{"id":22523,"date":"2026-05-06T16:20:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T16:25:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:25:59","slug":"how-walking-helped-me-recover-from-fibromyalgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/how-walking-helped-me-recover-from-fibromyalgia\/","title":{"rendered":"How Walking Helped Me Recover from Fibromyalgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<header id=\"block_95788b068e65dcd347936c1f950f3b9a\" class=\"SingleHero skip-lazy radial\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"SingleHero__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/walking\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalking\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/uk-hiking\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHiking\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/wellbeing\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWellbeing\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/women-outdoors\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWomen Outdoors\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"SingleHero__title\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow Walking Helped Me Recover from Fibromyalgia\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center align-items-center SingleHero__author\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar wp-post-image\" alt=\"Sally hiking\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Sally Mayor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"SingleHero__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPublished on \t\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2026-05-06T16:20:43+00:00\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">May 6, 2026<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t9 min read\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"SingleHero__thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1376\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fibromyalgia-and-hiking.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Sally Mayor on the top of Yr Wyddfa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fibromyalgia-and-hiking.jpg 1376w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fibromyalgia-and-hiking-300x118.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fibromyalgia-and-hiking-1024x402.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fibromyalgia-and-hiking-768x301.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1376px) 100vw, 1376px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<article id=\"block_63e55f04346d0af07e983571ae6b2f2e\" class=\"Universal Universal--post c-small default pt-default pb-default mt-none mb-none    \" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerBlocks\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lead\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hiking and Fibromyalgia<\/strong>: <strong>Walking Back to Happiness (and Health)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I turned 50 last year and to celebrate I set myself the challenge of walking up 50 mountains in a year. To hit the magic number, I walked up Snowdon\/Yr Wyddfa and three other peaks in a day, something I could only have dreamt of doing for years before. Having had a condition called \u2018fibromyalgia\u2019 for more than 20 years, I haven\u2019t always been able to walk at all let alone up four mountains in a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_0a4bab9f1b3c3a2361bc0c30c73a2174\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<g id=\"info-circle\">\n<path d=\"M15.9994 21.3333V16M15.9994 10.6666H16.0127M29.3327 16C29.3327 23.3638 23.3631 29.3333 15.9994 29.3333C8.63555 29.3333 2.66602 23.3638 2.66602 16C2.66602 8.63616 8.63555 2.66663 15.9994 2.66663C23.3631 2.66663 29.3327 8.63616 29.3327 16Z\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2.664\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<\/g>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is Fibromalgia?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph -->Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain and fatigue condition that affects about 5% of the population in the UK, or 1 in 20. It occurs a lot more often in women than men and affects people of any age, though it usually starts between the ages of 25 and 55.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->As well as debilitating pain and fatigue it can affect many other parts of the body and symptoms often include IBS, depression, headaches, migraine, cognitive difficulties, allergies, sensitivities, and non-refreshing sleep.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My Fibromalgia Story<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before having fibromyalgia, I lived life to the full. I\u2019d studied economics in Edinburgh, worked in finance, and done a Master\u2019s degree in London, and I\u2019d spent time in Nepal, Zimbabwe and South Africa travelling, hiking and volunteering. When I was first ill, I was working for an overseas development consultancy in Brighton, and spent my free time playing squash, walking on the South Downs and enjoying Brighton\u2019s night life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/getoutside39507958bf.blob.core.windows.net\/blobgetoutside39507958bf\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bungeejumpingovervicfalls.jpg\" alt=\"bungee jumping\" class=\"wp-image-22524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bungeejumpingovervicfalls.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bungeejumpingovervicfalls-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bungeejumpingovervicfalls-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sally bungee jumping over Victoria Falls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At Christmas 2003, I got a bad cold. I didn\u2019t think much of it but from that time onwards I\u2019d go to bed and wake up tired. I thought I needed to tire myself out more to force my body to get refreshing sleep, so I added jogging to my already pretty full-on life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amazingly (!) that didn\u2019t help and a few months later things had developed into a really bad chest infection. I was coughing up handfuls of phlegm, and I couldn\u2019t walk more than a few feet without struggling for breath. The doctor gave me various antibiotics, but nothing worked, and later that year I reluctantly moved back to my parents\u2019 and started trying to find out what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily for me, I was diagnosed quite quickly, it often takes several years. I saw a few specialists who ruled out lots of other illnesses and a rheumatologist confirmed I had fibromyalgia, of course I\u2019d never heard of it before. I can remember the follow-up appointment with the GP, he gave me a printout and told me I\u2019d be ill for the rest of my life, I was 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What we know about Fibromyalgia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing turns up on any tests or scans. I\u2019ve had every inch of my body looked at with MRI scans, CT scans, and blood tests and there\u2019s no physical damage anywhere. Fibromyalgia is not a progressive illness, it\u2019s not life-limiting, but it does have an enormous impact on your quality of life. Recent studies point to it being a nervous system disorder, resulting in altered pain processing, with the immune system playing a role in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These days I wake up like a 7-year-old most mornings, dancing in the kitchen before breakfast is pretty much standard. It is SO exciting to be as well as I am. But when I was first ill, it could take me about 8 hours to shower and dress myself. I can remember heaving myself up the stairs to bed and collapsing on the floor. Often, I was too weak to brush my hair or hold a fork and feed myself. The fatigue is extreme. Some people can\u2019t get out of bed for weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_b01731b44950bd04941774277fba010c\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon InnerGoodToKnow__icon--quote\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 -960 960 960\" width=\"24px\" fill=\"white\"><path d=\"m228-240 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T458-480L320-240h-92Zm360 0 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T818-480L680-240h-92Z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRealising that this condition could take over everything positive in my life was tough&#8230;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>\u201cI&#8217;ve always loved walking. It clears my head &amp; resets anything negative. &#8216;Developing&#8217; fibromyalgia (as it doesn&#8217;t just appear overnight) was unimaginably hard as it took away my usual routine &amp; reset button. Realising that this condition could take over everything positive in my life was tough, but I&#8217;m determined it won&#8217;t. I&#8217;m back to walking, not yet as I was but I will!\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Emma Jacobs, Member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">Fibro Walkers<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>And the pain is off the scale. At the same time I was getting my diagnosis a friend had her first daughter through Caesarean. She was given the same drug I was on only I was given a much bigger dose and was taking it for years. Your mental health is affected too, fibromyalgia takes so much away from you: work, social life, independence, income, friends, relationships, a future, hope, your sense of who you are. It didn\u2019t always feel like there was a lot to live for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Working through it, or not<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve managed to work full-time for about two years in the last 22. The last time I was employed I was carried out of the office by paramedics and that was the end of that. For years I had full body shutdowns which mimicked TIAs (Trans-Ischemic Attacks) \u2013 I was conscious, but I couldn\u2019t respond \u2013 and every time I had one I was taken to hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was the second job I\u2019d lost because of my health so in 2011, I decided to become a self-employed copywriter. And I loved it. I had some writing and marketing experience, and I was quite good at it if I say so myself. I had some big clients, and I got to do some really cool work for companies all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most importantly I could I manage my time and did my best to manage my health, but my body threw some crazy stuff at me, like when I sat at the computer for too long and my neck froze to the point where my cerebellum was starved of oxygen. Which makes you throw up. A lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/getoutside39507958bf.blob.core.windows.net\/blobgetoutside39507958bf\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Sally hiking\" class=\"wp-image-22527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-810x1080.jpg 810w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-rotated.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Resilience is a muscle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>During Covid my work dried up, I drank a lot of wine and walked every day, like lots of other people. After over-indulging over Christmas and New Year, I woke up on January 1st 2022 and decided to lose weight, and I spent the year losing two stone. I loved the challenge of it and as December came around again, I wanted something else to focus on, so I signed up for a 50km Ultra Challenge in the Peak District the following July thinking it was the most stupid idea I\u2019d ever had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time I was walking a few miles on dog walks and the thought of walking 50km was ridiculous, but I wanted to try. I wrote a training plan increasing the distance gradually and followed it as best I could. There were setbacks along the way but apart from breaking myself on silly walks like the Edale Skyline, getting flu and labyrinthitis, my fibromyalgia wasn\u2019t bothering me so much. In the end I managed it, I walked 50km! I was SO proud of myself there were tears, happy (slightly relieved) tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the 50km I missed the training, working towards something and the sense of achievement \u2013 so I signed up to do a 100km ultra in 2024 and wrote myself a new plan. Doing the 100km was really tough, it took as much mental strength as physical. I had awful blisters (I couldn\u2019t put shoes on for four days!) and unbeknown to me I also had Covid at the time (there were even more tears when I finished that time). But I didn\u2019t crash or have any fibromyalgia pain or fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_58886bca0e6f01d171a2ca49fa41f2af\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon InnerGoodToKnow__icon--quote\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 -960 960 960\" width=\"24px\" fill=\"white\"><path d=\"m228-240 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T458-480L320-240h-92Zm360 0 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T818-480L680-240h-92Z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI can confirm that walking consistently, even short distances has had a positive effect&#8230;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>\u201cThis year I have been paying more attention to my diet and lifestyle and my energy levels\/pain. I keep a note of caffeine, food, alcohol, exercise and energy draining &#8216;things&#8217; I do during the day. On the opposite page of my notebook, I note how I feel when I wake, how my energy levels and mood are on the following day. Firstly, I can confirm that walking consistently, even short distances has had a positive effect. No surprise there!\u201d<\/em> Fiona Walkers, Member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">Fibro Walkers<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/getoutside39507958bf.blob.core.windows.net\/blobgetoutside39507958bf\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/100kmultra.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/100kmultra.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/100kmultra-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/100kmultra-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sally &#8211; A finisher at the Peak District Ultra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Healing through walking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking has transformed my mental and physical health and helped me recover. For over 20 years I regularly couldn\u2019t walk at all, now I haven\u2019t had a day when I couldn\u2019t walk for over a year, and I don\u2019t have any pain anymore. The only time it hurt on my 50 peaks challenge last year was falling over coming down Moelwyn Mawr, but that was the rocks\u2019 fault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_cbb5474e1f8db13b9c6e5e71c0f1f914\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon InnerGoodToKnow__icon--quote\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 -960 960 960\" width=\"24px\" fill=\"white\"><path d=\"m228-240 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T458-480L320-240h-92Zm360 0 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T818-480L680-240h-92Z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI find nature is the best healer&#8230;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>\u201cI find nature is the best healer. Even on the days when I have to force myself to go out for a walk, I feel better afterwards. It lowers my blood pressure, eases my breathing, strengthens my muscles, clears my head\/brain fog and best of all it lifts my mood and puts a smile on my face. Even though the walking hasn&#8217;t healed my fibro, it definitely keeps me going and I intend to keep it up as long as possible. I am 67 now, so challenge is on\u201d <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/1961268904651939\/user\/100021039398426\/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaguhRqbxI0m78VrLDTEF3fwjXcB33sjgyC4b0M-8Kz7IFElFSTaNQ8kuixbZ-bWOmtiOnGmxQ60pYx5MFrVbgGPpjJQNsVvjwBUdDlyFBNOVGaR6tzqvSJYIVXknCayFnqlRCh4-cDxLp_Mdp8ftR1&amp;__tn__=%2CdR%5d-R\">Waltraut Karina Puschendorf<\/a>, Member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">Fibro Walkers<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>The Benefits of Walking for Fibromyalgia:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Conditioned muscles have less pain and stiffness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less fatigue and stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sleep better, feel happier and more relaxed (thanks happy hormones)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enjoy being in nature and seeing amazing places (as well as meeting people and dogs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lose fat and build muscle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better cardio health, less joint pain and better balance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_4ee741b0bbefe85fd1c01a20a8e6daec\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon InnerGoodToKnow__icon--quote\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 -960 960 960\" width=\"24px\" fill=\"white\"><path d=\"m228-240 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T458-480L320-240h-92Zm360 0 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T818-480L680-240h-92Z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalking is mood enhancing&#8230;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cIt is mood enhancing to get out and explore a bit of nature\u201d \u2013 Kaz Melson, Member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">Fibro Walkers<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>Walking transforms your mind too. It\u2019s meditative, it\u2019s one step in front of the other (it emulates Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [EMDR] apparently). It\u2019s mindful, sometimes \u2013 a lot of the time on Crib Goch at the weekend \u2013 you\u2019re 100% focused on where to place each foot. And you chat on walks; I chat to everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can spend 8 hours with someone and discuss all sorts, people are very open out walking, and you form a real connection. If you\u2019re on your own you have all that time to think, to process thoughts, emotions and memories, or just be in nature, it\u2019s therapeutic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it helps your nervous system calm down and your immune system relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_e9a415c5a290e8df0714d4bf302ed853\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon InnerGoodToKnow__icon--quote\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 -960 960 960\" width=\"24px\" fill=\"white\"><path d=\"m228-240 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T458-480L320-240h-92Zm360 0 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T818-480L680-240h-92Z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalking is part of healing&#8230;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><em>\u201cFor me, a walk is part of my healing. Seeing nature alive fills me with life and joy\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><em>\u2013<\/em> Jannette Valle, Member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">Fibro Walkers<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>The question I\u2019m asked most often is how do you do all these walks in pain? The answer is: I don\u2019t. I don\u2019t have any more pain than anyone else these days. If you work with your body and nervous system, build slowly, and tire yourself out physically rather than emotionally, you can get better. The last time I spoke to a doctor about fibromyalgia was in September last year and she said I show no signs of having fibromyalgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for walking with fibromyalgia:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>(Please speak to your GP or medical professional before changing your exercise routine)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. <strong>Pace yourself. Pace yourself. Pace yourself.<\/strong><br>Start with what you can do without it causing a flare &#8211; the distance\/time isn\u2019t important, not creating more stress on your body is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. <strong>Turn walking into a habit.<\/strong><br>Doing small walks regularly is better for you than doing one big walk then nothing for ages. Consistency is key.<br><br>3. <strong>Make it enjoyable.<\/strong><br>Meet a friend, go somewhere new, stop for a coffee. Make it fun so you want to do it.<br><br>4. <strong>Don\u2019t overdo it.<\/strong><br>You can only push when your nervous system is relaxed not when it\u2019s stressed. If you get into the \u2018<em>overdo it \u2013 crash \u2013 recover<\/em> cycle\u2019 your body has to mend after every walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_d6bf9af4c019020cdd425c0afb9880cd\" class=\"Inner InnerGoodToKnow\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row align-items-center jusitfy-content-start\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__icon InnerGoodToKnow__icon--quote\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 -960 960 960\" width=\"24px\" fill=\"white\"><path d=\"m228-240 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T458-480L320-240h-92Zm360 0 92-160q-66 0-113-47t-47-113q0-66 47-113t113-47q66 0 113 47t47 113q0 23-5.5 42.5T818-480L680-240h-92Z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalking is the best medicine&#8230;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerGoodToKnow__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cWalking and hiking, building strength, I\u2019ve found to be the best medicine for fibromyalgia\u201d \u2013 Collette Armstrong, Member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">Fibro Walkers<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The next chapter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking has changed my life and it\u2019s become my life. I\u2019m training to become a Hill &amp; Moorland Leader so I can share my love of the great outdoors with lots more people. I\u2019m also a volunteer on the BMC\u2019s Hill Walking Committee and hope to contribute to their aim of making the outdoors more inclusive for people with health conditions and disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/getoutside39507958bf.blob.core.windows.net\/blobgetoutside39507958bf\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cribgochapril2026-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Sally hiking up Crib Goch\nwith a walking group\" class=\"wp-image-22526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cribgochapril2026-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cribgochapril2026-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cribgochapril2026-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cribgochapril2026-813x1080.jpg 813w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cribgochapril2026.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sally hiking up the famous ridge of Crib Goch with a group<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I want to use my experience to help other people with fibromyalgia. I run a Facebook group called Fibro Walkers where we share our walks and support each other. I want to show other people that <strong>done the right way <\/strong>walking can transform their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve recently taken on the mighty Crib Goch in preparation for attempting to do the Welsh 3000\u2019s (15 mountains over 3000 feet) in 24 hours in July. Plus, I\u2019m doing the ridiculous Snowdon 6 Challenge (walking up and down <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/snowdon-routes-to-the-top\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"1583\">Snowdon <\/a>three times in a day) in June, I am totally addicted to <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/uk-24-hour-mountain-challenges\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"14887\">hiking challenges<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see how I get on follow me<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fibro_walker\/\"> @fibro_walker <\/a>on Instagram and if you have fibromyalgia and would like to start walking or walk more, please feel free to join the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">\u2018Fibro Walkers\u2019 Facebook group.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy walking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Further Reading<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/fibromyalgia\">NHS Fibromyalgia information<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcl.ac.uk\/news\/new-study-shows-fibromyalgia-likely-the-result-of-autoimmune-problems\">Immune system involvement in Fibromyalgia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11867065\">Altered pain processing in Fibromyalgia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3258006\">The science of fibromyalgia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"MetaShare\">\n\n\t\t\t<button id=\"likeButton\" data-nonce=\"50b75bdf00\" data-postid=\"22523\" class=\"Button Button--default Button--icon likeButton\"><span class=\"likeButtonText\">Like this guide<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.4947 3.09742C8.5448 1.39335 5.66108 1.04464 3.42166 2.95804C0.999337 5.02773 0.647396 8.5134 2.56291 10.9783C3.29002 11.9139 4.70917 13.3196 6.07302 14.6069C7.45283 15.9092 8.82946 17.1399 9.50834 17.7411C9.51258 17.7449 9.51691 17.7487 9.5213 17.7526C9.58512 17.8092 9.66457 17.8796 9.74074 17.937C9.83194 18.0057 9.96286 18.0909 10.1377 18.1431C10.3701 18.2124 10.62 18.2124 10.8524 18.1431C11.0272 18.0909 11.1581 18.0057 11.2493 17.937C11.3255 17.8796 11.405 17.8092 11.4688 17.7526C11.4732 17.7487 11.4775 17.7449 11.4817 17.7411C12.1606 17.1399 13.5373 15.9092 14.9171 14.6069C16.2809 13.3196 17.7001 11.9139 18.4272 10.9783C20.3353 8.52288 20.0377 5.01032 17.5597 2.95074C15.2954 1.06872 12.4424 1.3927 10.4947 3.09742Z\" fill=\"#186571\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center MetaShareSocial\" aria-label=\"Share\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"X\" class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--x\" id=\"share-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-173 238)\"><path d=\"M18.9.75h3.68l-8.04,9.213L24,22.5H16.594l-5.8-7.6L4.156,22.5H.474l8.6-9.854L0,.75H7.594L12.837,7.7ZM17.61,20.291h2.039L6.486,2.843H4.3Z\" transform=\"translate(173 -237.625)\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"  class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--f\" id=\"share-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-89 238)\"><path d=\"M14.186,24V13.2h3.279L18,8.4H14.186V6.062c0-1.236.032-2.462,1.759-2.462h1.749V.168A19.34,19.34,0,0,0,14.671,0C11.5,0,9.508,1.989,9.508,5.64V8.4H6v4.8H9.508V24Z\" transform=\"translate(89 -238)\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"likeCount\" class=\"likeCount\">Liked by <span id=\"likeCountValue\">5<\/span> users<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"MetaShare__hr\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"MetaShareAuthor\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-rotated.jpg\" class=\"MetaShareAuthor__avatar wp-post-image\" alt=\"Sally hiking\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-rotated.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/finalpeaks2025-810x1080.jpg 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MetaShareAuthor__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Sally Mayor\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"MetaShareAuthor__desc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I\u2019m on a mission to help other people with fibromyalgia live happier and healthier lives through walking. I live with my wife and our crazy terrier in Derbyshire and spend a lot of time in North Wales too. I\u2019m a volunteer for the BMC, an HML (Hill &amp; Moorland Leader) trainee and I love dog walks, oat milk lattes and dancing in the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>You can follow Sally\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fibro_walker\/\"> @fibro_walker <\/a>on Instagram and if you have fibromyalgia and would like to start walking or walk more, please join the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/fibrowalkers\/\">\u2018Fibro Walkers\u2019 Facebook group.<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"yoast-breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/\">Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span class=\"breadcrumb_last\" aria-current=\"page\">How Walking Helped Me Recover from Fibromyalgia<\/span><\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At 28 Sally Mayor was told she&#8217;d be ill for the rest of her life, founder of the group Fibro Walkers she shares her inspiring story of recovery and her practical advice for walking with fibromyalgia <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":22531,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"activities":[90,14,16,397],"locations":[17],"class_list":["post-22523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","activities-uk-hiking","activities-walking","activities-wellbeing","activities-women-outdoors","locations-all-of-great-britain"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Walking Helped Me Recover from Fibromyalgia - OS Maps Discover<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At 28 Sally Mayor was told she&#039;d be ill for the rest of her life, founder of the group Fibro Walkers she 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