Keep on Moving : February 2017

[Sunshine]

How much baclofen are you on now?

ANN

I take 60 mg daily spread across four different doses. I hate the side effects.

[stillstANNding]

Thank you. I am on 50mg (10 -20 -20) since the trip to Arkansas. It works, no side effects for me.

Linda, interesting about the water.

ANN

[Sunshine]

That's good Ann. At 60 mg it makes me feel a bit stoned, forgetful, distractibld and constipsted. I didn't have side effects on 40 mg but it was only partially helpful at that dose.
.

[Tweeker]

Hi - It's good that many responders, in one way or another, maintain an exercise routine. I applaud those who find that they can keep exercise in their life. Just remember that not everyone is as capable as you. I do my best, and that's good enough.
tweeker

[agate]

Tweeker, I believe that people in this thread and in earlier ones posted each month have told about whatever it is that they are capable of doing physically. For some it will be being able to sit up in bed, for some it will be walking a few steps with assistance. There are those for whom these are major achievements, and they are here with us, reporting on what they can do.

I believe everyone here has known times when we haven't been able to do anything at all. We do indeed keep in mind that everyone has different abilities--and at different times we're able to do more or less, depending on how we're doing.

If you've ever looked at exercise programs designed specifically for MS, they include passive exercises where an assistant raises the person's arm or leg repeatedly. They also include exercises that are just turning the neck in either direction or putting a hand through the range of motion.

The point is that we have to keep those muscles moving, somehow. It's all too easy for a muscle to atrophy from disuse.

I'll stop my sermon now. I'm sure it's very tedious, but you were suggesting that some people can no longer exercise at all. With physical therapy exercise is still possible--and should be going on. Or at least that's been the idea for quite a number of years.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Tweeker welcome back. I am one of the MSers who can hardly do any exercises. I can take 3 or 4 steps with a walker and get in and out of bed but it is hard. I use a scooter all the time.

Also I do some isometric exercises when I am laying down. I tighten my glutes and hold for a count of 20 3 times, tighten my quads the same and my abdomen.

Many days I do no exercises and often stay in bed for 12 or more hours. I wear PJ's many days. I've had MS almost 60 years and have been secondary progressive since the mid 90's. I live alone and find it hard to do many things in the house now. Luckily my son comes by and helps me some.

I like reading what others are doing and I am impressed with their determination to do some exercise. I have NO energy. I am blessed though that I am not worse. Jeanie :)

[Tweeker]

Hi Jeanie Z - Yeah, I do get it that people try to update us about what their individual physical status is. That's all good. Guess I'm a little jealous now. As things are turning out these days, sometimes I really piss me off. Thanks for your kind words. tweeker

[Jeanie Z]

:) Also Tweeker if I fall down I cannot get up by myself. I now weigh 218 and it is hard for my son to get me up as I can't really help him. I am one broken bone away from a nursing home.

I still drive and do my own grocery shopping. I ride my little house scooter to my 17 year old van, lock the house scooter to the carport pole and drive, then get the big scooter out with the ramp. I hang the grocery bags on the handle bars to get them in the house. I buy Lean Cuisine dinners or others and use the microwave or toaster oven to do meals.

Getting up the energy to dress and go shop is hard and I put things off a lot. Still I am grateful for what I can still do. It would be nice to socialize but I do not have the extra energy for that. Coming on this board everyday is my socializing. Y'all are like family. Jeanie :)