Yoga/pilates are good, but so is tai chi. If your GP is on-side, this could be a possibility.
Another thing that can sometimes be accessed through the leisure/gym system is excercise classes in the swimming pool. You are standing in the shallow end (say up to your armpits) doing gentle exercises but working against the resistance of the water. I did not go for this - the thought of an elderly Geoff (complete with paunch) in a pool with a bunch of bright young 40-somethings might be good for a laugh (but not for me).
And I coped with the treadmill by holding on with both hands!
I got a prescription for my local gym £10.00 a month for three months. Could go often as I wanted, use all facilities and all classes.
They had a couple of personal trainers who delt with people who have disabilities, and worked out a program to suit you, very helpful.
Only problem for me was there wasn’t much I could do. Swimming is to much Hassel as I need help dressing, and to far to walk from changing rooms to pool. Then there’s getting in and out I suppose they have assistance if I really wanted to do it but the fatigue of getting dressed and undressed is just t much. I proberly sound very defeatist! But unless I’m spending the day in my swimsuit eg round a pool in the sun just find it hard work.
Not that great on the “fitness on prescription” front. They only do the 12-week managed programme, which wasn’t really what I was after. She thought there was subsidised access to the pool IF you do the programme, but you couldn’t do just swimming, or just pilates or something, in isolation. You’d have to sign up for the full works. Probably not for me, I don’t think.
On the foot pain front, she’s prescribed quinine at nights, because I’m describing it as “cramp-like”. She was quite pro gabapentin, and I thought for a moment was going to prescribe it, but then it became clear she’s going to wait for the neuro’s permission, as usual, and I’m not seeing him for over two months yet. So all hopes are on the quinine, for now.
At least she did ask how the pain is, and whether it’s sorted out, without me having to raise it first. Seems Physio had written to her (they didn’t copy me!), and I don’t think she was a great deal more impressed than I was. I think it must have said they couldn’t find anything specific to explain it, which was what they’d said to me.
That stuff has more side effects than most of the DMDs put together.
Yes, it is the standard treatment for leg cramps. it also turned my wife into a zombie inside of 48 hours.
I thought a GP could prescribe Gabapentin anyway, and mine upped my dose on the basis of a letter from my MS Nurse.
The recent copies of the BNF suggest that Quinine is almost a last resort for leg cramps - only to be tried when regular leg muscle stretching exercies have failed.
Yes, she did warn me it can cause heart arrhythmia, so to “Watch out for that!” (Erm…as if I wouldn’t notice?) However, she reassured me it’s very rare. In fact, I think she said she hadn’t personally had a case where it happened, but she was required to warn me.
Muscle stretching has long since ceased to help (I’m not sure it ever did!), so it’s high time I stopped trying to make do with just that. It was one of my frustrations with the recent hospital visit that all they did was reiterate calf-stretching advice I was first given over ten years ago (well before diagnosis), so I felt as if I was actually going backwards, instead of getting more help with increasingly uncontrolled symptoms.
I’m getting pretty desperate now, so willing to try the quinine. I think things have gone well beyond what a few stretches can be expected to fix. I did consciously step-up my stretching regime, just so I could say, honestly, that I have gone along with everything suggested. But there’s been no sign of any improvement.
Oh, P.S. yes, I know GP’s are allowed are allowed to prescribe gabapentin. It’s just that mine won’t do anything without the neuro’s say-so. Well, quinine is OK, evidently, but gabapentin not. I’m not sure what the difference is. I assume she just has more experience of quinine, so not as reticent about prescribing.
I would love to have a gym subscription on prescription! I never thought to ask though I know someone who is diabetic who gets this.
When I was diagnosed I got a gym subscription as my former exercise was walking with the pram and I couldn’t do that anymore. I go swimming and do pilates 2 or 3 times a week, as even though I feel ok now my feet hurt if I walk too much. I can’t manage the machines in the gym as standing up exercise hurts my feet. My gym costs £40 a month, their is a cheaper gym but it didn’t have a creche so I couldn’t go to that one. I am looking forward to changing back to a council gym once the kids are at school as they have much cheaper memberships the swim one is £20 a month for unlimited use, and there is a fitness class one for £29 a month.
I did get a gp referal around 3 years ago to a gym it was a 1 on 1 course for an hour every week for 10 weeks it was the best thing I every done I would have thought I couldn’t do exercise or go to a gym I was so weak and tired fatigue was really bad for me but the trainer was great he wanted to learn all about MS he researched all about it he said if I gave it my all he’d gave me his best and help me, I felt so good after the 10 weeks I didn’t want it to end I joined a gym after I had to fund it myself its not easy or cheap but I try to set aside £21 a month for my off peak membership, since starting the gym I’ve been able to come of my blood pressure tablets my colestoral tablets I even reversed the weak bones I had with taking steroids for relapses and the pills for that too and the fatigue has gone and I’m off the provigal I took for fatigue when I’m tired now I drag myself of to the gym I soon wake up you’d think I’d be saving the NHS money not having to take all those pills.
I can’t do the treatmill or cross trainer or anything that involves walking or standing to much the exercise bike and weight machines are no problem
My MS society run yoga classes twice a week for people with MS its a real benefit
I’m 8 stone lighter and stronger more toned and healthier than I ever was I try to get to the gym a least 3 times a week or if I’m going out for the night I go to the gym first for an hour or 2 so I have the energy to keep going all night and I’f I’m really tired the next day I get back to the gym to bring myself around again.
The trainer explain to me the the more muscle I have the easier it is to get more oxygen into the blood and that gives more energy to fight the fatigue I had a lot of muscle wastage and was very immobile due to loads of relapses I even spend over a year in a wheelchair.
I would be great if the NHS would help fund gym membership.
i joined a gym back in september and initially was really nervous about it, from being rubbish at everything i have now lost weight, gained muscle and regulally bench 45kg i have even ran on the treadmill for a few mins and not gone dizzy but i have to be careful. the only thing that sucks is my gym is closing for an 18 month refurb end of may and the alternative option we have been given are crap.
i went to another gym to see about membership and got told about gp refferal when i mentioned my ms to the person showing me round so got a letter from my gp coming on friday and have to see them in a few weeks for an assessment. its a lot better gym and with the referral i get it half price. The sucky thing is i got given a 3 day trial which i was all excited about today, went down there and got told i cant use the gym till my assessment as they dont know if i can use the equipment despite having my program on the phone, know how the machines work etc etc etc. i have actually been there before too and said everything is good i just want to get on with it but the person today was quite jobsworth about it all and i had to go home with no workout.
for those that are thinking about it though do it you have nothing to lose.
I love the idea of gym on prescription. Unfortunately I’d have to drive to the nearest gym. It’s only 4 miles away, but I’m less likely to use it if I have to go out of my way. We do have a swimming pool within walking distance, but it’s heavily used by local schools in term time. That means it’s only available to the general public early in the morning, lunchtime and in the evening. I don’t like being constrained on when I can exercise. The local leisure centre doesn’t have gym equipment and only does team sports and martial arts.
I saw a neuro-physiotherapist before Christmas and she said she was hoping to do exercise sessions at the local hospital on Fridays. I haven’t heard from her since! I’d get myself an exercise bike if I could find a decent folding one that didn’t cost too much.
Over all it seems that the availability of gym on prescription, not to mention decent gyms, is another example of the post code lottery.
just find it hard work.
its not easy or cheap but I try to set aside £21 a month for my off peak membership, since starting the gym I’ve been able to come of my blood pressure tablets my colestoral tablets I even reversed the weak bones I had with taking steroids for relapses and the pills for that too and the fatigue has gone and I’m off the provigal I took for fatigue when I’m tired now I drag myself of to the gym I soon wake up you’d think I’d be saving the NHS money not having to take all those pills.