The more exercise they do, the better they can feel. That's what we recommend for our patients who are severely affected. And they improve. And, Dr. Wilke notes, exercise increases blood flow to the muscles. We know that people with fibromyalgia do have slightly less blood flow to their muscles, which might also contribute to pain.
Exercise can reverse that.
But there's a hitch. Like Peggy, many people with fibromyalgia simply stop moving because they are in so much pain. Their muscles may have atrophied. They have to start out very gradually. Depending on their tolerance, they may have to cut back somewhat.