Four years ago, Ali Musgrave was struck down by severe tiredness and chronic pain that was taking over her life.

It got so bad that she would get home from work and feel so exhausted she had little choice but to go straight to bed.

Sleeping her life away, she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia - a relatively unknown condition that can often go undiagnosed.

It causes severe pain and fatigue, sometimes forcing people to give up work or withdraw from social events.

Now 64, Ali said she hit rock bottom, but then found a way to beat it by doing something never imagined possible - exercising.

Ali, who lives with husband Keith in Carlisle, said that joining a gym and gradually building up her fitness has changed her life - and she now no longer takes medication for her condition.

She has no idea what caused the fibromyalgia - which can be linked to a severe trauma or viral illness, but equally can be triggered for no apparent reason.

"It started out with aching and exhaustion. I was coming home from work and going to bed. I loved my work, but I felt so tired at the end of every day," said Ali, who works for Inspira, supporting young people and adults in her home city.

"I didn't want to do a lot of things. I just didn't have the energy. I would force myself to go out, but I didn't enjoy it and just wanted to get back home to bed. I had no work-life balance.

"You become isolated at home and lose your confidence, then you don't want to go back out. You become socially isolated, and that's not a good place to be.

"It was just this overwhelming fatigue and aching muscles. It really is not nice. I went to the doctors and they were very good. They did a lot of tests. They thought it might be rheumatoid arthritis, but then the results came back and they told me it was fibromyalgia.

"They explained it was muscle fatigue. There was no reason why I had it, no obvious trigger."

Ali, who has two stepchildren, Alexander, 30, and Stephanie, 27, said this went on for a year with what felt like no way out.

But then a chance meeting with Jo Clifford, from the Carlisle-based iCan fitness centre, planted a seed.

"Originally they gave me medication, but that was making me really drowsy. I just wasn't myself. I thought there must be an alternative, but I just didn't know where to start.

"Then I was at a party and met Jo. We talked and she suggested I try exercise. At that point I couldn't even think about exercising, but it got me thinking it was worth a try."

Feeling self-conscious, overweight and out of place, she said it was the other women at the gym that helped her through.

"It has been three years since I walked through that door. I was really worried about going in on my own. I didn't think I could do it, but everyone smiled and welcomed me," she said.

Ali initially went two to three mornings a week, then I upped it to four, then eventually to five.

"Suddenly I was getting a really good night's sleep and was starting to feel better. I also gradually started thinking about food, to eat to feed my body and choose more healthily," she said.

"I lost eight to nine pounds a month. It was a slow process but I did it gradually and it was worth it.

"I also started to drink more water. The power of water is underestimated. It's so good for you. I felt the difference."

Three years on and she now goes to the gym every weekday, as well as a boxercise class at weekends, and walks everywhere.

"If anyone had told me three years ago that I'd get hooked on exercise I would never have believed them," she said.

"It has had a major impact on my health. My muscles are now really strong and that has helped my balance too. It has also given me much more confidence. I'm not on medication any more. I stopped taking it about six months after starting with the exercise and healthy diet.

"For me personally, it's helped me immensely. It's no coincidence."

She's also researched the links between fibromyalgia and diet, and believes there are foods that were triggering symptoms.

That said she is not suggesting it will work for everyone, as the illness does vary dramatically from person to person, but hopes her story will give hope to others who are struck down by fibromyalgia.

"I think only you really know your body. I did my own research and started to eat foods that I thought would help it. I don't have dairy or tomatoes as they can make it worse," she said.

"You've got to really take ownership of your illness. Medical professionals can only do so much.

"I really thought I'd never be able to exercise. I had to start off very gently and build up gradually, but I got so much encouragement. It did take time, but now it's part of me.

"I feel quite lucky now. I've got an amazing job which gives me a lot of satisfaction, but I also have the energy for other things, going on walks with my husband or out for meals."

Ali now hopes to become a volunteer mentor, supporting people in older age to exercise and stay fitter for longer.

If you think you have fibromyalgia, visit your GP. Treatment is available to ease some of the symptoms, although it's unlikely they'll ever disappear completely as there is no proven cure.

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. The main symptoms, which vary from person to person, are:

Widespread pain - This is likely to be one of the main symptoms, often worse in particular areas, such as the neck or back. It may be an ache, a burning sensation or a sharp, stabbing pain. It is likely to be continuous, but may get better or more severe at certain times.

Extreme sensitivity - Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, so much so that even the slightest touch can be painful. If you hurt yourself, it will last longer than normal.

You may also be sensitive to smoke, certain foods and bright lights.

Stiffness - This can be most severe if you've been in the same position for a long period of time, such as when you first wake up in the morning. It can also cause your muscles to spasm.

Fatigue - Fibromyalgia can cause extreme tiredness. This can range from a mild, tired feeling to the exhaustion often experienced during a flu-like illness. It may come on suddenly and can drain you of all your energy, making you feel too tired to do anything at all.

Sleep problems - People with fibromyalgia often wake up tired, even when you've had plenty of sleep, due to poor sleep quality. This is because the condition can sometimes prevent you from sleeping deeply enough to refresh you properly.

'Fibro fog' - This term relates to cognitive issues often experienced by those with the condition. Thsi can include trouble remembering and learning new things, problems with attention and concentration, and slowed or confused speech.

Headaches - Frequent headaches can be a common symptom, particularly for those experiencing also neck and shoulder stiffness. These can vary from mild headaches to severe migraines.

Digestive problems - Some people with fibromyalgia also develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes pain and bloating in your stomach. It can also lead to constipation or diarrhoea.

Depression - Those living with fibromyalgia may also be prone to depression and anxiety, partly due to it being difficult to deal with and partly due to low levels of certain hormones associated with the condition.

Others - Other symptoms can include dizziness/clumsiness; feeling too hot or too cold; restless legs syndrome; tingling, numbness, prickling or burning sensations in hands and feet; unusually painful periods.

For more information on local support groups visit http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2009/09/cumbria/ or http://www.bayme.org/