exercise and MS

[AshNight]

I feel very confused. Is exercise beneficial to people with ms? I just feel like if I work out or build light muscle, yeah ittl be healthy for my strength, but what good is it doing for me debilitating nerves? Does exercising counter some of the adverse effects of this disease?

[SNOOPY]

Yes, exercise is beneficial for MS.

Exercise can help with some MS symptoms (spasticity, pain, fatigue, bladder and bowel).

When I was dx'd my neuro told me the best thing I could do is walk. I walked and I used a stationary bike. Through the years my exercise has change but I still exercise.

I used a treadmill until my leg would lock up...scared the crap out of me to have the treadmill still going but my leg wasn't.

I currently use an Elliptical, weights (free hand weights and ankle weights), resistance bands, and stretching exercises I have learned in Physical Therapy.

This disease likes to effect my legs and mobility. Had I not taken my neuro's advice from the begining there is no doubt in my mind I would have been in a wheelchair very early on. I am still quite mobile and the only thing I give credit to for this is exercise.

There is a saying "use it or lose it" which can be very true when dealing with MS. However, exercise needs to be geared towards the patients ability, not everyone is capable of doing what I do nor am I capable of doing exercises that others may do.

It's important to take it slow and to very slowly increase what you are doing. It takes time to find your limits with exercise.

Having said what I have: even if you exercise you can still lose mobility and have difficulties. For myself: I will continue doing what I can until this disease simply will no longer allow it.

Information about exercise and MS:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/liv...ise/index.aspx

[IowaGirl]

From my personal experience...YES! YES! YES!

My husband I go every day and started slow with 20 minutes on the treadmill, every month we moved up the time by 15 minutes. We now go for an hour every day.

I had to take a short break due to remodeling a new home. I could definitely tell the difference with my leg strength and over well being.

We are now back on the routine and it sure helps me with my strength, balance and overall mood!

If you can get into a daily exercise program that works for you, no matter how small or large...DO IT!

Best of luck to you!

[Krysalus]

exercise is good!

My dr told me that if I'm going to have a debilitating dx, then I should start out by getting myself in the best shape possible!

I walk as much as I can when I can. I also try to NOT spend the day sitting on my katukis! I've also found that the more I move around, the better I feel overall. Truly, there are days where I don't want to even get out of bed, (like yesterday) but mostly, I like to do something to work off some frustration and perhaps a bit of these hips? lol

Exercise can brighten your mood believe it or not. It can also give you a sense of accomplishment which can also help your mood. So - stress relief, muscle tone and weight loss? Good reasons to me!

[cosake]

My neuro and PCP both advocate exercise to help keep my muscles toned and my core strengthened (which helps with balance issues).

I walked for a long time and worked with the Wii, then stopped exercising due to foot injury and other medical issues (bilateral kidney stone blockages).

My PCP recommended Pilates in the Pool (Poolates). I've gone to one class so far and it was great - and the cost is only $ 35 for 8 weeks ! The pool is very comfortable (92 degrees) and we do yoga type exercises. My balance is really bad right now in the pool, but the exercises were not strenuous and in the end were very relaxing. I go once a week for 45 minutes, and will start walking again next week also. (Well, if we don't get the 15 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow !)

I need to get in shape and build up my stamina for our 2nd annual MS Walk on May 14th!

[Sir-Voor]

in addition to the noticeable benefices also there are two important ways exercise is beneficial to decrease lasting MS damage.

1. By exercising immune cells are less likely to group together, and this is important because when larger groups of immune cells attack a area of myelin the damage area can be to large for the body to heal, unlike a small areas of damage that the body can and does heal.

2. Exercise is also anti inflammatory and MS is an inflammatory disease, need I say more.

[bammaw]

I'm a walker

I walk a few days a week with some terrific gals I met through my Weight Watcher meeting. One of them is an MSer like me and she actually walked the 50 miles over three days MS Challenge walk last year (Carlsbad to San Diego CA). Amazing gal. Now me? An hour walk 2-3 days a week with a little treadmill in between is enough. Don't think I could make it 5 miles let alone 50!!! Glad for us that others do take up the challenge for it's a tremendous fund raiser for the NMSS.

I walk because I CAN...and have often thought there are many of us who cannot walk...and who knows... one day it could be me who can't. So...for health, for weight control, for comaraderie...and as I said...because I CAN (while I can)..I walk.

Looking forward to my second 5K this June.

[opiegirl]

The MS specialist I recently saw said exercise is very important. Not only cardio, but lifting weights to keep muscles strong as well.

[soccer3]

exercise

I agree early in the disease it is important to do what you can. But now for those of us that can no longer walk I find that the more I do the worse I get. The spasms get worse and I fatigue for days.

I have MS Fibro and osteoarthritis in both knees. The thought of exercise makes me cringe. I am seeing an ortho for my knees next month so maybe someday I will walk again.

[sexygatubela]

What about heat sensitivity?

Hi Ashnight:

Thanks for starting this thread!! I have a similar question: For those of you who are heat sensitive like me, how do you manage exercise?

When I walk for a while, my right leg gets very achy and weak and I end up limping and holding on to things to help me walk and not fall. After I rest and my temperature comes down, my walking and my vision improves, but sometimes it can be days before I recuperate completely.

Any pointers on how to manage heat sensitivity and exercise?? It is very frustrating to just a year and a half ago been able to run on a treadmill and use an elliptical trainer and not been able to do that these days

Thanks!

[Nabbosa]

Neural Networks, Compensation

I agree with everything posted so far, but I have a couple of other points based on work I used to do in cognitive psychology and developing neural networks etc.

First, if your muscles are well trained in a task, but you have a blip in the neurological system, sometimes the muscle memory can compensate. I have to admit that I'm not sure exactly how bad a blip can be compensated for, but it definitely happens.

Second - and not entirely unrelated - the brain is capable of creating new networks to compensate for damage to old ones. You can read about this in journalism about stroke and TBI patients, but it's a general phenomenon. This is something that can take over to a limited extent, especially if your body already knows how to do a motion.

If you're interested to read more about these topics, I'd direct you to some of the writing on Alzheimer's, stroke, TBI, post-surgical recovery etc. Oliver Sachs' popular books on his neurology patients also contain some uplifting stories relating to this.

[Nabbosa]

Heat and exercise

Hi Ashnight:

For those of you who are heat sensitive like me, how do you manage exercise?

...

Any pointers on how to manage heat sensitivity and exercise?? It is very frustrating to just a year and a half ago been able to run on a treadmill and use an elliptical trainer and not been able to do that these days

Thanks!

Before I was diagnosed, I thought I was just sensitive to heat, so I'd point a really big fan on me when using the elliptical trainer, and have a lot of water on hand to drink while exercising.

Last year, when my PCP was nudging me to consider seriously what kind of exercise to do, I happened upon figure skating classes. I'm not great and I'm advancing very slowly, but it never gets hot in an ice rink and it's great exercise. Usually people are trolling around the rink in jackets and hats, but I'm scooting around in a winter running top (think Under Armour cold gear) and some light gloves (mostly for protection if I fall).

I can't believe what a difference I feel in terms of energy, too. You always hear how much exercise improves fatigue, but when you're fatigued, getting up to exercise is the last thing on your mind! I've been doing a lot better in that department - though I suspect it's also because I fall asleep a lot faster now that I'm skating 3-7 hours a week.

Biking has also been good for me in the past. The wind you create also cools you a bit.

It seems a lot of people have had good experience with water sports: swimming, water aerobics etc. The large body of pool water absorbs the excess heat your body generates. So I'd encourage you to think of that sort of thing.

AND always drink water! Being hydrated helps with heat transport within your body.

[Thinkimjob]

Get it while you can

I agree early in the disease it is important to do what you can. But now for those of us that can no longer walk I find that the more I do the worse I get. The spasms get worse and I fatigue for days.

I relate so much to this. I can still walk, but I find getting through the day - work (part time), shopping, cleaning, family stuff etc - just plain exhausting.
The dr suggested swimming. I told her walking to the side of the pool, getting in and out of the pool, and showering and changing afterwards would be exercise enough without doing any actual swimming.
I'm interested to hear your fatigue lasts for days - so does mine! It drives me mad.

[SNOOPY]

I agree early in the disease it is important to do what you can.

I am far from "early in the disease" process and I still believe it's important to do what you can.

There are exercises you can do from a wheelchair and even on your bed.

[SNOOPY]

Second - and not entirely unrelated - the brain is capable of creating new networks to compensate for damage to old ones.

I find your information very interesting and have read information similar to what you have stated.

In my case I'm not sure it fits or even how it would fit.

I have mostly cervical spine lesions which are well known for causing mobility problems. My brain MRI shows only a couple of lesions. I once had a neuro tell me I shouldn't even be walking (based on c-spine MRI)

I have often wondered if the spinal cord can be effected by exercise in the same way the brain is. I know the brain can re-route around damaged areas, making new pathways.

My understanding is there is no room for re-routing in the spinal cord...Yet, exercise has defintely made a difference for me.