Dealing with a physical disability?

See your dr. you should be getting some physical therapy.

I hurt my back almost 3yrs ago and have trouble doing as much as I did before also. Have you tried water aerobics? Just keep at it and your body will start to strengthen and increase more as frustrating as it sounds.

If you are needing low impact exercise that is not going to be expensive I would suggest you try Tai chi. If you have access to a swimming pool that is very helpful. If you have a Y in your area they have flexible cost memberships based on income. Good luck. This is going to be a long journey.

You'll have good days and bad-just like everyone else. You'll gave to work harder, and it'll take longer. So start now, and do your damnest every day!

I walk with canes, and can't run but can use some cardio machines safely. Namely the elliptical trainer, rowing machine and stationary bike.

Because of the nerve damage from Guillain Barre Syndrome it is no longer safe for me to carry plates or dumbells from the rack to thebench, I need to stick to machines for strength training.

Had to get my hip reconstructed a couple months ago and am still working on being able to walk without hobbling and controlling the muscles in my leg. It can be pretty discouraging, but it helps to focus on the little accomplishments (being able to lift my leg a little higher/ walk a little straighter than I could last week, etc.)

I would definitely recommend swimming for exercise, as that's what my PT recommended to me. It's much easier to move around and work on your control.

Several of my bones have been broken in several places. My shoulders are both double jointed and have had to live with the stress of dislocating too many times in one lifetime. I also got into a car accident, and the muscles on the right side of my body around my lat were torn pretty badly and everything around there got mangled, so I have some nerve damage there that causes discomfort and pain when I'm lifting.
I'm also bipolar, and my lifting, weight, and mood hasn't always been consistent throughout my life.

But regardless of all that, I always find myself back in the gym at some point or another. I always come back weaker than I did before, and it's intensely discouraging.

The strength in your body is not the same as the strength in your head though. Your muscles don't know what they can do, but your head does. Keep it slow, teach your muscles to become strong again, you can't lift up a barbell and pound away at it from day one. It's a slow process, and the only strength that matters is yours, not anyone else's.
Go slow on exercises that seem like they might cause pain or discomfort, or avoid them altogether until you've done enough stretching or light resistance work to get them up to speed.
You need to redefine what strength means to you, it shouldn't be how much is on the bar, or how much you can pull for how long, it's the steps you make. Have you finally managed to complete a set of an exercise that you could barely stomach the week before? That's success, and that IS you get stronger, even if you haven't lifted any more pounds.

Just stick with it, and don't use any linear measure of success, as someone who has had to do a lot of physical rehab throughout his life, what's most important is that you can set and meet your own goals without worrying about typical measures of strength. The day I could actually do an overheard press without the joint in my right shoulder popping out and sliding around was a really freaking happy day for me.
You'll find the right mindset.

:flowerforyou: Hi girl, I am just starting too. I have had many injuries. Yet, I know how you feel. A head injury is one that seems like it never ends. I have headaches every time I work out. I have neck pain, vestibular issues and I tore my ACL skiing.

What makes me keep pushing myself.... God and my family.... I am going to keep going to be with them. You have something too. Hearing these stories helped Thanks

To the OP and ALL who replied, you are an amazing bunch of individuals who have my utmost respect.

Dealing with physical/mental limitations is a difficult road to travel....my own story is mild compared to those spoken of here......I have dealt with a chronic pain illness since 1997, it damages nerves and eventually attacks internal organs and May this year was diagnosed with Lupus. I am now 51.....many of you here are SO young and I can't imagine being in the situation of being strong and able and cut down so suddenly......there is so much to deal with.

Everyone has given you sound advice OP....I am terribly sorry that you suffered such a devastating accident but I am ever so glad that you are looking forward. No you aren't back to your pre-accident prime but I have no doubt that your natural tenacity will see you there eventually. It sucks that you have been denied access to physical therapy.....I don't live in America so I can't be of any help in what to do next but others have made many suggestions.

Slow and steady wins the race and I thought setting up a ticker according to the situation NOW rather than before to be an awesome idea.

I wish you OP all the very best. If you would like my support please feel free to friend me. To all the others who replied I send my very best wishes as you continue your recovery, deal with the hand life has dealt you, and may you always find that extra oomph from wherever to continue to heal, train and succeed in achieving your dreams.

You are ALL SUPERSTARS :flowerforyou:

I was in a car accident when I was 3 and the damage that I had (brain) meant that my right side was slightly stunted while developing. So even now, at 26, my right side is much much smaller and weaker than my left. My calves are about 2 inches different right now. Working out makes me aware of just how much weaker my right side is. I don't like anything that reminds me of that because I hate feeling weak, but also my mom didn't make it when we had the accident. I've had a few surgeries because of the troubles it's caused too. But even though it sucked, I was lucky enough to have my insurance cover my physical therapy all through my underage years. Before I left to go to college, my physical therapist (who had been with me almost my whole life at that point) gave me a routine. I played sports all through high school (which is such a triumph since I wasn't even supposed to walk again), and had trouble with the weaker side. So she created this routine to really strengthen me for that. She adjusted it a little when I hurt my knee show jumping (I actually had to quit riding, I was very upset), but it was still similar and didn't take more time. So it's great to add on to my workout routines now! So I would really consider going to see someone who can help you that way. Maybe it was just my case, but they not only helped me physically, but helped me mentally. Being unable to do "normal" things can really get you down. But I loved my therapist because she knew just what to say to keep pushing me, but not making me feel weak. The one thing that was drilled into me from an early age was that I was stronger than my physical setbacks. I don't always feel like it, the more I push through it, the softer that negative inner voice is. Just keep at and remind yourself that it might not ever be easy, but it will be worth it.