Any suggestions?

bethy73
bethy73 Posts: 39
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I am in a wheelchair for a viral neuropathy and Parkinson's disease. Basically what this means for me is that I don't have the use of my legs when it comes to exercising ~ I'm pretty much restricted to stuff that works the upper body.

Here's my dilemma ... I have fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. I'm kind of forcing myself to work out through the pain because I really want to see the numbers in my exercise diary. However, I also have RSD in my foot and recently [just a couple of days ago, in fact] began a series of injections to hopefully help treat that. The injections for my foot are given in my low back and when I get those, I cannot do anything for an entire day that's going to affect my back.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to things I can do to get some exercise in that doesn't involve using my legs/feet but yet won't irritate my back? I know, this is probably like trying to get blood from a turnip,but ...

Thanks a bunch!!

~Beth

Replies

  • mamato4kids
    mamato4kids Posts: 217 Member
    I don't have any suggestions, but I wanted say how impressed I am with your perseverance in getting healthy. You have obstacles in front of you, but you aren't letting them get in your way.your amazing!
  • MrsWibbly
    MrsWibbly Posts: 415 Member
    My sister has fybromyalgia and finds that regular daily exercise really helps the pain - once you are a bit fitter. She bought a dog to force her to go walking everyday. Obviously not an option for you but what I really wanted to say is that from her point of view working through the pain will help - as the fitter you get the less pain you will get.

    Good luck in your weight loss journey
  • kao708
    kao708 Posts: 813 Member
    I wonder if resistance bands might be a way to get some sort of muscle training in without causing too much strain on other areas?
  • raychybabe
    raychybabe Posts: 121 Member
    is their any way your local swimming pool could accomodate you? Ive seen a few people using wheelchairs at my local pool. You can hold a float between you legs and use ur arms, or just bob around on your back and move your arms. Im surprised this hasnt been offered as part of a physio package. good luck with everything, you sound so determined and positive, a much better person than I!
  • LessMe2B
    LessMe2B Posts: 316
    I don't have any suggestions, but I wanted say how impressed I am with your perseverance in getting healthy. You have obstacles in front of you, but you aren't letting them get in your way.your amazing!

    I agree wholeheartedly!! And, I wish I had some answers for you.
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    is their any way your local swimming pool could accomodate you? Ive seen a few people using wheelchairs at my local pool. You can hold a float between you legs and use ur arms, or just bob around on your back and move your arms. Im surprised this hasnt been offered as part of a physio package. good luck with everything, you sound so determined and positive, a much better person than I!

    Sound like a great idea. It is certainly going to be the least amount of strain on the body. Good luck
  • luisabaeta
    luisabaeta Posts: 30 Member
    It's fantastic that you have decided to exercise despite all the obstacles! This is really inspiring, and we're all rooting for you!!

    I am not an expert, but I know someone who worked for this company: http://www.candoco.co.uk/
    It's in the UK, which probably doesn't help you much, but they are an inclusive contemporary dance company, and a few of their dancers are on wheelchairs. They are professional dancers, but they have taught workshops around the world. There may be some class like that near your area, perhaps? It's an opportunity to exercise while doing something fun, and with people who are trained to understand the requirements of your body.

    Other than that, the suggestion to try a swimming pool might really work well. You will burn lots of calories and do strength training all at once. It would probably be ideal if you got a physical therapist to assist you with the movements at least in the beginning, to make sure you exercise in a way that will not cause unnecessary strain on your back, but instead let the water work in your favour. It's hard enough getting to grips with new exercises without the added difficulties, so I imagine it would be good to get some expert help in this.

    Best of luck, Bethy!
  • bethy73
    bethy73 Posts: 39
    I really wish a pool was an option here. Eight years ago when I first developed this neuropathy and ended up in the chair, I was in an inpatient rehab program and they had a pool that allowed wheelchairs to go right down into the pool [of course I had to transfer from mine into one of the special chairs that could go into the water]. I was then able to use those floaters and bob around in the water, etc. and it felt so good!! The only pool we have here would force me to have to stand up, turn around, and balance on a tiny ladder, while attempting to balance myself on the thin rungs and walk down the ladder steps to get into the water. Heck, it would be easier to have a couple of people help me stand up and then push me in! LOL Seriously though, when I lived in a bigger town, we had access to a YMCA where they had lifts for people who were in wheelchairs, etc. Here, the closest one would be about an hour and a half away and since I'm not currently driving, I would have absolutely no way to get there.

    I actually used to have a dog, but he had to go and live with my mom. The vet thinks that he was afraid of the wheelchair because he would bark nonstop [extremely loud and high pitched] whenever he was forced to be alone with me. He went to live with my mom and loves it out there. He even puts himself in time-out when he's been naughty! LOL Even today when I go to visit Mom, if I get too close to him or he can't see anyone else, he freaks out. I did get a cat about 6 mos. ago [I am NOT a cat person] but he will kiss up to my family and friends and the minute they leave he looks at me and sees "sucker" written across my face or something. I spend more time being attacked or yelling at the little furball than anything. I probably burn off more calories than I give myself credit for by chasing him off of my blinds, my counters, my stove, my sink, my table, my printer stand, and my computer desk and trying to catch him so I can put him to bed at night. And, when I have to yell at him because he does things like knocking my big 6-qt crockpot off of the table or my lead crystal cake plate off of the back burner of my glass-top stovetop, I can guarantee you that my heart rate definitely rises. =o)

    Anyway, thanks for taking the time to respond. I want to wish you all the best of luck!!

    ~Beth
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    Hi Bethy73,

    Maybe chair exercises will be a good thing for you. Check Amazon.com for chair exercises and see if you can find a clip of the workout on youtube. I like to see what an exercise is about, before I buy it.
  • Mywifeishot
    Mywifeishot Posts: 1
    Do you qualify for a service dog? That would be awesome for you.
  • luisabaeta
    luisabaeta Posts: 30 Member
    Don't take the cat attitude personally, they are all like that! (I love cats! :)

    I am really sorry to get so personal, and I apologise if I am crossing my boundaries, but is there any serious reason that would prevent you to moving somewhere more accommodating for your needs? Somewhere with a YMCA, for instance, as you mentioned before? Living in a city that allows you to be more independent might make overall life quality better, not just with the exercises, but with everything!
    I'm sure you have seen lists about these things, such as these: http://newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=68&action=browse
    Maybe something close to your area would mean you're still close to family, but are independent and confident by yourself. It's perhaps worth considering.

    In the meantime, a google search for something along the lines of upper-body cardio exercise will give you options, in sites such as these: http://www.thewheelchairsite.com/exercise/ and this http://exercise.about.com/cs/exdisabilities/a/disabilities.htm

    I am amazed and inspired by your determination. There are disabled people or people in wheelchairs out there doing amazing things physically, like dancing and sports. It does make things more difficult, and will require more work, but don't ever think that you can't do it!
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Hi Bethy, good on you for keeping enthusiastic about exercising in spite of a tricky combo of issues that you are dealing with. Without knowing you personally I'd be reluctant to make suggestions, but I wonder if you can get to see a physical therapist who could work out a program that works out the areas that you have good control of without causing problems to other areas.
    It sounds as though swimming would be great - could you find out what pools are in your area, look at who runs them and see if they can apply for a grant to get the right gear to make them accessible to people with a disability? See if you can get a local disability service or politician to help you lobby - it might be possible!
    Good luck
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    The gym I go to has a "spinning" machine for your arms. You would have to transfer from your chair to the bench on the machine, but otherwise it's all arms. One of the managers at my gym is in a wheelchair, so they are very accommodating.
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