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PMR and exercise: What helps you?
We are told that we have to stay active but what does that mean? This issue became very real for me when I attempted to swim the crawl stroke in the swimming pool. I was feeling pretty good at the time. The prednisone had kicked in and I swam the equivalent of two laps. The next day my shoulders were on fire and I was suffering a full flare; my first. Maybe everyone reading this will say that I was foolish to do any exercise that involve my shoulders and that I should limit my exercise to other parts of the body like walking or maybe biking. Let’s start a dialogue and find out what exercises work for all of us.
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I had the same experience with swimming especially the crawl stroke. The next day the shoulder and neck pain was severe, I feel this was a setback so I may try biking - and will not push myself. This is too bad since swimming is my major exercise.
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2 ReactionsPLEASE Don’t give up on pool time. Try the breast stroke or the same one on your back. No shoulder problems for me. Also, pool walking and leg exercises in water, like knee lifts, leg side to side etc. Even arm exercises with pool tools and just kicking with a noodle. It saved me.
PS: I returned to 20 lengths (not laps) crawl yesterday because I felt soooo good. Similar problems with shoulders this morning. A Tylenol for Arthritis worked wonders.
For sometime now, I use the Tylenol as a stop gap. Did not need to up my prednisone, only took it one day. Have been off pred for a week. 🤞Hang in there.
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2 ReactionsTry water jogging! I run in a “lazy river” ie against the current (or with it, to warm up). I also look behind me and stretch out my arms as though passing a relay baton, and roll my head up/down, side/side, etc. Really, move in the water as much or little as brings relief. I always feel better afterwards. Oh—and I practice stepping and skipping backwards and sideways to help with agility and perhaps rescue myself from a fall. Water is the best.
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4 ReactionsKeep spreading the word! !
Water is the way to go.
Easy on the body!
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