I was Dx w L4 L5 hernated disc and have been in pain for over a year. If I stand or do minimal activity the pain starts. I have tried chiropractor, PT, and injections w/o success. I continue to exercise using light weights, yoga and the eliptical three to five times a week. I added core exercises now over the past 6 months. I have RRMS for 23 years now right sided weakness w drop foot and use a cane. I wonder if the MS is preventing strengthing of my core enough to heal the herniated disc. All the doctors I have seen (my neurologist, orthopedic spine specialist, spine surgeon, chiropactor) All tell me exercise is the only thing that will heal the herniation. Feeling lost, any thoughts?
I’m interested in any answers to this. I can’t regain any core strength no matter what I do or how long I do them for.
I’ve been attending two exercise classes a week for over a year and also doing a daily routine set up by my local Neuro Physio dept. I am by no means as disabled as a lot of my MS friends, I am still mostly on my feet although I do use a rollator so I still get exercise that way. So how is it I am weaker now than I was when I started all the exercise?
Jan x
What core exercises are you both doing? I would like to know as I would like to improve my core strength. There was something on the news the other day about using a hula hoop can help improve core strength and balance x
Purely my understanding/suspicion, so may be helpful or not? (Certainly not a ‘clinical’ explanation)
I’ve heard that MS can prevent formulation of new muscle. Now, I don’t know how true or accurate that may be? I do know that MS contributes towards muscle-wastage and muscle-shrinkage, and I find that no matter how hard I try, nothing is actually building muscle anymore. I don’t have the same physical strength as I used to.
The best I do these days is exercising muscle that was already there before MS happened.
Often, the muscles we already have become weaker through lack of exercise - so they can be ‘toned up’ again but almost certainly not increased.
(People frequently mention that their balance has deteriorated ! I suspect a cause could be the small ‘stabilizing’ muscles that we don’t even notice working have suddenly become too weak to be effective anymore, so that ‘control’ we’ve always taken for granted has suddenly gone!!)
Dom
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These exercises from MS Trust work very well and have definitely helped to improve my stability.
I have a fracture at L1 and PPMS, doubly blessed? I try my best to stay active but recently my right leg is dragging (foot drop) Orthortist in trying a brace. It reminds me of something a Gladiator would use to protect his shin or Robot cop. My stability is worrying I now use 2 sticks, Nintendo Wii with a 4 wheel rollator is as close as I get with a hula hoop. It does make me laugh
Rexy have you tried Lidocaine patches they at least can be put right on the spot? Take care guys, be as fit as you can be and remember to smile apparently it takes less effort. M
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Lenney, I find it hard to describe the exercise I do and I lost the sheet I was given ages ago but here goes…
Whilst holding a bench or chair back for support if needed, lift your heels and balance on balls of feet counting to ten while doing this hold in your tummy muscles. Repeat ten times.
On your hands and knees lift your leg and straighten it behind you do this to the count of ten, ten times left and ten times right.
Lying on you back lift one leg approx 12 inches of the floor and hold for a count of ten, do each leg ten times.
Either laying down with knees bent or seated place a ball (football size) under your foot and roll it, I do this to a count of ten,ten time for each foot.
With weights (I do 1.5 k) either seating or stood. Hold weights at your side lifting till weights are parallel to your shoulders…
there are loads and if you google I sure you will get a better explanation than I could ever give you.
I’ve got to admit I don’t do these and others every day but I do try to do something, I also have an exercise step that I do regularly.
Jan x
Thanks for the info on your exercises Jan, it seems a good variation.
Thanks Whammel.
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