Exercise

Hi guys

Thank you for all your suggestions. I had a 3 day course of steroids last week which has helped immensely. I am already pottering about the house stick-free, and my body is now in a strong and flexible enough position to start tackling the Pilates effectively again.

Onwards and upwards!

Rachel

Adding 2 cents to the wise suggestions above, I drink diluted tonic water through the day (hoping that quinine helps, but lots of water intake anyway). I also try to stretch at every possible moment. That is gently but firmly moving limbs as far as they want to go, then with steady pressure wait for them to elongate to their full extent. A favourite is putting each heel in turn up on a sofa back while standing on the other leg (as if hurdling), it helps to be able to lean on something for balance. Then wait as my knobbly knee descends till the leg is straight, then just to test myself try to pull toes towards me. Another is to stand on a doorstep (or similar) with one foot, the edge across the ball of the foot. Then try to relax the calf muscle to allow the heel to drop as low as possible. I find it relaxes even further if I pull the foot up against resistance (the down heel) then swap feet. I do these two while I brush and floss my teeth to make sure that I'm as stretched as possible before sleep.

I find that what helps is not just rolling and stretching out of muscles, but this done in conjunction with pulling in the opposite direction. As if by pulling the antagonistic muscle, it helps the paired muscle to relax better. So pulling the toes up, acts to help the muscles that pull toes down (calf) relax more. As if we're coaxing muscles to calm down, take it easy, ... get out of their fussing and tensing.

I find that trying to stretch in bed tends to lead to cramps. But if I massage and bend legs by hand, that seems to help. Nighttime loo trips can be a bit stampy, as if I've a bolt through my neck; but they are a stretch opportunity too.

Rachel, I've no idea how different your cramping/stiffness may be from mine. But I find that experimenting has helped. For me it helps to not think of stretching and relaxing as a torture but rather as an indulgence, a pleasure to look forward to. Rather than feel that tight muscles are some hostile force attacking me, rather that muscles (nerves) are favourite animals that need stroking and coaxing to keep them happy.

Sorry to ramble. I do empathise with what you're going through Rachel.

Hi Rachel

Yoga and Pilates are wonderful along with meditation and massage etc but these usually are for small times hours class's and so on.

I do all the above but even when watching TV I will stand and do some stretching. In fact you can stretch anytime morning, noon or night.

Try it see how you get on.

Good Luck

J

Hi

I get very stiff legs and I find with any kind of strength training really helps. Yoga and pilates, or going to the gym and actually lifting weights really helps. I find that if I really work on my gluteal muscles this helps particularly!

I try and do some kind of strengthening and stretching exercise everyday, even if it's just for 5 or 10 minutes as it makes such a difference. I find that I don't notice so much when I do them, more that I really notice if I don't do them!

Katie

Hi I am making this thread live again (unfortunately).

I am experiencing my first muscle spasms (mostly in my calves) AFTER my cortisone treatment. Since this is all new to me, can someone tell me if these spasms are here to stay?

I am traveling in 5 days to tell my family about my MS and I would hate them to see me unable to walk much.

What does this say about my future mobility?

Hi there

It was me who started this thread, back in 2013. I am still on crutches, and my muscle 'stiffness' comes and goes. My personal trainer thinks this 'stiffness' is actually just sensory as my legs are actually pretty flexible.

As you know, no-one can tell you exactly how your MS will pan out. You are fortunate to have found OMS so soon after your symptoms began, so you have every chance of changing the course. You are also lucky to have turned to treatment in the early stages. I didn't have steroids until I was actually in a state of paralysis, so don't think that your leg spasms etc are going to lead to future mobility issues!

I go through 'peaks and troughs' as most people do. Keep exercising (but listen to your body and rest when you need to - I am about to cancel tomorrow's gym session as my legs are pretty tired! Please don't focus on WHAT IF. Look at WHAT IS and take each day as it comes. Four years on and I feel that my condition is pretty stable - and much better than it was 4 years ago! I am not sure that I would have been in the same position without OMS so stick with it.

Stay positive.
Rachel

Thanks a lot Rachel. I will try and channel my thoughts towards what is and not what might happen.

Until recently (I am very new to MS) I thought RRMS is like: you feel amazing until you don't (relapse) after which you feel "as good as new" until the next relapse and I did not realize I could/would have these lingering symptoms

I hope my muscle stiffness passes soon...

Thank you.