I’m back!

Tuesday was my first day back to the workout I love so much, the one I am most passionate about, Pilates*

*Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way, with particular emphasis on core strength to improve general fitness and wellbeing.

6 weeks is a long time!

It has been 6 weeks since I noticed my legs were much weaker than normal, since I went numb from my torso down to my feet, since my balance disappeared and I started walking with my feet wider apart making it a little easier to stay upright.

Steroids

It has been 4 weeks since I saw my GP and was prescribed Steroids for a possible relapse!

The neurologist that I have no faith in!

It has been 3 weeks since I had an appointment with the Neurologist that was so rude to me and made me cry! The Neurologist that told me I’ll be feeling better in the spring, that I don’t have Drop Foot even though my Neuro Physiotherapist referred me to be assessed for FES (Functional electrical stimulation *FES* is a treatment that uses the application of small electrical charges to improve mobility. It is particularly used as a treatment for foot drop.) He told me I don’t need the ‘Foot-ups’ or also known as ‘ankle splints’ that my Neuro Physio gave me. I have been told to use these on both legs all the time to help with my ‘drop foot’, because if I don’t I trip and fall! Yeah, I’m to throw those in the bin! And he said I don’t need the 2 crutches I was using that day (because the steroids I was taking make me feel weak!) His reply was that steroids don’t make you weak they make you strong and that is why athletes take them!

Now I understand that not everyone will know this but, from experience of taking steroids and understanding them in great detail I am aware that there are different types of ‘steroids’ and they are used for different things!

• Corticosteroids – a class of drugs used to treat relapses in Multiple Sclerosis and many other conditions
• Anabolic steroids – abused by some athletes and others to enhance performance.
  Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (androgens). They promote growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effect) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects).

It doesn’t take a degree to work out which ones are taken by athletes to make them perform better!

Looking at the huge list of side effects that come with Corticosteroids (the type of steroids I was prescribed by my GP) Methylprednisolone in particular, you will notice it states that Muscle weakness is one of them!

All that information on Steroids is found here What is the difference between Corticosteroids and Anabolic steroids?

Relapse or flare up?

I was told that I didn’t have a relapse which is fantastic news! If I had then they would have taken me off my monthly drug ‘Tysabri’ that helps to stop relapses. I’m so grateful that my MS team are happy for me to stay on Tysabri! I’ve been on it for 3 years now and in that time this last ‘flare up’ has been the closest I’ve felt to relapsing. Before Tysabri I was relapsing every month so I’d rather stay on it!

Back to my workout

There’s always a first for everything! For the first time I actually gave myself time to recover from my flare up, I didn’t go to a Pilates class until I felt completely ready! I didn’t think it would be as long as six weeks though! Another first is that I am taking it steady as well, I’m not going to over do it because my body isn’t what it used to be. It’s the only one I have and I need to take care of it!

Tuesday was my first day back to a Pilates class, it was so much harder than I remember which is proof that I do need to take it steady. It was amazing and yet frustrating at the same time. One thing that isn’t a first for me is ‘beating my self up’ I get so annoyed with myself when I can’t do all the stretches properly. The new Pilates instructor Lisa Perry  kept telling me how well I was doing. I took the compliment and had a little chat with  myself, I have nothing to prove to anyone, not even myself! For someone of my limited mobility I’m doing pretty amazing! That feeling after when my muscles had woken up was brilliant. Lisa’s classes are such good fun. The stretches she teaches are great, I’m sure she adds in a few Yoga posses which are hard but feel incredible! I’d like to learn Yoga but definitely one thing at a time!

Yesterday was my second time back at Pilates, a different type of class with Hannah Bailey. Fantastic! Hannah’s energy is amazing, she puts every ounce of it into her classes and really pushes you to reach your ultimate! Her classes are fast, she qualified to teach PiYo* earlier this year, I’m sure she is throwing in a few PiYo exercises into the Pilates class. If she is then I’m up for it but I must take it steady!

*PiYo combines the muscle-sculpting, core-firming benefits of Pilates with the strength and flexibility advantages of yoga. Piyo cranks up the speed to deliver a true fat-burning, low-impact workout that leaves your body looking long, lean, and incredibly defined.

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