What a Pain in the Neck!
Powerlifting with Fibromyalgia
By Donna McBurney

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Tender areas in the muscle called “trigger points” create spasms and tightness throughout the body. Along with its most common symptom of pain, it can come with a wide variety of other conditions ranging from sleep disorders, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, and cognitive problems, to name only a few.

I am a powerlifter and I suffer from fibromyalgia, which was diagnosed when I was twenty-seven. I awaken most days stiff and barely able to move, but with the help of plenty of Ibuprofen, I am able to loosen up enough to proceed with the day. Because of the long duration of time that I have lived with this condition, I have developed a high tolerance for the pain, and despite the agony caused by the muscle spasms, I haven’t missed a workout in years.

The adage “No pain, No gain” takes on a personal meaning for me. My fibromyalgia is quite literally, “a pain in the neck”. But I love the sport; therefore I endure the hurt, in my quest to lift heavier each time that I compete. I never know when a flare-up is going to attack, and the stress brought on by heavy training and the anxiety of a meet usually exacerbates the problem. Many times I am left guessing at how well I will perform at my next contest. Yet when that day arrives, I focus on what my body needs to do for me, and I am uninhibited by the reality that the next few days will be extremely painful.

I have adopted an attitude that works for me--Lift for Today, and pay for it tomorrow! Living with a chronic physical disability of any kind is difficult, and trying to extract excellence from a performance, under these circumstances, takes complete mental fortitude.

Powerlifting is more than just a hobby for me. It is my passion, my life, the inspiration that helps me begin each day. It would be easier to simply lie in bed, but I refuse to give up on my dream. Life and powerlifting don’t come easily for me, but I won’t surrender to fibromyalgia without a fight.

By Donna McBurney
 

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