Triggered by exercise / sports

[Blueberry]

It's weird, I put up with physical pain for years - through my childhood and teens and into my 20's. I often had pain and that's just the way it was. Sport mostly caused pain. Shoes caused pain. Boots e.g. hiking boots caused pain. Shoes and boots are back to causing pain again. But I'm no longer into putting up with pain. I don't seek pleasure, I seek inactivity and sleep. I know that's not healthy, but it's what it is.

I wanted to write something here. Having some realisations. But as soon as I copied this bit, my brain went on leave / fell out of my head.

It's like suddenly realising     No wonder I really do not like exercise! It's been painful for months on my feet and legs. Not just exercise per se but sweeping the yard or cycling from A to B or even just walking up the steep hill from the farm to the nearest bus stop. I was using crutches a lot to ease pressure on my feet.

I need way more support for my feet and by extension my whole legs and lower back. At least an orthopedic doc has finally agreed that it's good for me to have a good check-over tho not for about 5 weeks. But, yeah, it's finally clear to me that I had to bang my fist on the table so to speak and demand action, because this just isn't normal. And no! It's not just a case of 'do more exercise, it will get better'! So, asserted self and that felt good. Doing very, very small movements on worst affected foot, exercising small parts including stretching ligaments that became very stiff over the past 7 weeks and undoubtedly to some extent the past several years.

The allergy to exercise had a reason for being! It still does but I'm working on it.

[NarcKiddo]

I am glad you asserted yourself and got your appointment with the orthopaedic doc. Well done.    I am sorry it is not sooner, although maybe the time lag could be helpful. It gives you more time to gear yourself up for it in an orderly fashion and plan what you want to say/achieve without feeling rushed.

I think you are doing exactly the right thing in the meantime. I've been dealing with similar in that I have had stiff shoulders since my early teens. Maybe earlier but that's when I started noticing them. I suspect a mixture of poor breathing patterns and general armouring in the face of FOO. Over the years I have tried to address the problem with physiotherapists and have regular massage now. But like you I've just got used to putting up with pain/discomfort so I could give no proper feedback to doctors to help them work out the cause. However, earlier this year one shoulder cried "enough". Again medics did nothing but fortunately my weights trainer is qualified to do remedial massage and I now trust him enough to let him help me.

Sorry - I did not mean this to get so long and be all about me. The point of the story is that we have spent the best part of this year doing loads of very small movements and stretching, which is what you say you are doing. And I can report that it has helped a lot. Part of this has been doing the movements with sufficient support for the area and the doc should be able to help with that. I hope you find you can work well with the orthopaedic doctor once you see them.

[Matilda3]

Good that you found out and asserted yourself!

[Saluki]

Hey Blueberry, I've not read through the whole thread here, but I just wanted to say me too re. exercise being triggering. Actually, until I read your post I hadn't even realised that the word itself is triggering too and I like how you use the word movement instead. I find it impossible to stick to goals I set myself. I installed a fitness app and actually forgot I'd installed it. I've still not tried it. It's just sitting in my phone laughing at me! Thanks for bringing this subject up. My mother was hypercritical of my body, my weight, my fat distribution, my unfitness. She was constantly telling me that I needed to do exercise because I (according to her) was fat and lazy. My parents also used to take me with them on very physically challenging outings eg) hillwalking and cycling from a very young age, expecting me to keep up when I simply wasn't capable. I think that put me off for life. It was music rather than sports that my mother made me compete at. Ugh. I was pushed so hard and of course, never good enough. I'm working on learning to enjoy playing music without caring if I make a mistake or play a note out of tune and constantly criticising myself!


I've also experienced chronic pain from adolescence onwards, which definitely doesn't help.

Wishing you the best of luck with the orthopaedic doctor. I hope it goes well and that you are able to find ways to significantly improve and reduce your pain.