to exercise or not to exercise

Hey Linda

Exercise is GREAT for anyone, esp those with ms. Consider swimming or any sort of water exercising if that's an option. Before doing any new regime tho, please consult with a Physical Therapist. MS is a particular creature. Where some exercises can be great for u'r body in non-ms people, those same movements can be very hard or wrong for ms'ers if dealing with spasicity for example. Call ur' doc or local wellness center and just run things by them at the least. At most, go into a gym and be evaluated and given a set of movements that are planned for u. Take care to be safe with this Linda. A dear friend of mine has ms and we were recently discussing a spasm she was dealing with. I told her to get up and walk it off, but reconsidered that advice after thinking about it. With ms...it's a nerve message making that muscle contract. Walking it off won't make that nerve stop sending that message. So walking it off could possibly do damage. That's just one example of where a PT could offer u support and get u in the right place for u'r specific needs. Let us know how u'r doing on this.

Hi there, you just got some very good advice and I cant add much to it other than to say I was teaching aerobics up to about a year ago and was having balance issues. I am not back to teaching yet but plan to be soon. I continue to lift free weights on good days, but then again low reps and low weight.

The best advice i have is exactly what Rhonda said. Ask your Dr. what he feels you should do. Perhaps your Physical Therpist can direct you to. On days when my spasitity is poor, I just dont exercise. Energy is also an issue for me, but I am determined to push through it to workout. But....thats me. Some days, nope...I need to nap instead. You need to learn to listen to your body. Thats what many told me when I first came in here for advise. Now I recognize better when is a good time of day to exercise, push or not push myself.

ANOTHER SUGGESTION: Have you ever considered chair exercises? The local YMCA usually have a class called 'Silver Sneakers' and all the exercise is done in a chair. It is awesome!!!!!!!! Especially for those who are wheelchair bond or recovering from surgeries, etc. Do a google check and type in SILVER SNEAKERS. You may find a club near you that has a class like that or maybe can order the DVD to do it in the privacy of your own home? I dont know, just a thought.

Everyone has different levels of the disability that comes w/ MS so its hard to compare. We are all different. I wish you the best. Dont give up. Exercise is, for the most part very good for us, MS or not. Good luck and let us know how your getting long. Hugs~Kate

I also agree, exercise is very important. I own a really nice stationary bike and also a knockoff of the Bowflex. I have just recently strarted to ride the bike again for about 5-10 min. then I do like workout on the Bowflex. I have to say that after a week or so of sticking to regimen. I feel alot better physically. My physical therapist said that it was a good thing as long as I wasn't over doing it. But don't get me wrong, I still have my bad and very bad day's where even thinking about working out makes me hurt.
Good luck.

Hi Linda,

I am totally in agreement with Gretchen. I think exercise is essential. Do as much as you can of whatever you find helpful. And try to never stop. For years I controlled the spasticity with exercises (some I found in a book written by a lady with MS, sorry I cannot remember the name). Not a lot but some every day. Then I was told to stop & that the exercises were increasing the spasms. OK, I thought, I will stop for 2 weeks & see. Well, stopping exercising did NOT help the spasms & in that short time the spasticity increased so much I could not start exercising again.

Then I went into a downward spiral for two years with the spasticity just increasing all the time. The worse the spasticity the less exercise I could do, the worse the pain became, it was a viscious circle. As the spasticity increased so did the pain until I had pain beyond 10/10 virtually continuously. Then I got a baclofen pump – now no pain and much less spasticity. It is miraculous. I have my life back. I am able to exercise again & I find that it definitely helps the weakness that can be a side effect of baclofen.

Exercise also helps the balance – I use the balance games on Wii fit for this. I also have a stepper (good to use when you are on the phone) a cross trainer (I read while I am doing this) for some aerobic stuff & some exercises from the MS physio for the core (a stronger core helps the walking). A swiss ball is good for this & then you can sit on it when you are at the computer or watching TV. As you can see I find the best way for me to exercise is to build it into my life. Stops the boredom & the fatigue. I practice standing on one leg at the sink or walking down stairs correctly. Weights you strap around the ankles can help if your walking is deteriorating.

I found it interesting that when I was in hospital having the pump implanted a 24 year old came in with pain down her whole right side. She did not get any help from any meds. At first they thought she had MS then they dxd chronic pain syndrome triggered by a fall. What did the drs prescribe – exercise!!! Took a couple of months & she came good.

Heat is a problem where I live so I try to exercise early when it is still cool or indoors with the air con/fan. What seemed to help that dreadful fatigue for me was trying to eat as well as possible - lots of fresh fruit, vegies & low fat protein. Organic, if possible. Sorry, such a long post but I kept thinking of new things, I hope some of it helps.