Can PT help manage fatigue?

[jumpinjiminy]

Just curious. I'd like to break through this physical endurance problem, and am wondering if PT might provide some relief somehow.

[mtnwillow]

Yes, PT helped with my fatigue. He taught me exercises to build my core strength and we were able to document a significant improvement in endurance on the treadmill. I went from less than a minute to 9 minutes in about 12 PT visits. He also taught me to take long strides as short careful ones are more tiring.

[jumpinjiminy]

Super. Fatigue is one of my biggest issues. I've been able to resolve some of it through getting rid of meds that were interfering with my sleep. What remains is the fatigue that hits for days after I exercise or spend a few solid hours doing any kind of physical work. I'd love to have some improvement on this front and get a longer day in.

Are there PT specialists for this type of thing? Or are they all trained to handle it?

[SusanD]

PT and any exercise program will help with endurance. However, fatigue and MS Fatigue are two different things.

The cause of MS fatigue is unknown and you will have to work around it. Definitely go to therapy, a gym, do whatever you can to work on strength and endurance, that's great for the body. Also, learn energy conservation techniques - go to occupational therapy, to help manage daily tasks.

It may be enough for you but still keep in consideration that you may still experience MS Fatigue. Journal how you're feeling and how your body is responding to therapy. You may need to adjust things, talk to your doctor, take medication, or you just may be fine with a program provided by your therapist.

With MS we are dealing with altered nerve conduction. When we do things that impact those already compromised areas, it can result in less efficiency so the body works harder and can cause fatigue.

While exercising, rest frequently, stay hydrated, and learn your limits

[jumpinjiminy]

Thank you, Susan. I will make a contact tomorrow with a nearby PT clinic. It looks like they have two people on staff that have neuro experience - strokes, Parkinson's, MS, etc. I'd love more than anything to have more time doing physical work. If they could help me get at least 4 hours a day consistently, I'd be thrilled.

[SusanD]

Good luck with everything.

[tommylee]

Just curious. I'd like to break through this physical endurance problem, and am wondering if PT might provide some relief somehow.

Helped me alot.
I move better with less pain.
If I skip my exercises I can tell.
Give it a try if you can. I don't see how it could hurt?

[ThisOThere]

GOOD LUCK!

[jumpinjiminy]

I wanted to pop in here and thank everybody for the encouragement to try PT. My GP brought it up last year and I just had too many other appointments to make another biweekly commitment.

Things are progressing well, but slowly. The PT tells me we're looking at months, maybe even a year and a half to get to the four hours of physical work a day. We've started slowly enough that it hasn't impacted my life. She's very insistent about not overdoing it. It's a whole different kind of exercise than what I'm familiar with. I'm up to 45 minutes of light exercise now. We start with adding in cardio intervals soon.

I can't wait for those endorphin highs!

[Music lover]

fatique



I used to walk two miles with my neighbors in a half hour. No problem. I wasn't even doing that bad when first diagnosed with MS. I could do the two miles on the treadmill. After a break from everything, it took me 40 minutes to get to 1 mile. Very tiring minutes. Now I can do 1 mile in 30 minutes. Not great, but much better.

[SusanD]

It's great to see the effort and dedication given to therapy and exercise.

Be patient and safe in your exercise programs. There may be several things you're working on - endurance, range of motion, strength, coordination, balance, and mobility (as well as other things), all takes time. On top of that, we know how unpredictable MS, that in itself is a challenge.

Keep up the good work.