Much like the the dreaded "it's all in your head" line, I think all (or at least most) of us who were at all overweight before or became sedentary after the development of our pain issues have heard some variation of the "you would feel so much better if you just got more exercise" line.
Have you been tempted to stress your body out even more by pushing your body even harder so you could lose weight JUST so that you could tell that doc to stuff it ? BTDT !
If it would make you feel any better, tell that doc a story about your online pal who DID exercise more, who DID lose a lot of weight.......and who STILL has the same severe RSD pain. Better yet, have the schmuck doc call me for a little "chat" and I'll tell him all about the PROOF that his little plan (which we all know is just to cover for the fact that he doesn't have an actual reasonable treatment plan for you) DOES NOT WORK.
You might also remind said dear doctor that your difficulty with proceeding with his plan is that your severe pain is what is preventing you from exercising more. Challenge HIM. If he wants you to exercise for an hour a day, tell him that you'll be HAPPY to, just as soon as he brings your pain level down to a 0 or 1/10 for 24 hours so that you can sleep and feel comfortable enough to get out there. Make the commitment, promise him for each day he eliminates your pain that you vow to get out there and exercise. I'll bet that'll shut him up
I spent years hoping that I could magically lose weight and exercise more, so that I could tell the physiatrist that WC sent me too where he could "stick" his opinions and advice.
In the years since, I found a doc who has a clue and has tried to help me manage my pain, although WC denials have limited what treatments that we can do. At least he addressed my pain management needs and helped me get to a place where I felt I had SOME control. Last year, my mother was dx'd with Parkinson's and dementia after a fall and lengthy rehab. Years ago, she used to joke that she didn't need long term care insurance; she said she had "paid" for something better......a nursing degree for her eldest daughter (me), so she should get all the care she needed. That wasn't a bad plan....until I got broken
The night after her back surgery, she asked for me to promise that I would try to keep her out of a nursing home. Once upon a time, my plan would have been for her to move in with me, or me with her, but I would manage most of her care myself. Unfortunately, she was asking this of the RSD me, who couldn't bathe myself or manage my own ADL's and household......How was I supposed to do for her what I couldn't even do for myself ?
The same month my mother was hospitalized, I had several important doctor appointments. I talked to each of them about my concerns for my mom.....and my need to get MORE control over my pain issues and increase my activity tolerance. My ortho who gave me steroid injections for my bilat. hip bursitis (related to my fibro). My shrink changed my antidepressant. My neuro MARKEDLY increased my narcotics. My rheumy eventually put me back on an anti-inflammatory and has helped to address my energy levels. All of them worked to get me to the point where I could get out and start moving. Walking has been my thing. I've tried to "upgrade" that to running, but that caused worsening RSD neck/arm pain and caused significant issues with my "itises" from fibro: I couldn't run and limped with walking from new plantar fasciitis and had worsening bilat hip bursitis and bilat knee tendonitis. Any kind of bouncing or dancing type cardio also seems to worsen the "itises" and is HORRENDOUS on my neck/arm RSD pain. I can now do some stretching, but haven't done well with attempts at weight lifting. Walking is my thing.
Over a year and a hundred pounds lost later, I can tell you that I do indeed feel better..... IF I take a lot of narcotics. If I don't take the meds, the RSD pain is there, worse than ever.
Tell your doc that I'm waiting for my pain to magically get better because of exercise.