Chronic Illness And Exercise

Today's post from myneuropathyandme.blogspot.com (see link below) is written by the same author as yesterday's post and talks about the difficulties neuropathy patients face when they are told they need to exercise. It tells of her own personal experiences with exercise and gives some very sensible tips on how to set about it. We know we have to exercise but we also know our body is going to give us hell for doing it, so the trick is to find easier ways of exercising without putting too much stress on our feet, legs, arms or wherever the neuropathy is most evident.

Exercising with a Chronic Illness
Posted by Tracy Love Thursday, June 6, 2013

Everyone who is suffering with a chronic illness or even pain has heard the doctor say that exercise is good; in fact, most of us knew that, even before the doctor told us that we need to exercise. Before I was so lucky to be diagnosed with Small Fiber Neuropathy, I exercised six days a week for at least an hour a day. I was extremely active and loved being in the Phoenix sun, even when it was 110 degrees outside, I could find an exercise I could do to keep me moving. From walking, hiking the Phoenix Mountains, water aerobics, training for marathons, biking, whatever it was, I loved it. I began working out in 2006 when I joined Weight Watchers to lose 170lbs. I did a lot of exercising a loved every minute of it.

Having Small Fiber Neuropathy and all the different drug trials and fails has put weight back on my body. I cried for the first six months as I got on the scale. I worked so hard to lose the weight, now I was watching it creep back on. But, my sweet husband told me not to worry that one day I will get back there, but my health was more important than a size 10 jean. Then he said "I love you." I think I'll keep this man :-)

Doctors tell us that we need to exercise to improve our heath, I will agree, but it’s not the wanting to exercise, it’s the inability to handle the pain the exercise puts on our chronically ill bodies that matters. I have found over the past year a solution. I think just walking is enough? Like, walking through the aisles at the grocery stores, the malls, parking lots, doing everyday chores such as laundry, sweeping and mopping floors, and cleaning bathrooms. To me this is enough to get my heart racing. Not as much as when I was training for half marathons, but at least my body is moving. But if you want to start exercising, I say start slow. Start with ten minutes a day and work your way up to thirty minutes a day. If ten is too much, break it into six five minute intervals. We all know that exercising will most likely hurt tomorrow, but we are always hurting tomorrow, and I know I am we willing get my body moving again.

There is an article on exercising and nerve pain that states "For many of us, exercise hurts. We often equate athletics with muscle aches, stomach cramps, sore knees, and tired lungs. But, for those with neuropathic pain, exercise can offer a rare refuge from agonizing discomfort." Click here for article

Now that the weather is warmer and my pool has heated up enough, I got back in to workout by doing water aerobics. I love working out in the pool. The water is cool enough so I don’t sweat and overheat and my muscles and joints aren't paying the price like the pounding pavement. Did you know that jogging in the pool is twelve times more the resistance as walking on land? And it doesn’t hurt while doing it. Yes, sometimes it does hurt the next day, but I love exercising in the pool. I can do a 30 minute workout in the cool water and I burn up as many calories as walking 30 minutes in the hot sun.

There are times though that I have to give my body a little pep talk. “Ok, body, we’re going out there and we’re going to give it our all. Yes, you’ll feel some pain, maybe while working out, maybe it won’t happen until later or even tomorrow, but we’re going to move today, so let's not be lazy, let's get moving!” I am tired of this disease having all the control. There is nothing I have experienced in my life that is more aggravating than telling my body to do something and it only does it half way. I now use a shower chair to take showers because it hurts to stand and I get dizzy while showering. There’s nothing scarier than thinking I’m going to get dizzy, fall down in the shower and having the fire department come rescue me. If I weighed 60lbs less, I wouldn’t worry too much HA! So the shower chair helps alleviate any of those nightmares. Trying to even wash my hair brings on added pain in my hands and arms. I wonder how many calories I burn from doing this. And can I count it as moving?

I can’t say what exercise is right for your body, but I do know that moving is right no matter what you’re doing. Try working out in the pool if you have access to one. If you don’t, maybe join the YMCA or a gym that has a pool. Bake some cookies and bribe your neighbor to use their pool. If you own a dog, a little walk after dinner is good for both of you, even if it's just five minutes Fido will love whatever you can give him.

I need to accept for myself that it’s going to be a long journey to get back to where I once was weight wise, and maybe I will never be a size 10 again, but I can be healthy. That’s what exercise is all about anyways, to be heart healthy. I also understand I’m going to have setbacks, flare ups and struggles on my journey. I have set a goal to workout at least twice a week if possible. I need to be patient, understanding, and listen to my body as I move forward. I want to reconnect with my body and tell it who’s the boss instead of the other way around. This will also help me to become stronger, physically and mentally. Summer is here and my pool is ready to jump in and start jogging, jumping, twisting, bending and swimming. I’m ready, are you?

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