OT May Chit Chat

[SuzE-Q]

Or those hand cycles, if one arm is weak, the movement of the other arm to rotate the cycle wheel helps build muscle on the other weak arm as it is rotated through the muscle on the good arm, thus moving the weak arm through the rotation motion.

Isn't that how it's supposed to work? Does that build muscle, or does it just help with circulation since it's not really the weak muscle turning the wheel, even if the arm and hand are rotating too? Sort of passive movement? Does that help build muscle, do you think?

[renee]

I think it depends on the degree of muscle weakness.
In my case I am a complete para so I have virtually no mind-to-muscle connection.

My legs are beyond weak.
I can only guess where they are sometimes.

[Cherie]

suz...You are quite right! Muscle atrophy can be forestalled and even turned around by any exercise or muscle stimulation as the Walk-Aide or Bioness walking devices do. I took left calf from an inch smaller than right to same size with active attention to exercise that the PT gave me to do. Even loss of nerve enervation (we see this in stroke and traumatic brain injury all the time as well as spinal cord injury) does not have to cause muscle atrophy if a regular program is in place to keep the body moving even when it cannot initiate the moves itself.

[SuzE-Q]

Thanks renee and Cherie,

I think I remember seeing machines where they strap your immobile limb to a machine that moves it for you, and that helped build or maintain muscle. Again though, I think it's used for spinal cord injuries, but I don't know why or if it's used for PwMS.

I wondered if passive movement triggered by an external device could help strengthen a weaked limb. Good to know that it's possible, I'd forgotten about bionesse or walkaide. I knew it helped to move, I just didn't know if it improved muscle strength in spite of the continued lack of ability to repair the damaged nerve that impaired the ability to move the limb internally to begin with.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

Howdy..

We have a new addition, to our cow family, Bessie, had a baby heifer,,we "thought" she looked pregnant,,so we named her Puddles, cause she was born in a puddle,,outside, and it has rained..

Everything is fine here at the farm, crops in, garden giving us puling onions/spinach,,the rest,, it will be soon,,

later then

[Howie]

Mmmmmmm....baby beef and fresh veggies sure sounds good. When should I get there?

[agate]

Just turn up, Howie--I'm sure they could use the extra help pulling onions and spinach.

[SalpalSally]

That wasn't nice, about the baby cow, though, Howie..

[Howie]

Well where do you think those baby back ribs one big steak place advertises, comes from!

[SuzE-Q]

Well where do you think those baby back ribs one big steak place advertises, comes from!

Ummmm...they are a cut of the ribs of an adult pig, Howie.

Now, veal, now you're getting closer...

[Pegakafarmgirl]

pigs, deer, cows,, and the list goes on,,lol

[Cherie]

Update: BP normalizing a bit with HCTZ and Hibicus tea. Not enough. Started on Bystolic today (a new generation beta blocker that supposedly does not have the side effects of the older ones like atenolol). She started me on the lowest dose 2.5 mg (because it can cause liver enzymes to elevate) and if BP does not come down in a few days I am to take 2 pills daily instead of 1. Also found out my Hemoglobin A1C is elevated again for the first time in years (early diabetes). New BP med has a copay of $85/month. Exercising daily, watching what I eat closely and tracking calories on computer program and still am not losing any weight. I am discouraged.

[SuzE-Q]

Update: BP normalizing a bit with HCTZ and Hibicus tea. Not enough. Started on Bystolic today (a new generation beta blocker that supposedly does not have the side effects of the older ones like atenolol). She started me on the lowest dose 2.5 mg (because it can cause liver enzymes to elevate) and if BP does not come down in a few days I am to take 2 pills daily instead of 1. Also found out my Hemoglobin A1C is elevated again for the first time in years (early diabetes). New BP med has a copay of $85/month. Exercising daily, watching what I eat closely and tracking calories on computer program and still am not losing any weight. I am discouraged.

Sorry to hear you are discouraged, Cherie! Keep up with the swimming and diabetic-diet, changes will come! It's early days, still. You've made an impact on your BP, so you're heading in the right direction...

Just curious, what side effects are you referring to from older beta blockers? I have some in my medicine cabinet and am not aware of side effects.

[Howie]

I had a mouse in the house, and my two mousers have been on high alert all day. Well, Seven came in here a while ago with a dead mouse, walking so proud and setting it at cat daddy's feet. The little mouse's heart probably just stops when caught because it didn't have a mark on it.

I praised my two mousers after I flushed the mouse. They both acted so proud!!! I love cats!

[SalpalSally]

Awwwwww, Seven was gentle with her. I had a cat named Seven.
The other was named Windsor. Windsor and Seven....DH's favorite drink.