The Importance of Exercise in Chronic Pain

                           Move It or Lose It!!!!!!!!!

When the days were long ago, and I was working out three times a week at the gym faithfully, I felt better pain-wise than when I haven't been exercising.

The fact is, when we stop moving our muscles in a determined, focused way; our bodies are going to get used to being at constant rest and not give us anything back.  We are not giving our muscles any challenge and as a result, muscles become complacent, and at the end of the spectrum, can begin to atrophy.

I was quite sedentary for a good year straight.  I was protecting myself from feeling the pain of using the muscles that support my spine, and especially abdominal muscles.  Our abdominal muscle strength has a direct correlation to the spine and the ability to stand straight, feel LESS pain, and so many other benefits.

When we do not excercise, well, that can become such a habit.  It is a never-ending cycle of pain begets fear of excercise, and excercise begets pain.  This is a serious issue in chronic pain patients and hard to get away from feeling scared to even begin exercise, so as to begin to benefit from muscle strength. 

So how to start?

As with many other issues in living with daily pain, we must be willing to go through some days of increased pain, all the while benefiting ourselves while we go through higher pain levels.  Starting to strengthen our muscles must be done slowly, with determination, and be ready to face your pain.

Since we already face pain daily, and hopefully are armed with different modalities to help alleviate said pain, it becomes a matter of DOING IT!  Remember that you are only going to benefit from the increased muscle tone, despite probable pain levels being higher than we are used to when beginning any exercise plan.

It comes down to the old adage: Move It Or Lose It.  I was falling into the thinking that exercise would only increase my pain, and do nothing else.  Despite the personal and professional knowledge that what I was doing, (or not doing), was just hurting myself in many ways.  Sometimes the way that life puts us in certain positions has proven to only strengthen us, both physically and mentally.

I began by just moving more.  It is a decision that must be made, to become determined to help your spine be surrounded with muscles that are in shape, and are strong.  The resulting benefit, less pain, better posture, and not feeling like a truck ran over your body when you have to do things physically that you are not used to.

The biggest fear is:  My pain will be out of control.  The reality is:  Your pain will be out of control later in life if you do not allow your muscles to get stronger little by little.  As with everything in a life with chronic pain, there is a period of transition, whether it be our lifestyle, medications, mental strength or physical strength.       

Start slow, a gym membership is not needed, and you can figure out what works for you around your lifestyle, time available, and physical abilities.

Lose the fear of increased movement!!  MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!!!


Gentle Hugs......(Because I am sore from yesterdays exercise!)