determined to get healthy even with a disability anyone?

Hi Ericka,

I'm Sue, I'll be 52 in November and I have cerebral palsy. I just restarted my life plan on September 5 and joined MFP on the 14th. MFP seems to be a great place to get the support I know I need. Have 30 pounds to lose by Christmas 2013. Doing a modified ver-
sion of Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home. I say modified because, to give an example, I have to hang on to my walker while walking
and do the arms separately. I wish you the best with your lifestyle change and you can friend me if you want to, God Bless you Er-
icka! Sue

Had a triple stroke. I have a physical disability in one of my hands, but the ability issue that really is my hardest when it comes to exercise is the lack of energy I have. Every day I get a tiny fraction of the energy to make it through the day that a normal, healthy person gets. Exercising uses up all of that energy. I struggle to get motivated because of it.

Hi and welcome.

I too have a disability; I have suffered from chronic back pain since 2002. Last year it got so bad that I required emergency back surgery. Thing where fine until I was involved in a car accident 3mos after. Since then things seem to keep doing downhill.

I try to keep the faith and work at saying fit but the pain is getting in the way. So I need to find a solution soon. I too have a 3yrs old to run after and its not the easiest.

I don’t see many of us in here so feel free to add me.

There is a diet that is effective for most inflammatory problems. It's the Seignalet diet. My mother, her best friend and one of my colleague are on it. There was a book published recentrly in French called "How I defeated pain by nutrition".

Big big summary : cut most cereals( and thus the gluten) and dairy products. Those two food groups seem to be responsible pour most inflammatory reaction. (migraine, asthma, coeliac, arthitis, etc.) A strict diet of 3 months generelly allows to stop the progression of the disease and reduce the pain. Afterward, you can slowly reintroduce some dairy or cereals to see what your tolerance level is.

Best wishes to all of you, it's very difficult when dealing with pain and lack of energy to exercise. One day at a time is all you can do. But if you have the determination it's surprising what you can achieve.

Did you know that hypnotherapy can help where you have pain as you can learn to control it. It won't be for everyone but it might be worth a try.

Dippymint

Girl, feel free to friend me... I have suffered with arthritis since my youth and have poly-arthritis and Lupus. I take IV meds to keep me mobile and I am taking this weight off despite all of that and you can too!! I know the pain that you are suffering and would love to support you!

(((hugs)))

I have fibromyalgia and crohn's disease. I gained 70 pounds on prednisone, and I've lost 30 of that so far. I refuse to allow my health problems define me.

Good morning all.....

I am a 55 yr old that joined MFP 60 some days ago. I have a damaged spinal chord that has affected my ability to walk. I have severe nerve pain, arthritis, etc.

In my 60 days I have lost 25 pounds and have initiated more exercize. It is never easy, but if I remember to smile it becomes easier. I recently purchased an adult trike (poor balance to ride a regular bike) that helps keep my wife motivated on her goals.

Do what you can and keep pushing that envelope. Good Luck!

I have a damaged knee (cartilage is badly damaged) that probably will not get better without surgery. I was on crutches and the pain was off the charts around March when I started my journey. The pain these days is around 8/10 days. I have pain standing and walking. Going up stairs is a very slow process indeed.

I started off swimming with ONE leg, because the pain was so bad. When the pain was not as bad, I walked a few steps and bit by bit built up my distance. I bought a pair of Kangoo Jumps

which reduces the impact compression on the joints by over 60%. I can't run or jump without them. They give such a fantastic workout too. I was running 5+ miles in 30 minutes 6 times a week up until the last couple of weeks, when I had some sort of flu.

I also use an Aeropilates machine.

I am 48. Since March 31st I have lost 42lb and 88 inches.

DDPYoga
http://ddpyoga.com/

Arthur's Inspirational Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

Hi,

When I was 15, during a high school gym class where we were supposed to go from a standing position into a symmetrical lateral straddle-stretch, the gym teacher was walking behind our line, came up behind me, decided that I "should" be able to go deeper - and with no warning, grabbed both of my shoulders from behind me and shoved me down. That resulted in torn ligaments and cartilage in both knees and a hole torn into my medial meniscus.

Unfortunately, the degree of the injury was not properly diagnosed until much later - the gym teacher called the school nurse to tell her I had "sprained" my knees; who told my mother the knee was merely a sprain, and as a result, my mother refused to allow me to see our family doctor until three weeks after the accident. At that point, he said the damage was already done - the bursae were inflamed of both knees (swollen & hot, clicking noises in the joints from the torn cartilage getting caught when moving the knee, etc.) and we were told I'd live the rest of my life in pain and there was nothing to be done other than one cortisone shot. Arthroscopic surgery was just becoming popular for professional athletes, but not for ininsured high school kids.

I went from being a reasonably active kid (able to do a 20-mile walkathon in one day, or to bike 60 miles a week on an old hand-me-down bike) to having problems walking even a quarter-mile. It wasn't until 1990 I was able to get surgery on one knee - they took out most of the cartilage, sewed up the hole in the meniscus and told me I was lucky I wasn't in a wheelchair - the knee surgeon said he rarely saw so many things wrong in a single knee at a time, they actually ended up taking photos of the knee interior.

Still, even after that surgery, I couldn't even ride a stationary bike - trying to pedal a couple of revolutions brings intense pain - and I didn't understand why, until a few years ago, while walking, in mid-step one of my kneecaps dislocated and I fell, fracturing it.

Went to a different orthopedist; turns out neither of my kneecaps sit where they are supposed to. As he put it, my patellas sit in a position that makes future dislocations a certainty - quoting him "it's not a question of IF they will dislocate again, but a question of WHEN". In the meantime, sometimes I'll fall if my knee suddenly goes weak; getting up off the ground is an art form. Eventually, I'll need surgery, but they are reluctant to do it just yet for a variety of reasons, including my weight - which will make rehab harder than it needs to be.

So there are a lot of activities & exercises I can't do - or are not recommendable, since we'd like to not dislocate my kneecaps if it can be helped. No running, no jumping, no sudden torque-like moves, etc.

In addition, I have low back issues - which resulted one fine Thanksgiving in me deciding to ease the pain by soaking in the tub. My back locked up and I couldn't even sit up, much less get out of the tub. Thankfully, my dog came when I called her, I latched onto her collar and she pulled me - screaming - out of the tub far enough to reach a phone to call for help. She's now training to be my service dog. She's already learned to stand steady if I fall to help me get back up, lending me her shoulders as an external balance point. I credit her with saving my life; once, we were walking in a large (200+ acre) park, late in the afternoon, no one around, and I fell. There was no one to help me back up, and I couldn't get back up on my own - the left knee had decided not to take all the weight anymore. My dog stood rock steady for me, until I could get myself back up; and then she helped pull me up the deceptively-hidden incline to get us back to the car.

Long story, short version, turns out I have some arthritis in my lower back with can cause pretty intense muscle spasms.

My doctor has approved me to have a service dog specifically trained to handle the above issues as well as learning to retrieve my asthma inhaler.

Despite this, I did learn and then teach Tai Chi for 20+ years; that was helpful for general muscle conditioning. I'd love to swim, but can't fit a gym membership into the budget right now. So we are doing a lot of walking, and I'm working on shoulder and back exercises for now.

Hi!
I've had multiple sclerosis/Lyme disease - it all started with Lyme disease, but it wasn't dx'd right away. Then I was told I had chronic fatigue syndrome, then dx'd with Sjögren's syndrome (by lip biopsy), RA, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, fibromyalgia and so it went until about 5 years ago, 17 years after getting really old & having relapses every year with rehab, steroids etc. I fell several times. I had shattered my left ankle when I was 30. I had surgery with plates screws & pins . Later they had to take them all out. I got sick when I was 34. I had diabetes type 2 while I was on steroids, but after I started a new medicine 4 years ago for MS, my mind came back (it was really bad before) and I got stronger. I'm a very positive person & believe in God. I really believe doing as much as you can to stay connected with positive & happy people. I've gotten better. So much better my real personality & wit came back!!

My children were just 6 & 8 when I got sick. They've never known the real me until now. God has really blessed me with 4 grandchildren (so far) and I'm getting to know my daughter better. My son & I have always been close because he is a lot like me. He's very open with his feelings. My daughter is like my husband. Very quiet & she kept all her anger inside. She's still having a hard time with talking to me like a normal person. She's just holding back. She is closer to my mom & hubby than to me. It is very hard not to take it personally.

But I'm so happy! I've lived long enough to see my grandchildren & to grow older with the love of my life. It hasn't been an easy marriage because we lost 9 babies before we had our 2. Then I shattered L ankle & 3 yrs ago shattered right ankle & they wouldn't operate to fix it because I'd just had MRSA from when they amputated my big toe & part of 2nd toe. At least no more diabetes then! Then in 2011 they had to fuse my right ankle & my left is bone on bone. So walking a lot for exercise is not a good idea.

I would say its been a great experience being ill. It has taught me very much. Pain is a great teacher. Patience, knowing who your real friends are. Most of them left when I got sick, even family didn't talk to me. I was hard to talk to because my mind was really gone. But still it was very painful & taught me even more. Life is not fair - we always told our kids this while they were growing up.

Mine is a success story though it may not sound like it. I've been married since I was 18 to my sweetheart who has tried to be understanding & has taken good care of me. My children & grandchildren love me very much & know me as I really am. How many people get that chance!!

I believe faith, positive attitude & healthy eating really helps! Some drugs help too! So to SUCCESSFUL LIVING WITH A DISABILITY!!!

Yours,

Rensy2
Donita I've been married 37 years to my honey!!

Amen!!