I feel horrible after working out
Hello, I’m newly diagnosed with NR-AXSPA. About a month ago, I started doing strength training. It’s been a while since I’ve done any kind of training so I’m being pretty cautious so I don’t overdo it.
A few times now, the day after working out, I feel absolutely terrible. My muscles are sore but it almost feels more like body aches from the flu. Sometimes I will feel nauseated as well. This is happening even when I haven’t increased weight or made adjustments to my workouts.
Sometimes it’s bad enough that I just stay in bed because moving around makes it feel worse. I had a pretty rough flare right around the time I started working out and I thought it was over. Maybe this is still part of the flare. I don’t even know.
I am starting to feel like I should stop doing the strength training if I am going to feel like this so often. I know that exercise is important with this condition. I really need to lose weight and I was excited about strength training.
It’s very frustrating for me because I have a family and sometimes I just can’t do all the normal stuff I used to be able to do when I feel like this. They get frustrated with it as well.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Hi
I read all your comment and felt everything you wrote. I can relate and been there so many times. Before diagnosis, I was in a terrible state. I was not able to do anything without feeling more worse. It has taken me so many small steps and so many tries in finding what works for me that it is so normal how you are feeling, since this disease can be hard enough already on us. It comes with so many unwanted symptoms. It can be hard to find what helps. But it is so possible. I know everyone is different and what works for one might not for the other. I find the same with exercise. I know a friend that goes to the gym lift weights and doesn't get affect the same way, as me doing the same. I would be in bed or not be able to do anything doing the same as my friend.
What has helped me is walking. This summer I started slowly and started with little walks of 10 minutes. I would listen to my body. If the next day I felt like I pushed to much I would try to do a bit less. Sometimes I would even take a break. I find swimming helps so much with stiffness and relaxes the muscles. Another thing when I first got diagnosed, I was in so much more pain. The first goal was to help bring that pain down. It has taken time with some help of biologics. It's helped me decrease the level of pain and this is how I started to move a bit more and do the things that I need to do as a mom and a wife.
I thought I'd share some articles. Hope this helps.
https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/living/movement-stiffness
https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/living/diet
https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/living/exercise-outlook
https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/living/resistance-bands
Sending you hugs,
Nicky (Team Member)Hi
Hope your feeling a bit better. I am on my 4th biologic, but the longest one. Now this month it's exactly 2 years on Cosentyx. I didn't know much of any of these medications as well. I started learning through groups and on here. I also would do my own research and see from others what was working more and talk about with my rheumatologist. I am very sensitive to most medication that I would get most side effects. I have tried a lot, but I wouldn't find relief. I can understand where you are coming from. I would have to say it's trial and error and to see what works best for you. I still have days that get really bad, but Cosentyx for me has helped me move more and be able to do more things that I couldn't before.
I would maybe try and mention to your doctor what they would think of biologics or maybe they can give you more information how it works.
How has your week been going and feeling ?
Nicky (Team Member)
Hello
- Welcome to the community! I am terribly sorry to hear you've been diagnosed with this disease. AxSpA/AS is a highly individualized disease that takes a bit to get under control and manage. I hope that you get some responses soon from other members. When I was uncontrolled and not using medication to help, I felt this way. It was horrible. I was pretty much bed-bound feeling terribly sore and fatigued. It will take some time but once you get on the right regimen of medication for your disease you should begin to get energy and the flu-like symptoms abate. I couldn't even consider working out during a flare. Just like you, I was dizzy and flu-ish. Only since I found something to help manage my disease have I begun to walk more and do more around the house. Looking around the site I found an article that may be helpful. https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/living/strength-training I also found https://creakyjoints.org/about-arthritis/axial-spondyloarthritis/axspa-patient-perspectives/rethinking-what-it-means-to-exercise-with-ankylosing-spondylitis/#:~:text=It%20is%20important%20to%20create,too%20sore%20and%20too%20fatigued. on the internet. This is a good site. I hope that things begin to ease for you and you can continue your training. Take it slow and steady. Wishing you well. Rebecca (community moderator) thank you for your message. I am very grateful to hear from you and know there are people out there that know what it’s like. I’m so new to this, it’s really a little overwhelming. This disease can be very disorienting and overwhelming for many. We have some great articles about many aspects - hoping you get a chance to read a little and you begin to ease your worry. Here is a link to one I think you may find helpful. https://axialspondyloarthritis.net/search?s=worry Thinking of you. Rebecca (community moderator)
