Originally Posted by Asyrol

Back in April 2006, I got my first bike in an effort to get a little more in shape and lose a little weight. I've got almost a dozen diagnosed conditions, though the major four are migraines, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and a lupus-like autoimmune disorder which causes fatigue and joint pain and swelling in my hips, knees, feet and hands (among other things). I was doing pretty good through the summer health-wise (few migraines, little endo pain, moderate join pain) and was riding a few times a week. Then in July I had a huge flare of the pseudo-lupus and was barely able to walk, let alone ride my bike. It took me most of July and part of August to start to feel reasonably normal, and by that time I was out of the habit of riding. I got out on my bike a couple of times after that, then it got cold and I started having some serious endometriosis pain.

All of that is just a long winded and detail rich way of saying that this winter I have barely been on my bike. I had this grand plan that I would steal my boyfriends trainer and I would go back to riding! Every Day! In the comfort of my own home, what's stopping me?! Except it's been 4 months and I've been on my bike maybe a dozen times. I've tried to start up again and I can barely mange 15 minutes a day with almost no resistance.

For those of you living with chronic pain conditions, how do you stick with it? Stay motivated? Get back in the habit after a long hiatus?

Thanks in Advance