Hi,
I was diagnosed with spms in October last year.
I have been off work since due to fatigue, leg and back pain.
Up till November I was going for a 40 minute walk 3 times a week. Towards the end of the walks I would be limping, staggering and I with leg, hips, arms and back pains.
My constant suggested that I cut the walks to 20 mins, more often.
I am missing my longer walks, and have done very few 20 minutes walks since.
I feel that I got tagged with ms and left to search online for solutions.
I am waiting to meet similar people with ms, first meeting two weeks away, to ask for advice with returning to work and finding ways to stay active.
I feel I am whistling in the wind at the moment, waiting for ms courses to start etc.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
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Hi, as someone who used to enjoy long walks I sympathize. Can I ask, do you use a walking aid yet? I can manage almost double the distance with a walking stick(s) than without.
It might also with worth seeing the Orthotic Dept of your local hospital (GP should be able to refer you), they are great for working out whether or not/what would help with your leg/hip pain - sometimes its down to a change in gait, and they can usually help with that.
Whilst on the topic of gait etc. your MS Nurse (hopefully you have been given contact info for them) can arrange for you to be seen by an MS Physiotherapist - I have benefitted from a couple of sessions with the physio, again they can check your gait/movement and advise on exercises to improve/maintain strength and range of movement.
Hope all goes well with the meet up.
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I so agree on walking aids. I’ve never truly got over not being able to do proper walks any more, but I do very much better with two hiking poles, and using them allows me to make the bests possible use of my abilities.
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Hello @Ethan-Hawley
I’d say I am ambulant and can walk comfortably about 20-50 metres, with the assistance of walking aid/s, maximum a day now.
An Occupational Health therapist can help with your return to work needs and I try to stay active daily by doing 20-30 minutes physiotherapy exercises, a Physiotherapist can advise you on a specific exercise routine.
It is sad that things you used to do easily and take for granted before, are a lot more challenging nowadays but, you do learn to adapt over time to disability brought on by multiple sclerosis.
Best,
JP
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Hi TheresaB
Thanks for the reply. I am not using a stick at the moment although sometimes I think I should.
My ms nurse has referred me to nurotherpy saying they would advise about walking sticks.
It’s just the long waiting lists for each appointment that’s getting me down. I want to get started on addressing issues but everything takes so long.
Thanks again.
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Honestly, you don’t need to get any expert opinion to try stuff like hiking poles. I used one for a while and now two for many years and do pretty well and I’ve never sought or received advice about it from anybody. For me it’s primarily about safety balances against getting decent exercise. I do not want to fall over, and find that the extra stability provide by two hiking poles makes a real difference. One isn’t enough for me - I came a cropper with just one a few months back and am only now on the comeback trail . Lesson learned the hard way! And don’t worry about looking old and decrepit by the way. A person weaving about and looking half-cut creates a much worse visual impression than an upright person with a walking aid at any age.
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Very true. I used walking canes doing the west highland way 5 years ok. How things have changed. I guess I will look them out and give them a try again.
Can’t look worse as staggering like a drunkard as you say 
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Just to add to what @alison100 suggests. I have found that hiking poles are far better than walking sticks. Don’t know why but I just haven’t found sticks to be that useful but a pole, adjusted to a comfortable height , gives balance plus giving me the assistance of some additional ‘power’ to my steps. ( when pottering around the garden I usually use a an old handle from a garden rake 
)
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My theory (or guess if you prefer) is that hiking poles tend to encourage a more upright stance and that makes for a better gait. With a walking stick it’s too easy to lean over and put all your your weight on one side.
Probably safer too.
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Another way of looking at things is to use your 20 minute walk , or even 10-15 minutes, as an opportunity for some relatively intense aerobic exercise. All of us with MS should do some aerobic exercise along with strength building exercises. Would that work - sessions of quick walking and strength building ? Exercise is sometimes talked of a treatment for MS. (can’t say I’m very good at keeping to a routine !)
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for everyone’s suggestions.
It’s appreciated.
EH
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Indeed and in addition when using a pole I can use arm muscles, mainly biceps, to give a bit more power to each step . I find with walking sticks I’m just sort of leaning on it for a bit of support
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Just general chat. I used to be a hillwalker and general walker too. Used to enjoy 5 -10 mile walk in the countryside every weekend ( weather permitting in the west of central Scotland). That went down to around 1km so long as it was a flat, even surface. Oh well!
These days, and like today, I just enjoy being out in the garden pottering around/ tidying up or I will get short walks at our local RSPB reserve . For longer things I get out on my mobility scooter, stopping every now and then to walk around, stretch my legs , enjoy the view etc
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It’s tough, though, isn’t it? We make these adjustments - what’s the alternative? - and sometimes it’s fairly easy and sometimes it isn’t. In my own case I need to face the loss head-on before I can begin to adapt to it, and that’s never a pretty process. We all have to deal with it in our own way, and then do it again and again. Hard work, but the only show in town, I suppose.
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Hi,
I used to enjoy my walking also, I guess I took it for granted.
Whether it was walking to and from work or a nice walk in the country at the weekend.
I struggle with any gradient now. I tried the hiking pole, but it didn’t offer much support.
I had an adjustable crutch in the house from when my daughter dislocated her knee. I tried this when my hips were sore and they seemed to help a bit.
The problem is I can walk 10-15 mins before the problems really start.
I just think it is strange to walk 15 mins carrying the crutches before I start to use them ?
EH
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It might be strange, but think of the fun of seeing other people looking at you wondering what you’re doing! I started having trouble walking around Tesco, and one evening I had to go and get a bottle of something for a present and I just knew that getting to the far end of the shop was going to be a struggle. I went to a Tesco across the other side of town where I thought I might not be recognised, and asked to use one of their electric wheelchairs. I can remember getting to the wine and getting off the wheelchair to get something off the top shelf and two things occurred to me; firstly that I could not believe how easy it was to reach up and get the bottle as I knew that had I walked it it would’ve been a massive struggle; and secondly that it was incredible fun to watch people’s faces as I stood up out of the wheelchair to get the bottle off the shelf! I don’t think anybody ever said to me that I didn’t look disabled, but I could see it in their faces 
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