Considering the amount of pain I am in and the level of my Fatigue it still amazes me how I manage to do what I do!
This is why I am virtually kicking my heels together, dancing and celebrating my love for pilates and how with this I am literally finding my feet 👏
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Nooooooo! Back to Alarms waking us up tomorrow then! 😠
It’s been a lovely 10 days of DebbieRahRah at home! We both wish it could last longer but keeping Fugly (our bungalow) isn’t free & due to me being unable to work…
She’s such a good un!
Me however, what little sleep I get & how much I kick and punch her in the night I don’t know how she wakes me! Unless it’s for the gym of course!
I just want to remind people that I don’t punch and kick my wife for fun! In fact I have no control and no memory of it! It doesn’t wake me, I only know when I wake in the morning and she’s slept on the sofa!
No gym for me in the morning, I think in fact my appointment tomorrow is much better! I know, I know, is that possible I hear you cry!?
Yes it is… because I’m off to see a man about some pain relief! Yep, that day is finally here! Time to find out what Mr Pain clinic man can do for my back this time!…
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I am a strong woman!
I don’t sit around feeling sorry for myself, nor let people mistreat me.
I don’t reaping to people who dictate to me or try to bring me down. If I fall I will rise up even stronger becasue I am a survivor not a victim.
I am in control of my life and there is nothing I can’t achieve!
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What a wonderful afternoon! My first ever proper group Xmas meal with the Pilates peeps! 25+ ladies & 3 gents!
I was so nervous about going because of my MS and how anxious I get about every silly little thing! As always there was no need for me to worry, Hannah Bailey our Pilates instructor made sure of that! Thank you so much for looking after me Hannah! Did I get you when I threw my drink across the table? That ‘was’ an accident I promise, don’t make it a hard pilates class because of it! 😉
It was a lovely meal which I managed to cut by myself becasue I remembered to take my ergonomic cutlery! This may seem odd to people but I feel so proud of myself for doing that, that’s a massive step to acceptance for me.
I loved how people in the group kept coming to our end of the table to mingle as it meant I could stay sitting which wouldn’t add to my fatigue!
Thanks to Kate King (old *not in years* pilates instructor) for making an appearance! I’m amazed I managed to keep that suprise to myself!
Thanks to Hannah (1 of our current pilates instructors) for looking after me! Even though for some reason she was hanging onto me on the way out!
Really Hannah! Not a good idea to hang onto a wobbly MegaSpecial especially one that was as fatigued as me after that busy busy wonderful lunch 😉
Lisa Perry, you were definitely missed girly! I hope u are resting up and not feeling to poorly now 😐
And lastly a huge thanks to Linda Treadwell for organising the whole meal! What an amazing job u did! ❤
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Today I went to an exercise class purely for people that have MS. This class is funded and run by the MS Society at my local Leisure Centre. It’s on twice a month and I go to it whenever I possibly can.
I’ve been going to these classes on and off since the summer. They are challenging, tiring and great fun!
The class is taught by Laura, a wonderful fitness instructor I know from a class called ‘Forever fit’. This class is for seniors and is on after the Pilates class I attend on a Wednesday.
All of the exercises in the MS class are done whilst sitting down, which means that everyone can take part, no one is excluded from these classes!
Who’d have thought marching your legs and lifting light weights with opposite arms at the same time would be so confusing!
Who’d have thought lifting your legs whilst tapping your feet forwards, centre, back, opposite leg and repeat would be so confusing!
It’s like patting your head with one hand and rubbing your tummy with the other! The brain has to do two things at the same time with both hands, you have to really concentrate.
So let’s now imagine everyone in the room is tapping the floor with their feet at the same time, great!
But then…
What, what, someone is out of time! Now I’m getting confused because the beat is changing. It was then that I realised the lady wasn’t tapping out of time but her right leg had started to tremor and was tapping uncontrollably. Now everyone had lost their concentration, we all started to laugh as the lady with the tremor tried to control it!
It’s moments like those that are priceless, when a group of people all with the same debilitating disease can laugh at it. When we see the funny side to our ‘uniquely different’ debilitating disease!
This is where my other saying for ‘MS’ comes from, ‘ManySmiles’
If you know anyone with MS (if you have MS yourself you’ll ‘get this’), take notice next time you are in the company of these wonderfully MegaSpecial people. See how much they smile! Hear how much they laugh! Then notice that it’s normally at ourselves!
I had a lovely card off one of the ladies at the exercise class today, unfortunately it’s in the car and with the temperature somewhere near 0°c I’ll leave it there and share it with you tomorrow! All I’ll say is, it’s beautiful! Its so lovely that I needed to hug her directly after reading it!
That was my workout done for the day!
Deb got home from work at 17:45 had a cup of tea and went off to the gym! What a difference in us both!
1: We now exercise regularly
2: We eat healthily
3: I only did one work out today!
Yep! What a difference! I hung up my Wonderwoman suit! I said to myself (and Deb of course) when we got back from our lovely holiday that it was definitely time for me to apply the brakes, so that is exactly what I have been doing! And I feel proud for doing it! I hurt more because the hormones released when exercising help me manage my pain but, I feel proud!
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Finally I feel like I’m joining earth again after my 2 month burn out!
I’m still not back to my ‘MegaSpecial’ standard but getting there.
I wasn’t just tired, I was exhausted which meant I found it so hard to ‘cope’ with my pain!
I haven’t been able to go to Pilates classes as much as I used to and, I can’t remember the last time I went into the gym!
I really miss the gym and how incredible it made me feel afterwards! I haven’t had that feeling when I’ve been to the gym for a long time. I guess because I was so low on my energy resources!
Well now it’s time to recoup them but in a balanced way, using exercise to help build my energy.
This week has gotten off to a great start! Unlike last week I’m planning my days better and sticking to my plans!
Even though my pain in my back is gradually getting worse, making my cognition or Cog Fog incredibly bad I’m able to stick to appointment times now. I couldn’t even do that last week! I only made it to one Pilates class on time and that was because I didn’t go alone!
Yesterday’s Pilates was brilliant, just what I needed to help stretch out my back.
I spoke to the instructor ‘Lisa Perry’ before the class started and explained my problems with my back. She then adapted the class to suit the lower. . back with nice stretches and exercises to strengthen it too. That’s what it needs, strength.
Today’s class was even better than yesterday, I felt totally focused and more in control of every muscle! I feel like I’m getting stronger again. Remembering how I felt nearly 2 months ago when I was taking steroids, I’m definitely on my way back!
I even managed to hold ‘Plank’ for a short time, probably about 15 seconds which doesn’t sound much but have you tried it?
Plank
Plank, or front support in Pilates, is a well-known exercise. It is one of the most popular exercises for developing core strength and stability.
While Plank really targets the abdominals and shoulder stability, you will find that plank is an excellent way to get a full body challenge. In order to do Plank properly there must be integration of all the core stabilization muscles. The arms, glutes, and legs are active as well.
Plank can look like the up part of a regular push up. But, in most cases, a regular push up entails much more strain in the upper body — especially in the shoulders and neck — than plank in Pilates or yoga.
I was more like the second from the bottom in the above picture, for the short time I held it & then I definitely looked like the one that says ‘FAIL’ even though it was more ‘success’ than fail!
Then we did ‘Downward dog’ which is practised in both Yoga and Pilates.
Downward dog
One of the most recognized yoga poses in the West, Downward-Facing Dog — Adho Mukha Svanasana (Ah-doh MOO-kuh shvan-AHS-uh-nuh) — is a standing pose and mild inversion that builds strength while stretching the whole body. It’s named after the way dogs naturally stretch their entire bodies! Downward-Facing Dog (also sometimes called “Downward Dog” or just “Down Dog”) is an essential component of Sun Salutations and is often done many times during a yoga class. It can be used as a transitional pose, a resting pose, and a strength-builder.
Benefits of Downward-Facing Dog
If you struggle with Down Dog, be compassionate and patient with yourself; you are not the first person with tight hamstrings or weak arms. On the other hand, be diligent. Ultimately, Down Dog will start to feel so good that you will really empathize with the full-body joy that dogs display while doing the pose.
Shiva ReaDownward-Facing Dog energizes and rejuvenates the entire body. It deeply stretches your hamstrings, shoulders, calves, arches, hands, and spine while building strength in your arms, shoulders, and legs. Because your heart is higher than your head in this pose, it is considered a mild inversion (less strenuous than other inversions, such as Headstand) and holds all the benefits of inversions: Relief from headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and mild depression. The flow of blood to the brain also calms the nervous system, improves memory and concentration, and relieves stress.
Regular practice of this pose can improve digestion, relieve back pain, and help prevent osteoporosis. It is also known to be therapeutic for sinusitis, asthma, flat feet, and for the symptoms of menopause.
Now I have only ever done ‘Downward dog’ once before in another of Lisa’s class so, I’m not 100% sure if I did it correct. All i know is that it felt really good and I got the thumbs up from Lisa so that’s all that matters!
Knowing Lisa, she would have corrected me if I was doing it incorrectly.
It was an excellent Pilates class today, my back felt good after which was wonderful!
I felt really proud of myself for doing so well!
When I got home I decided to treat myself to my old winter favourite, Galaxy frothy top – hot chocolate & decaf coffee! So yummy, I thought I deserved a treat! It may not be good for the waist but according to the recent news it would be good for my debilitating MS fatigue!
Just incase anyone missed the wonderful news about chocolate and MS fatigue… http://mssoc.uk/1NDk5BX
I’m ok with that news!
Then to make the day even better in an odd way I declined going to the gym with Deb and our friend Adam! My reason, because I was just so awesome in my Pilates class that I needed to relax for the rest of the day and evening!
Such a shame I couldn’t go because I was really looking forward to lifting some weights with Adam! My thoughts, there’s no rush!
Plans for the rest of the week… dentist check up tomorrow! Eik!
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Pilates is my happy hour!
So true!
For the time I’m in a pilates class I am that focused I am able to exercise through the pain!
Stretch it out!
My pain is so bad again!
Roll on pain clinic 4th January! Fingers crossed for a cancellation because I don’t know how I’ll manage with this pain just getting worse!
It’s hard to stay positive when your in pain but I try my best!
MS is my Kryptonite & I am Supergirl!
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Today has been about Pain, sleep & running late!
I couldn’t keep my eyes open for long after breakfast, medicating and showering!
In fact, it was probably the showering that took all my energy!
I slept through mid morning meaning I missed my fruit & yoghurt, I slept through lunch as well though!
Good job I had my breakfast!
By the time I had woken I was pushing it to get to my pilates class on time!
I gathered my things, sent the instructor a quick message in case I didn’t make it to the class and made my way to the leisure centre.
I arrived at the leisure centre at 13:45!
15 minutes late! By the time I’d gotten into the centre and up to the room I was 20 minutes late! I stood outside the room where the class was taking place and stopped!
I turned around and took my things into the changing room to a locker.
I’d decided not to go into the class so late!
Instead I went into the gym and used the equipment in there!
Proud moment!
Not proud that I slept through the morning and was late for pilates, but proud that I still went to the gym & exercised!
Why did I sleep so much today?
Have you ever been in so much pain that it drains you?
Ever been in so much pain that it wears you down?
Pain doesn’t stop,
It wants to be felt,
I needs to be owned!
“Chuck it in the F*^°k it bucket and move on”
So my day hadn’t gone to plan, so what! It wasn’t the end of the world and I managed to get into the gym for some pain management!
That’s why I do it!
No over the shelf pain medication can help this pain I feel. I’m allergic to anything stronger!
That’s right, I can ‘take’ anything to ‘take’ my pain away!
1 and a half years ago however when my physiotherapist introduced me to the gym, I found a way to help ease that pain!
Okay, it isn’t for as long as the medication may work for but it’s drug free and it’s healthy for me!
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This is where I am now but I can’t walk well and definitely show the pain!
I’m quiet because it hurts. Everywhere hurts so much, it’s a pain like no other and nothing stops it completely.
My mood is the lowest it has been in a long time, it’s expected when I’m struggling to manage my pain.
Normally I would be using exercise to help with my pain but I’m having to take some time off that.
I started to experience funny sensations in my feet which, over 2 weeks have crept up both of my legs.
Around the same time this happened I found my legs were getting weaker, I have now adapted my walking ‘gait’ to suit how my legs feel. My feet are now wider apart for stability & my legs although weak are also a lot like I imagine wooden legs to be, stiff!
So after speaking with my Neurological Physiotherapist I have been advised not to exercise at the gym & no pilates classes for a while.
It’s time to give my body a rest & not make it harder for it to recover. It seems more & more likely that this is a relapse!
Like my Big Sistaaah of the MegaSpecial variety says: just when we get our lives back on track our MS flares up & reminds us it’s still there!
I have to wear my ‘foot ups’ full time now as well, even in doors! They help me to lift my toes when I walk, this problem that I am having is called ‘Dropped foot’
Foot drop
Foot drop, or dropped foot, is a symptom experienced by some people with multiple sclerosis. It is caused by weakness in the ankle that means the foot drags along the ground or hangs down when walking. People with MS with foot drop are more vulnerable to tripping and falling. Walking also uses more energy and people may alter their gait to compensate, commonly lifting their leg higher.
Foot drop can be treated using functional electrical stimulation (FES). This uses small electrical charges to force the foot into a more natural position for walking. An ankle splint (orthosis) can also be used to hold the foot in a rigid position.
These are the days that are the longest! I can’t exercise, blogging is extremely hard as I’m lacking concentration & can’t do my art without falling asleep!
It’s a good job my artwork is digital otherwise I’d be waking up with paint all over my face! Instead I just wake up with ‘qwerty’ across my forehead!
*It has taken me literally all day to do this short blog!*
This is the week I’m going to make all the difference!
Remember it’s not ‘why me’ it’s ‘TRY ME!’
My alarm is set for gym o’clock! #thisgirlcan
Best thing I’ve ever done and believe me it still isn’t easy! I make myself look at me in a mirror 3 times a week! Why? Because I love pilates!
This is so true!…
Had enough of what I saw in that mirror!
No stopping me now until I like what I see again!
#ishapeme
If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop reaching for it and I don’t mean the biscuit tin! 😂
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Living life the MegaSpecial way! 