Exercising

[ME610]

I was an avid bike rider before being diagnosed in 2008.... just now getting back on the bike. First, I could barely lift my leg to clear the bar to get on the bike. Secondly, not coordinated enough to get both feet into the footholds (whatever they are actually called) that hold your feet on the pedals.
Today I rode down the street and around the block. That was about all I could handle... my exhaustion and the impending thunderstorm brought me back home.

Does it get easier... please say it will.

[22cyclist]

ME610: I was also an avid bike rider and now I am on a walker because I have such trouble with balance. I tried to ride my bike so that I could ride in the MS 150 in our state in September. It was hard, I couldn't drink, and since I was having such trouble with balance, I had a hard time with the traffic. My shoes clip in, so they don't fall off of the bike, it is just more controlling the bike with my hands. After that ride was cut short due to my anxiety with the my balance troubles, my husband went out and bought us a tandem. It is still a road bike, shoes still clip in. He is in front and controls the bike, all I have to do is petal and keep up with his cadence.

We went out on our first ride last Saturday with out group that rides in the MS ride. It was GREAT! The only thing I had a hard time with was keeping up with his cadence. It is something I will have to get used to. I go to the gym and ride the stationary bike to try and strengthen my legs, work with a personal trainer to try to gain strength all together.

Last year, when I just used a cane, I could still ride my own bike, and it took me a while each season to build up, so it will take you a while to build up too. Try to find someone to ride with so you can draft off of them and you don't get the full effect of the wind.

I hope you can ride more, it is great exercise for MS! There are lots of MSers that ride in the MS ride every year! Keep at it and each time you go out you will go a little further.
Glad you ride too.

Take care
Lisa
Moderation Team

[marybenes]

ME610: It can get easier - just take your time in rebuilding your endurance. I know it's hard taking baby steps when you're used to biking for miles upon miles. Like what previously posted, there are a lot of MSers biking. It may not be the entire ride, but they are doing the best they can.

[Thinkimjob]

All right, don't want to be Ms Misery, but IMHO, it's unlikely to get easier.

Yes, you can keep your muscles relatively sound, and your heart healthy, but no amount of exercise is going to fix your poor old de-mylinated nerves.

Only luck, of which I wish you the very best.

[Special Kay]

Thinkimjob may be right about neurological damage.

But we are learning more and more about the power of aerobic exercise to keep the brain healthy, spur brain cell growth, forestall brain atrophy, and foster neuroplasticity. This last one is particularly important for those of us with MS, as it means our brains will work to find new pathways to get things done, when existing pathways might be damaged. Moreover, it is amply documented that aerobic exercise can help with depression.

None of us will be exercising at our pre-MS levels, but we can do what we can.

You might want to check out the website Active MSers.

[HETA78]

I have an MS friend who never attempted running pre-dx and now runs 5k's... Anything is possible.

I also have a friend who was pretty active pre-dx and now has amped it up to cross-fit.

I want to return to kickboxing but the dojo I was going to is not air conditioned. So there is no way I can do that but I do work out for an hour at least 3 times a week. Everyone is different. I also recommend Active MSers. Dave is an inspiration.

[Tawanda]

it means our brains will work to find new pathways to get things done, when existing pathways might be damaged.

I agree. I have always thought the reason I am so tired all the time is from my nerves are always having to take detours to get from Point A to Point B! I picture those orange detour signs with the black arrows posted throughout my nervous system. I am just glad to know that science is starting to prove that the little nerve pulse buggers are still trying, bless their hearts!

[Tawanda]

I also recommend Active MSers. Dave is an inspiration.

I kind of have mixed feelings about Dave's site...didn't he have a stem cell transplant? If so, my guess is that comparing us regular M.S. Joes to someone who has had such extreme treatment might be like comparing apples and oranges. Also, I don't know if it's just me, but it seemed like there were a lot of negative posts there which surprised and even depressed me. Everyone else here thinks this site is just great, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt and check it out for yourself.

[ActiveMSers]

Tawanda, you may have ActiveMSers confused with another message board. Ours is an uncommonly positive and friendly community--we all support each other and cheer on our successes, whether it's climbing Kilimanjaro or hiking that 50 feet to the mailbox. In fact you'd be hard pressed to find any negative posts, much less a forum tiff. And while I'm flattered others find me inspiring, those who are truly inspiring are all of our members who are trying their best to stay active despite the challenges this disease throws at us.

Incidentally, I started ActiveMSers years before my 2010 bone marrow transplant (which arguably saved my life). Although my aggressive MS has left me more gimpy than many of our members, it has provided me with a unique perspective into this fiendish disease we all share. And I'm still learning every day new ways to better cope, which I try to share. Give us another look sometime, I don't think you'll be sorry.

Dave Bexfield

p.s. ME610, you'll find some helpful cycling tips there, too. Keep riding as best you can!

[Tawanda]

Tawanda, you may have ActiveMSers confused with another message board. Ours is an uncommonly positive and friendly community--we all support each other and cheer on our successes, whether it's climbing Kilimanjaro or hiking that 50 feet to the mailbox. In fact you'd be hard pressed to find any negative posts, much less a forum tiff. And while I'm flattered others find me inspiring, those who are truly inspiring are all of our members who are trying their best to stay active despite the challenges this disease throws at us.

Incidentally, I started ActiveMSers years before my 2010 bone marrow transplant (which arguably saved my life). Although my aggressive MS has left me more gimpy than many of our members, it has provided me with a unique perspective into this fiendish disease we all share. And I'm still learning every day new ways to better cope, which I try to share. Give us another look sometime, I don't think you'll be sorry.

Dave Bexfield

p.s. ME610, you'll find some helpful cycling tips there, too. Keep riding as best you can!

Thank you Dave for not being offended and giving me an excellent response. I just remember going to your site and seeing a kind of "exercise is stupid, M.S. will do what it will no matter what, so who cares and what is this site for anyway?" type of post. I was in a glass half full mood and logged out immediately. Perhaps it's time to take another look. Too many people at MSW giving you a for me to not try again (but yes, it was definitely your site as I remember your story and photographs).

[ActiveMSers]

No worries, Tawanda. You might have caught a rare troll post, probably someone from PLM, those weasels. Oh, kidding! I'm working on the latest ActiveMSers newsletter now--should have a lot of goodies and helpful tips. See you around!

-Dave

[jjs]

ME610: I was also an avid bike rider and now I am on a walker because I have such trouble with balance. I tried to ride my bike so that I could ride in the MS 150 in our state in September. It was hard, I couldn't drink, and since I was having such trouble with balance, I had a hard time with the traffic. My shoes clip in, so they don't fall off of the bike, it is just more controlling the bike with my hands. After that ride was cut short due to my anxiety with the my balance troubles, my husband went out and bought us a tandem. It is still a road bike, shoes still clip in. He is in front and controls the bike, all I have to do is petal and keep up with his cadence.

We went out on our first ride last Saturday with out group that rides in the MS ride. It was GREAT! The only thing I had a hard time with was keeping up with his cadence. It is something I will have to get used to. I go to the gym and ride the stationary bike to try and strengthen my legs, work with a personal trainer to try to gain strength all together.

Last year, when I just used a cane, I could still ride my own bike, and it took me a while each season to build up, so it will take you a while to build up too. Try to find someone to ride with so you can draft off of them and you don't get the full effect of the wind.

I hope you can ride more, it is great exercise for MS! There are lots of MSers that ride in the MS ride every year! Keep at it and each time you go out you will go a little further.
Glad you ride too.

Take care
Lisa
Moderation Team

Just wanted to say this really blessed me and I thank you for sharing.

[MSW1963]

I've always been able to restore endurence very quickly. Not to the level I had before MS, but I started an exercise routine on a stationary recombant bike, and was amazed how each routine improved my endurence dramatically.

I had to really push myself for 5 mins my 'ride' the first day. Later that day I was able to complete 15 mins. Within 2wks I was up to several 30 min sets per day. Most days it's all I can do because MS fatigue wipes me out, but I'm hooked once again on the endorphines.

I miss cyceling out doors A T-spine lesion causes my arms and hands to go numb, lots of pain, leading to paralysis in arm/s. Despite those problems, I'm feeling better physically and emotionally with regular activity and exercise.

There's a theory about athletic muscle memory and I'm a believer in the theory. It's probably more difficult for those with no athletic activity before MS, but not impossible. I was a cyclist into my 40's and I still miss it.