Hello, folks. From time to time I read allusions to the role of exercise in coping with PMR. This is a concern of mine because while disinclined to engage in it, on the one hand, I find that not doing so leads to muscle atrophy, on the other hand. I used to work out for onehour three times a week at the gym, but have not been able to return since May, 2007 when this hit me. I would be most interested in knowing more about other poeple's experiences in exercising. Do you find it helpful? Does it require a simple (or courageous) act of will to get started and maintain it? What is the aftermath when finished each exercise session. I read that "light exercise" is recommended. For those who do this, could you share how you define "light" when putting into practice?
Also, my apologies for the add-on of this important question, but do any of you find that there is a connection between allergies and PMR?
Lastly, Libeth, I suspect you're really on to something essential when you speak of just managing everyday living, as you did in a response to an earlier post. I think that this may, understandably, sometimes be a neglected area because of the pain, malaise, and even depression that so many of us endure. Yet attending to it in an appropriate way may be a useful area along the spectrum of treatment and one that we can take control over. I imagine what "appropriate" way amounts to for each of us may differ, but perhaps we can all share what that is for us with one another from time to time.
Still deriving so much help and support from this essential forum. Thanks all.
Hugh
My ap
Hugh, since my rheumy told me I did not have PMR, but offered noLibeth, thanks so much for taking the time to provide us all with such a thoughtful summary. It makes lots of sense to me. I think you have developed a great attitude -- concentrating on what you can do and not the label of what you may have. I guess it is frustrating though to be "dismissed" with no diagnosis and no alternative offerred by your rheumy. I haven't been formally diagnosed yet, but am on prednisone. In any event, I've come to the conclusion that I just can't wait for doctors to give me direction and feed me with pills. Whatever help they can offer is fine, but I must carve out a life for myself within the acknowledged limits I (as we all do) face. Otherwise, giving in to this "thing" leads to a downward spiral. Yes, please do let me know how things ago. I'd appreciate it. I'll do the same. Wishing you all the best,
Hugh
Libeth and Sean,It seems each of us is affected differently by this disease, and gets different levels of relief from our medication. For me, before the prednisone, I still had to be physically active every day because I have a small horse farm, so had to clean stalls & water buckets, handle the horses, etc. It became very difficult until I started on prednisone. I found that as I worked and the muscles warmed up (I guess) it became easier and I felt better.
Since being on prednisone, again, I've had no choice but to remain physically active. Over the past year and a half, there have been times when my arms & shoulders were stiff & ached, so I had to fill my wheelbarrow only half full, etc., but as before, it feels better once I get "warmed up". I can imagine if I went for even a few weeks without such activity, I would probably suffer for it later if I tried to resume, as it requires a certain level of fitness.
I am lucky enough that, even if I have some aches & stiffness, I am still physically able to saddle & ride my horse, so my "quality of life" has not altered significantly from my pre-PMR days.
Ruth, I am so glad for you that you are able to continue working with yourMy dogs MADE me go out and keep walking......
My friend MADE me go swimming with her and I endured the pain of doing the breaststroke .My arms would be killing me but I kept going.
I think it is important to do gentle exercises as not to atrophy the muscles .
I find that walking is good for me. I hate to repeat myself, because I don't know who has read what or who is new. I initially stressed my knees on an exercise bicycle. My knees hurt the next day and continued to hurt. I had a low grade lower back pain for about a year. I had gone to a physical therapist and that helped at the time. I was doing Pilates for 20 minutes every other day. This did not help and I had groin pain. I was doing leg lifts and stressing my groin area.
When I stressed my knees, I couldn't turn over in bed or get out of a chair. I went to a chiropractor and that did not help too much, other than he had a physical therapist working with him. One time he suggested a massage. For me that was not good. The next day I felt like I had been whipped with bicycle chain. Every muscle in my body hurt. To much pressure was applied.
I stressed my arms because I used them to lift myself in bed and out of chairs.
Now I realize....whatever muscles I stress, they take a while to heal. I think PMR has given me moderately high blood pressure. I didn't have high blood pressure until a couple years ago.
The picture is coming clear. My left arm hurt more than the rest of me. In fact, I would say it hurt about the same before I took Prednisone. I'm no longer on Prednisone. The doctor said to take my blood pressure every day and report back to her in a couple months. The other night I took my blood pressure and shooting pains ran up my shoulder. It was then I realized my arm hurt because of taking my blood pressure and putting pressure on them every day. I was stressing those muscles/veins.
I was working on antique furniture this summer and I could work on it for a couple hours each day and my arms didn't hurt too much. Spend more time than that and I had pain.
I know now that is why we hurt, we are stressing muscles/veins. Some say their buttocks hurt...mine used to before I started getting better. That is because we sit on our bottoms and put pressure on that area.
PMR in my opinion is adrenal fatigue. It is just not putting out enough stuff to fix up the muscles/veins that we use and when we over work them to much they hurt.
We do need to keep moving, but have to be careful to not stress our bodies. Mary
[QUOTE=marianne1952]
Did not do it on my own....did not want to ....but......
My dogs MADE me go out and keep walking......
My friend MADE me go swimming with her and I endured the pain of doing the breaststroke .My arms would be killing me but I kept going.
I think it is important to do gentle exercises as not to atrophy the muscles .
[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=marianne1952]Did not do it on my own....did not want to ....but......
My dogs MADE me go out and keep walking......
My friend MADE me go swimming with her and I endured the pain of doing the breaststroke .My arms would be killing me but I kept going.
I think it is important to do gentle exercises as not to atrophy the muscles .
[/QUOTE] Thank Goodness for dogs. I had to go out twice a day there was no-one else to take her. Otherwse I would have stayed indoors feeling sorry for myself. I am sure the regular exercise is responsible for my no longer "seizing up" JuliaDogs are life savers..not only for excersise but also ...they are great listeners .....and great company!Plus....you ahve someone to focus on other than yourself in this horrible time . They are good for mind body and spirit. I do not understand anyone can live without them!Hi Marianne!
At the moment we have the golden retriever that we often take care of. I have a problem with my right foot, so I cannot help to walk with him (I seem to have gout after a week´s visit to Portugal some weeks ago - gout used to be called port wine toe in Sweden when I grew up, so the name could fit in this time). Especially my wife likes the dog but I get more and more fond of him. When I was OK he helped me to get up early in the morning those days that my wife went to work and also in the middle of the day. As we live in a hilly area, he helps me to walk uphill - he is so strong that he pulls me when he is determined to go faster.
We have had great weather although it is getting colder and one night last week we had night frost.
Ragnar
Dogs are indeed life savers! I have a corgi, she insists we go for a walk, I let