Before I was diagnosed with PMR and before the symptoms got so bad it sent me to my Dr. I was in a Pool Aerobics class 2 evenings a week. It is low impact, and at the time I had thought it would be perfect for me, as I need to lose weight, and have a desk job, and NEVER exercise. I will be seeing my Dr. in 2 days to discuss the PMR and see what he says; but do any of you think I will be able to go back to this class eventually, or will need to find something easier, like walking to do for exercise? I was only in my 5th week of classes when I started getting sick with the PMR; but it was so much fun, and with proper eating ( I am diabetic), I was losing 1 pound a week with the classes. Just curious as to what exercises, if any you all do? Thanks.
I have found that any exercise in a pool is very helpful. Maybe you can start your classes again but do not overdo it. Tell your instructor that you must go at your own pace. Don't give up!! Ann11195
Do whatever you can! If you can do it, then do it! There's nothing stopping you except your own pain and fatigue levels. Just don't 'overdo' things.
You will soon learn what and when you can and can't do!
Manikki, pool aerobics is really good, I go a couple of times a week. I also swim about half a kilometre twice a week too. Walking is excellent, as you need weight bearing exercise for PMR.
Everyone is different. I haven't let anything stop me. I'm a 62 year old female. I've had PMR for over 2 years. I was at a total standstill before diagnosis. I couldn't get off the couch,out of bed, or out of the car without severe pain. I finally found a RA doctor and was of course diagnosed and given 15 mg Prednizone. Two days later I felt it was a miracle. I went out and rode my bicycle for 33 miles. I'd always been active, cycling, running, swimming etc. I encountered a huge amount of stress in 2011 that I feel took me over the edge.
I'm currently on 5 mg of Prednizone and will stay there indefinitely.
Last month I traveled to Colorado and climbed a 14,000 ft mountain, last week cycled 50 miles with friends. I live on a lake so I swam across a few times a week this summer.
Do not let PMR define you. Find a dosage that works well for you. Go back to the pool when you can manage the pain level. Stay active!
Hi I find walking ok especially if it is flat and where there are places to sit.As my husband and I both like birdwatching I find nature reserves quite good as hides or benches abound.I even managed to get over a stile the other day. (talked to my brother on the phone and told him for him to ask me if I had knocked it over-brotherly love LOL)
Hi Manikki. Just a caution. Aqua training is very healthy BUT.... I have been in a course for 9 months now, once a week, and fear I may have to give it up. I find it too strenuous. It is a 3/4 hr course and afterwards I am exhausted. Also the following day I am in quite a bit of pain and extremely tired. However, I am 76 and the great majority are younger and no-one with PMR. It's paid for by the national health insurance so I am loath to give it up, but.......!
Tell the instructor about your 'special' illness and don't be embarrassed if you have to give up half way through the training (I AM)😡
Take it easy. All the best fr Constance💐
I swim Manikki. I gave up my aerobics class as I found it too much and felt inadequate in the class taking my own pace. With swimming I can go at my own pace and do as little or as much as I feel capable of which seems to vary from day to day. I always start and finish with gentle stetching exercises out of the water. I think it's all about listening to your own body and seeing how it reacts to whatever you do with it, erring on the side of caution as opposed to just going for it full pelt.
I did aquaaerobics every day mon-Fri for the first 5 years I had PMR - and I wasn't on pred. It was the thing that got me moving every morning. I staggered (literally) out of bed, straight into swimsuit and joggers and into the car. I had a good shower at the gym - and straight into the pool, if I had time I had a few minutes in the sauna/steam room which also helped get the muscles moving. The pool was quite warm - that was important for me. The earlier in the day the class was the better day I had - it was always before lunch. By the time I'd done the class I could move well enough to even do a Pilates class (also adapted). Unlike ptolemy and karen I couldn't swim but aqua was fine - but you DO have to know what you can do and build it up slowly like everything else.
Everything you do in the water takes 7x as much effort as on land so you have to keep it low key. To start with I did the dumbell and woggle actions without them, graduating to using them as I got stronger. Then I did fewer repeats that the others and with less force, building up the actions slowly. Eventually I was one of the strongest in the class. There was another lady who had ME in the class - who did basically the same approach but also didn't always do the full class. She would stop anytime she felt she'd done too much. Our gym did 1 hour classes which is pretty long, 45 min is more usual. As Ann says, discuss it with the instructor and tell her you want to do the class but at YOUR level for the moment to see how it goes.
Constance - don't give up. Reduce the force you use for the exercises to a level you can cope with without feeling exhausted and maybe stop after half an hour - you'll see my response to Manikki, another lady who had ME did that when she felt she was overdoing it. Both will help - and my instructor was also perfectly happy for the people who couldn't manage it all to stop and not do anything they found a problem - a few would go and walk up and down in another part of the pool and then join in again when the next part of the class was better for them. As long as you tell them the problems before the class it should be fine - and they should be thinking about adapting what the rest of the class is doing to fit what you can manage. That is a sign of a good instructor.
Water aerobics is the best exercise possible when you have joint
or muscle issues. Being low impact is perfect and you can do
more in the water than you can do on land. The best rule of thumb
is that if a particular move hurts, don't do it. I went to classes for
years and really need to get back to them. I just hate to put on
a bathing suit. the weight gain from pred is hard to live with.
It's a club pool but if Igo early enough I don't see anyone.
I bet you are not the biggest in the club pool and even if you were your health is more important to you than what people might think.
I envy you Pam!!! I just had to say that! I love Colorado! We moved back to Texas 6 years ago from Colorado Springs. My husband couldn't take the cold, I loved it!!!! I miss staring at Pikes Peak! My last marathon was Pikes Peak 2007...wow, didn't realize so long ago.
I stopped being active, can't find people on my schedule and level, which now is very low, ha.
Once a week I drive to Austin, TX for Bowen and Aqua jog in Barton Springs, the most gorgeous spring fed 72 degrees, 1/8 mile long pool!!!!
you are an inspiration to me!
Eileen and Constance,
Is the water warm water? Perhaps Constance exhaustion is dehydration??? We sweat in water too but don't know it. Maybe a water bottle and drink breaks would help? Just a thought and question I had.
I know we get tired from not drinking enough water. So hard to do.
Oh I wish you lived closer I'm definitely not as fast as I use to be. I've had 3 foot surgeries and another in Dec on my other foot for plantar fachitis. I have female surgery in Nov for female prolapse too. I'm hoping next summer I can be back in some capacity to running, but those issues have kept me from running.
I'm not saying climbing that 14'r was easy. I had to stop every 30 ft, a lot of people did! I hyperventilated at one time too, but knew what to do since I was a runner. I live at 800 ft elevation so YES, this was hard, but I had a brother in law, push me up. Cycling is the easiest for me and swimming is just relaxing as I swim slowly. My last 2 half marathons were in 2008, but my feet problems dropped me down to 5k's.
I believe stress gave me PMR. It actually started in 2006 when my husband died. A gradual mess of stress as I say! In 2011 it hit its peak.
I hope to be back to normal someday, but figure I'll just get something else. So at this point I'll be kicking and screaming along the way and fighting back this PMR.
The water is relatively warm in the pool, but not too warm to make exercising difficult. However, the hot tub - which I relax in for 10 minutes before the course IS. Suppose I could take in a bottle of water to drink before the course.
I'm still not sure I will continue though. It's taking the pleasure away from my visits to this amazing pool. Two large inside pools, 2 outside pools - 1 of which is very warm, even in winter - a normal whirl pool, a hot tub, a special pool which pulls you along (really exhausting!), a sauna and also massive great slides for the kids. I miss my leisurely swim, exercising at my own pace, etc. etc. Oh well!!?
I do Aqua jogging with a belt all by myself. Better if have a friend to talk with however!!! Can do at own pace and think or dream or meditate which I'm trying to learn! But yes...with our struggles, we NEED fun!!!
Pam I am so impressed with everything you do, I feel like I am just lying around with the odd spirt once in a while compared to you. Why do you have to stay on 5mg pred for ever, did you find that your adrenal glands did not kick in again?
Eileen, when you say I can swim I find I can now only do backstroke as I find front stroke a bit of a problem, so I am not very impressive. I do love swimming though plus all the extras like hot tubs, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna etc. Also having massages afterwards when I can afford it.
I'd spend less time in the hot tub - or split into 2 sessions of 5 min each. Doing less of aerobic part may make it more pleasurable AND retain the important exercise part.
But Layne's idea of aqua jogging is also good. I couldn't face the senior aqua classes here - they had a bit as an ad on local TV - the music was AWFUL and so loud! They cost a fortune too by the time you'd paid the entrance and the class fee!