Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 19, 2020

Many of you living with cancer or an autoimmune disease, like me, deal with daily fatigue. You know that exercise is so important to your health, but it’s so hard. There’s always an excuse: it’s too cold or hot, it’s going to rain or it’s raining, or it’s snowy and icy, or I just don’t want to. I, too, have all these excuses, but I have a new rescue dog who wants to go out and who doesn’t care about my excuses! And I’ve got traction devices for my boots.Now I just need a walking group who will keep me accountable. People who say, ‘let’s go for a walk.'

And I thought: What about my virtual friends on MayoClinicConnect?

Mayo Clinic has an easy 12-week walking program to get us started! Here’s the link:
- Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-walking-with-this-12-week-walking-schedule/

So let’s form a virtual walking group. We can agree to walk every day and encourage each other through Connect. We can walk outdoors, in a mall, or in the red center, or in the hallways of our apartment building.

Who’s in? Who’s going to join me?

Come on, Let’s Go Walking!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

@lioness

@funcountess . Thank you I use to have a phone by Panasonic Didn't know they had a cell phone.I will check them out . When in Pa I had my Panasonic worked really good for my work since I had to fax my work completetion into Pitts.

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Oh you need a cell phone. Sorry, thought you needed a land line. My land line is the Panasonic high volume. The cell is a LG made in Korea.
What brand are you buying Apple???
My Apple broke during the fire, too expensive to replace, so got the LG.
After while they are all junk and break down.
Don’t spend too much.
Careful the lines and distance with other customers. You may need to tell them to back away.
Never thought there would be such stress going on local errands.
Take care,
Funcountess

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@funcountess

Hi mayofeb2020,
There are plenty of sick employees working. Was in Lowe’s heard an employee coughing, luckily not close to me.
Just wait until the seasonal flu starts around Thanksgiving time, then it will really be dangerous going out.
To report incidents to store managers only takes up your time, as the majority of managers
Do nothing.
Stay well, stay home,
Funcountess

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Depending on reasons, dry coughing and sneezing don’t always mean someone is ill...I do both from allergies! Daily use of allergy pill, two different nasal sprays, eye drops (itch, red eyes) still don’t stop all my symptoms. Just the way it is. If someone looks at me - yes, I wear a mask when out! I just say, “Allergies!” and hope they understand...I cannot stay inside all the time because I have them. Plus I love to flower garden, so.....

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@sueinmn

@funcountess The thumb is healing, but it's a long process - no use for 3 more weeks, except to touch fingertips to thumb 3-4Xday to maintain flexibility. Then 2 weeks stretching therapy followed by 6 weeks PT, followed by months of at-home exercise - takes close to a year for full use to return - as I wait impatiently.

As for the garden, I am now able to weed one-handed for a short time each day, so I pick the worst spot each morning and spend about 30-45 minutes while safely keeping the left hand tucked away. Due to all the new mulch, it still looks pretty good in spite of three weeks passing. I have also figured out how to remove, clean and replace the pond filters each day so it doesn't get nasty - so far, so good as long as I go slowly.

Yes, I quickly leave the main road and head down side streets to stay out of traffic & fumes. The local PD set up nearby yesterday, stopped the big trucks & told them to follow the "official" detour and stay off our little side roads, so I'm thankful. We live between 2 cities & two counties, so no one is willing to take the initiative to put up "Local Traffic Only" or reduced speed limit signs... so we just live with it for 4-6 weeks (hoping for good weather & no delays.)

Tomorrow a friend is coming for a walk in the regional park followed by take-out lunch.
Sue

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Curious, I never saw original post. Did you have thumb surgery for arthritis? I have had both done for that now. Last one about 2 1/2 years ago now.

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@funcountess

Oh you need a cell phone. Sorry, thought you needed a land line. My land line is the Panasonic high volume. The cell is a LG made in Korea.
What brand are you buying Apple???
My Apple broke during the fire, too expensive to replace, so got the LG.
After while they are all junk and break down.
Don’t spend too much.
Careful the lines and distance with other customers. You may need to tell them to back away.
Never thought there would be such stress going on local errands.
Take care,
Funcountess

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@funcountess Wish there was a cell by Panasonic I would buy one . Looking at a Motorola I had one of them and liked it . Apple's to expensive you are right . I will tell someone if they are to close believe me . Last time I was there a month ago the people where good about following the social distancing .

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@lioness

@funcountess Wish there was a cell by Panasonic I would buy one . Looking at a Motorola I had one of them and liked it . Apple's to expensive you are right . I will tell someone if they are to close believe me . Last time I was there a month ago the people where good about following the social distancing .

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Motorola is a good brand. The younger people in-line don’t care about distancing. They are always in a hurry.
Try to get in and out quickly.
Funcountess

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@katiejo59

I have had chronic back pain for many years; I admire you for going forth w/ surgery. I've been too chicken to fix the spurs that have resulted because my back issues have been going on so long. I also have 2 discs that have toppled over onto each other(spondolisthesis)? . Did you have that situation, by chance. I would welcome what else besides the ice that has helped you; heat helps some, not ice much for me. Ice does help my osteoarthritic kneeso don't know exactly why doesn't help my back. I think my back issues arose because of my highly physical work, in the past. I would like to hear from others how they cope w/ chronic back pain. Incidently, I lost almost an inch and a half of body height because of the lumbar stenosis. Also, how does a person approach the fact that back surgery would probably help but have had friends who said they were worse off after undergoing back surgeries.Light yoga helps some, especially the "child's pose". Congrats on going ahead w/surgery. We only get one life & I think I should try the surgery, in the not-too-distant future. What kind of ice pack(s) do you use?

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Hi Katiejo59 - My back surgery in 11/2011 was a culmination of my problems over years. Was an RN in hospital areas that did require physical work (43 years worth). Had bulging discs, ruptured discs, significant spinal stenosis, DDD and yes, spondylolisthesis. Also had synovial cyst at L4-5 which ruptured and bled into spinal cord area, which cause severe acute pain, leading to my decision to have the surgery THEN instead of possibly a few months later. I was 61 at the time. Officially it was removal of the cyst sac and a TLIF (translumbar interbody fixation) at several adjacent levels, L side and R side both, though not exactly same levels. Would have to look it up as memory for all involved levels a bit fuzzy by now. When I started to have more issues in the last two or so years, getting MUCH more severe last year - limping, occ cane use, needed wheelchair in airport, significant pain, I was getting pain management (getting by on 1-2 Vicodin by evening, plus daily dosings of aspirin and ES acetaminophen, ice, heat, stretching. BUT was profoundly impacting my daily life. Hard to go for walks, flower garden, etc. More surgery eventually advised, more fusion levels and I just didn’t want to do it again. So I researched and ended up opting for spinal cord stimulator. I am happy with my decision, it has helped greatly. If I need anything it might be aspirin (daily adult two tabs) which has always helped me more and with less side effects than any other NSAID (tried them all!). I might take 1/2 tab lowest dose Vicodin for neck pain at bedtime occ. Refuse to have more surgery on it for several reasons. As to how to make decision re back surgery vs helping vs being worse off - get several opinions. Remember, surgeons will promote surgery , it’s their job! But a quality surgeon will not push you into it! ALL surgery has risks associated with it, that’s the truth.

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@artscaping Yes, I wore mine out - combination of arthritis, strenuous work in early years, keyboards, gardening & sewing. I'm left-handed, and you're correct, the right one failed first.The surgery is called CMC Thumb reconstruction. They remove the trapezius bone at the base of the thumb, in my case also part of the next bone due to damage. There are various repair techniques - mine are called the "tightrope" - a clot is placed where the bone is removed, and a nylon line is anchored to the first carpal & the thumb for stability. No tendons (anchovy technique) are involved in this surgery, which makes healing & restrengthening go faster & easier. It was in a cast for 2 weeks, now a full-time (except when sitting watching TV) for 4 weeks, then therapy commences.
So far, so good with the recovery - no pain since the day after surgery - now I just have to behave while it heals.
Good luck deciding when to do yours - I definitely have better use from this technique than friends who had the other, but according to my hand therapist, 50-60% strength and 80% range of motion are considered full recovery - the main goals are pain relief and stability (the one I just had done was totally unstable this spring.)
Sue

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@sueinmn

@artscaping Yes, I wore mine out - combination of arthritis, strenuous work in early years, keyboards, gardening & sewing. I'm left-handed, and you're correct, the right one failed first.The surgery is called CMC Thumb reconstruction. They remove the trapezius bone at the base of the thumb, in my case also part of the next bone due to damage. There are various repair techniques - mine are called the "tightrope" - a clot is placed where the bone is removed, and a nylon line is anchored to the first carpal & the thumb for stability. No tendons (anchovy technique) are involved in this surgery, which makes healing & restrengthening go faster & easier. It was in a cast for 2 weeks, now a full-time (except when sitting watching TV) for 4 weeks, then therapy commences.
So far, so good with the recovery - no pain since the day after surgery - now I just have to behave while it heals.
Good luck deciding when to do yours - I definitely have better use from this technique than friends who had the other, but according to my hand therapist, 50-60% strength and 80% range of motion are considered full recovery - the main goals are pain relief and stability (the one I just had done was totally unstable this spring.)
Sue

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Hi Sue,
Now I know why you are artistic. You are a south paw.
I’m a lefty Also.
It said left handed people are artistic, and want their life in order and no clutter. There is some truth to that.
I’m sorry you have arthritis.
Was your surgery at Mayo?
I thought maybe you broke your thumb, but now know it was more complicated then a fracture.
Funcountess

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@imallears

@fiesty76
Hi,
I was doing the child’s pose before I knew it was a yoga pose but haven’t done that in ages. You really have to do it daily. I’m not sure I can get my forehead down to the floor but am going to try it again. I do the Happy Baby pose every day. It stretches the lower back muscles and hips so that is good for back pain. I also do back and hip floor exercises almost daily to keep me limber. I think the biggest thing for the back is proper stretching throughout the day....and moving...whether walking or not. Sitting too lon is not good. Almost everyone I know has some sort of back problems. I don’t but do get an occasional right hip thingy if II don’t exercise due to osteoporosis.
I don’t take drugs for that.

The best way for me to get up off the floor is to roll over on my side , hold on to something and get up slowly. Or push up off the floor with my hands . When I get out of bed, I grab one knee and pull myself up to avoid strain on the lower back.

Walked 2 muggy miles again today...couldn’t wait to get back to the house. Saw a friend and my son in law jogging. He jogs 3x weekly. I couldn’t move that fast in this weather. Honestly my eye lashes were sweating.

FL Mary

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@imallears, Yes! I've been doing the child's pose but didn't know what it was called until just not doing a google search for it and also the Happy Baby. Not sure about the 2nd one may have to ask you offline about part of that one. I agree that movement, getting up from sitting, standing and walks really help me most when my back goes out. If I could just stand still longer, that is often the best but motion is soo important.

I do the same getting up from the floor by rolling over on my side and pushing up with my hands from floor. And again, I do the knee grab to help me out of the bed when in back pain. I don't track distance when walking but doubt I'm making 2 miles most days. Good that you can...and you also mentioned a friend's jogging. Do you also sometimes jog? Impressive. That stopped for me some time ago but happy to hear you may still be able to do that! Laughing at your sweating eyelashes! Maybe that was what kept fogging up my glasses yesterday! Stay well, take care and thanks for back pain suggestions.

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@lioness

@fiesty76 Hope you didn't catch it but being protected and taking the precautions you did hopefully you didn't but that workers needs to see his Dr and wear his mack wash hands and so on and so forth. Glad your o.k. I,m venturing out to Target tomorrow need new phone mine today wouldn't pick up hearing my call so had to remove contact and reinsert again. Its a ATT phone have had problems with it come the get go . I think she sold me a used phone . That will be my first trip to Target will be careful . Stay safe .

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Thanks, @lioness, I hope your trip to Target goes well and you are successful with your new phone purchase. Will be eager to how it is for you in Target with staff and shoppers. Do take good care!

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