couple that with the fact that I’m already in pain, and maybe you can begin to understand how frustrating this really is.
I will get into my diagnosis and all of that background stuff soon, and probably post it in a different category.
