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Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group
Neuropathy | Last Active: 13 hours ago | Replies (6019)Comment receiving replies
Hi, Debbie. I read all these posts about the benefits of swimming for those of us with PN, and I can't help but grind my teeth. 🙂 I never learned to swim. I tell friends that (swimmers, each and every one of them), and they say they find it hard to believe. As do I. I grew up a hop, skip, and jump from Long Island Sound and beaches galore. Frustrated with not being able to swim, when I was in junior high, I asked my parents if they send me off to get some swimming lessons. Which they did. But my coach was (or so he seemed) a disgruntled Marine D.I. who our lessons Hell on Earth (a wet, chlorinated Hell, I suppose). It was around then that I got out of the water, never to go back in again. I've got a few regrets these days now that I've got a little ol' PN (little?) that I never learned to swim. 🙁 ( 🙂 )
Ray
Replies to "Hi, Debbie. I read all these posts about the benefits of swimming for those of us..."
I used to do laps every time, but while recovering from carpal tunnel surgery recently, I started doing water calisthenics. I put the floatation belt on (there are bins full of these things for the aerobics classes) and grab some foam dumbbells. Then I jog in place, do jumping jacks, kicks, abdominal crunches - all this without submerging my shoulders and head. Then I do my laps, but I suspect there are a lot of non-swimming adults at the pool doing exercises like this. Then the delight of the whirlpool afterwards!
@ray666
It's never to late Ray.
I used to swim 5 miles a day. After swimming I'd drive across the street for an ice cream bar and maybe a candy bar. Everyone made fun I drove such a short distance. I told them “you swim 350 laps and see if you want to walk.”
I had to stop swimming after my shoulder surgeries.
after I finished my laps, I used to sink down 12 feet and lay on my back on the bottom of the pool until one day a lady screamed, thinking I was drowning. Good times.
Jake
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Ray -
Maybe I should clarify that I do NOT swim now. I used to be able to get myself around, but today, with my PN, I cannot cup my hands to keep my head above the water enough to swim. I do humor myself and try to doggie paddle.
What I do in the pool is exercise. You know, all the things are easier on your joints and you get the benefit of water resistance. My PT had given me a lot of exercises to do in the water. But swim? I can’t propel myself 5 feet with these arms and legs 😜