Hi Everyone,

I just got my tapes and started doing the breathing techniques and my low back pain got much worse and I only did about 10 reps. I have had fibromyalgia for 30 years and read how it helped other people, so I wondered if I just had to keep doing them until the pain hopefully stopped. Did anyone else have their pain get worse first before it got better. Thanks

Hello Bianca,

Hopefully someone with fibromyalgia will reply soon as I reckon that they would be in the best position to give you an answer.

Until then, I'll throw in my two cents worth.

I do suffer from lower back pain and sciatica (which are greatly improved by the hamstring stretches Jill does).

You might like to try lying on the ground and practise the breathing. Try ten and then see if you back hurts more like last time.
If yes, it's related to the breathing; if no, its related to your posture when you stand (tuck, breathe, relax etc).

Start with the breathing and then add the other parts one at a time to see which specific part hurts your lower back.

Take care and let us know how you go.

Roslyn

I hesitated to reply to your question, Bianca, since I didn't have any answers. I, too, was hoping someone with fibromyalgia would respond. However, what Roslyn said makes good sense. I hope it's just your posture rather than the breathing itself! Let us know if that helps.

Welcome to both of you!

Thanks Roslyn and Kelly for your comments. I guess what I didn't make clear was that I didn't get pain until I got up the next day, which is what happens if I do something too physical the day before. When it is my posture I get into pain immediately. When I stand too long, the middle of my back tightens up. But thank you so much for replying,because Kristine is passing this on to Jill and if you hadn't replied, I wouldn't have realized that my question wasn't clear. Thanks for caring to both of you.

Bianca

Dear Bianca,

Well I'm glad it is not the breathing that hurts!

After many years of high impact aerobics etc (to lose/maintain weight), my body has developed lots of niggles including problems with my lower back. It is not uncommon for my mid-back to hurt in the morning if I stand for too long in the one place (ie kitchen, ironing). Fortunately I found a book that helps with most of my niggles and has saved me heaps of money in chiropractor etc visits.

When you exercise knots or trigger points can occur in the muscles. People with fibromyalgia are particularly prone to trigger points (so I have read).

The muscles that can cause mid back pain (among others) are the stomach muscles which are used with abdominal breathing. Hence your pain the next day. If this is the case, you need to massage your stomach muscles to relieve the knots to relieve the pain.

There of course could be other reasons why your back hurts, but you could start with massaging your stomach muscles to see if that helps.

The two sites below are a recommendation from someone with fibromyalgia for the book I have and the home site for the book. I found both through searches on the internet (like I found Oxycise).

http://www.ctds.info/ctd_books.html
http://www.triggerpointbook.com/

You might like to check them out.

Take care,

Roslyn

PS Thank you for the welcome Kelly.

Roslyn, you and Bianca should both come post with us in the D2L (determined to lose) thread each day! The more the merrier!

Hi Roslyn and Kelly,

I still am not explaining myself properly. I think I should just use a phone,because my writing seems to be confusing. Roslyn, when I mentioned " physical" I was referring to the breathing. When I do the exhaltion and the 3 puffs, my lower abdomen goes in as well as the 6 pack area and the muscles in my low back and bum moves as well as the mid back muscles. So that is why I am trying to find out if this has caused initial pain with anyone else. Thanks for your websites. I've had fibromyalgia for 30 years and my ex husband drove me from outside Toronto to Detroit to be treated by a myotherapist, who was trained by Bonnie Prudden, who was trained by Dr. Janet Travell who wrote the first book on trigger points. I tried to work with 2 of her books and a back knobber, but I couldn't get it to work. I like the reviews I read from your websites, so I think I will order the book and the Back Buddy from Amazon, so thank you once again.

Kelly, once I know that I can do oxycise I would love to go to D2L. I have to tell the 2 of you that for the last 9 years, I have had such sleep deprivation that I have basically been housebound and have no social life since I have to take meds at 8 at night just to get a few hours off and on sleep later. You can't really go on a date when you are taking sleeping meds that early. The only thing that has kept me sane and company is my mini schnauzer. So it is nice to talk to both of you.

Bianca

p.s. how do you use smileys. Thanks.

Hi Bianca,

It sounds like Roslyn has some great advice. Below are some suggestions from Jill that I also sent to you via email:

Try doing the breathing techniques with a little less gusto. And choose body positions that you know work well for your body. If the best position is lying down, so that your back is supported, then do Oxycise! lying down.

Getting oxygen into your body is very healing and has helped many people who suffer from chronic pain. However, you will need to make appropriate adjustments for your particular body.

Also, feel free to experiment for a couple months, and don't feel pressured by the 30 day guarantee. We want you to be able to have time to experience benefits.

I hope you find this helpful and please feel free to email or post any other questions or concerns.

Kirstine
Oxycise! Staff

Thanks Kristine for your time, attention and patience. And please thank Jill too. I really think oxycise is a great plan and I don't want to have to give up on it.

Take care,
Bianca

Bianca, sorry to hear of your sleep problems, but glad you have your pup to make you feel better. (I'm obviously a dog lover as you can see by my avatar)

If you click on the smiley face at the top of the message box when you post, it gives you options for emoticons. Just click on the one you want and it adds it to your message. Also, you can click on the little box next to "reply to" when posting and you can decide which emoticon you want as your message heading.

Sure hope Oxycise! works out for you!!

Dear Bianca,

Sleep depreviation is the pitts! Part of the reason I started finding out about breathing exercises was so I can have more energy because it is no fun feeling like your half asleep all the time. You need to persevere and take it slowly - my stomach muscles and mouth muscles killed for the first couple of weeks. So I did Oxycise every 2nd day and didn't suck my stomach muscles in too hard until they became stronger.

I think that pets are the best companions. I have two furkids (I love that expression) being cats to keep me company. The only disavantage is the cat hair and kitty litter I have to vacuum up each week.

You might like to reconsider Kelly's invitation and join the D2L thread. I don't think that you need to master Oxycise before you join the thread. Anyway you are breathing so you are already halfway there!

I'm glad that you are interested in trigger points - I was afraid you might think me slightly nutty with a hidden agenda. I think you will find that this book is more hands on and practical than the one you have (if you chose to buy it).

I have to go and eat lunch. My only internet connection is at work so normally I am a lurker rather than a poster. It is Friday here (Australia) which means the D2L is a day behind (Thursday). Most confusing.

Take care,

Roslyn

Roslyn's right...there aren't any rules for posting in the D2L thread.... we just all post there for the support, encouragement, and accountability.

And Roslyn...just pick the most recent thread and don't worry about which day it is. We'd love to have you posting with us, too!! There are others who only post from work.

Hope to see both of you there!

Welcome to our little corner of the web! I'm glad you're comfortable asking questions, and hope that you are experiencing some help!!!

Please do join us on the daily thread!

Susanna