Boy, can I relate to what you describe!

When I was experiencing these symptoms the only thing that really helped was water exercises in a therapeutic pool.

A therapeutic pool is 10 degrees warmer than a regular indoor swimming pool.

If you contact the Arthritis Foundation, they can send you a list of pools in your area.

I took a class at a nursing home that was designed for arthritic patients. I felt great after every class.

The idea, at this point, is to exercise your muscles without hurting your joints...the warmer water helps those unused muscles stretch without hurting them.

Gradually, I graduated to water exercises in a regular pool (for arthritis patients); then on to yoga for arthritis patients.

'Land Exercises' comes later....go at your own pace!

Incidentally, I'm only 49 years old.

I find it incredible how slowly we heal from Lyme. If nothing else, it teaches patience.

There are a number of ways, but this was the approach I used. My muscle pain was mostly upper body, around the shoulder blades and neck.

I worked with a physcial therapist who specializes in myofascial release, which is basically releasing the tension and spasms in your muscles. This wasn't easy, and actually hurt a lot. I went through months with little progress, until I started taking Flexeril, which relaxes the muscles.

Once on the Flexeril, the myofascial release began having longer-term effects. I was able to eventually move to strengthening exercises with my physical therapists. Most of it was on a pilates machine.

I also returned to the gym and used one of the exercise bikes that is low to the ground, with a back to the chair. I found this to be the lowest impact cardio work.

After many months, my physical therapist came to the gym with me and worked out a strengthening routine I can do alone on the machines.

I FORCE myself to at least walk for 30 minutes every day. The elliptical trainer at the gym or the stationary bike are good too.

I REFUSE to let this little bug make me fat. Even if I feel like hell, i'm too vain to look like hell too!

incidentally, I feel a lot better - less stiff - after I exercise. But i usually feel like i was run over by a truck later in the day.

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Originally posted by mammachase:
I have lyme severe enough that I can't exercise without everything hurting. Does anyone have stories of what exercises/program they can tolerate without being in pain just to strengthen the muscles because my muscles are in full spasms especially in my legs all the time, to exercise and just thinking of it hurts!!!

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Im a runner and cyclist so its hard to keep me on the couch. even when i feel like poop.

I continued to do both, just not at the intensity that i was used to. I found a short run would really help get rid of headaches. Cycling was much easier on the body though, as I had some pretty sore ankles for a while. Oddly enough i found that the pain would really subside after a nice little workout. The days i was to tired i hit the sauna. I know I felt better if I kept moving

Exercise definitely reduces pain, assuming you don't over-do it. If you over-do it, you pay and may even injure yourself.

There are 2 reasons exercise is good for pain:

1. Cardio helps because it releases endorphins and endorphins reduce the pain sensation

My muscles stay so weak and also cramp severly if i try to move. Walking for only a few minutes puts me in pain. I get pain in my neck shoulder and back muscles. If i dont sit emediately i get nauseated and feel as tho i will pass out.

I found out that it is possible Hypocoagulation. My doc C says that hes finding most of his patience have a problem with hypocoagulation(thick blood) Your muscles are not getting the oxigen to them they need to work. When we excersize our corpusles(spelling horrid these days sorry) open and let the bloodin for oxigen. I believe he said that a normal persons blood gets in with in seconds in a lyme patient it takes up to five minutes and up to ten minutes. That is why our muscles cramp so severely.

So this is something you might want to check into.

I have been swiming because of so much bed time it scares me to no end that if i dont get some kind of excersize i may be bed ridden the rest of my life. I love the pool time its very relaxing but also very deceptive. Because of no weight load the first time i got in i deliberately moved a lot to use them. Then came the time to get out. My legs were mush the next week was terrible pain and herxing. So take it very very slow.

I must say altho cause of weather i havent been able to go in as much i have noticed an improvement in feeling my muscles now. They dont feel like mush but like they are firming up. If i was up to it and weather permited i would be in everyday. I dread cold weather.

It works all the cells in your system, is aerobic and strengthing. It costs $20.00 at Walmart...although, I got mine at a garage sale for $5.00.

Can't hurt...might help. Walking outdoors is great, although, when my knees are acting up, if I rebound, that, at least, doesn't hurt.

So, sometimes, I have to put the treadmill or my walks outdoors on hold and use the rebounder.

Keep on looking for something that works for you.

Also, I get those small electric shocks in my boday. Hate them....any idea what they are? I also get shocks more than most people when touchig metal or another person. Do you get that?

I'm just starting to recover the ability to do things again. I actually had to start with IMAGINING what I wanted to do. This week I started a weekly adapted yoga class, which is my first level goal.

My cousin bought a big trampoline for her kids. Cant tell you how good of an excersize it is. Is real good for my recovering ankles, and more of a work out than you might think. Plus its fun to jump around with the kids. Makes you forget you are working