I was diagnosed with MS just yesterday and I am an outdoors enthusiast so you can imagine how I’m feeling right now. My main passion is rock climbing and hill walking. I was wondering if there was any one else who has MS but loves being active in the great outdoors and how their life has changed, if at all? I would imagine keeping active is the best thing I can do and although I have had a couple of relapses of skin numbness, I don’t have any weakness or symptoms at the moment so am I ok to carry on climbing? I don’t mean hanging off high cliff sides without ropes, I just mean top/bottom rope climbing on moderate routes indoors and outdoors.
I advise you carry on and ignore the dx until such time that you can’t. Why wouldn’t you ? If it makes you happy (it can’t be that bad, thank you Ms Crow), then that’s best form of medicine. Positive thoughts. Coming from someone who’s shit scared of heights… Take care. Andy
Andy’s right. You’re not done yet. Only worry about what you can’t do when you can’t do it any more.
Climbroxx, I loved gentle hill walking and walking holidays in France and England were our favourite kind of holiday. That remained the case for years after my MS dx. For sure, it is slightly bittersweet when one is having a wonderful walk and always there is the shadow of worry that there might not be many more… But the secret is to not let that thought cloud your appreciation of the present moment.
I managed unaided for years, then one hiking pole, then two…and unfortunately the extent to which a further hiking pole will help does fall off rather sharply at that point! But my MS was b aggressive from the start, so it was always going to be a bit dicey. Many people are more fortunate, and I hope that you will be one of them.
I’m dx 15 years now and I’m afraid my proper walking days are indeed now over (you will know what I mean by proper walking - I still get about well enough, but that’s not proper walking). But I made the most of the good years I had and am very glad that I did. The secret is to get out there and do while you can. A ‘no regrets’ policy is what you want.
I was diagnosed 10 years ago and last month I cycled to Paris from Dieppe. My 1st two relapses have been the worst I’ve had in all those years until this April. Admittedly it stopped me training for a couple of months, but I was back on my bike as soon as I could. You don’t know the course this disease will take. My aim is to stay as active as I can for as long as I can.
Thanks for your reassuring replies folks as its all a bit daunting at the moment. Alison, you’re an inspiration and I will try to follow your positive attitude to it all. It’s sad that you can’t do the proper walking anymore as its so good for the soul. I plan to carry on as I have been for as long as possible and I have amazing support from my husband and climbing friends, I’d be lost without them. Live for the now… Cheesey I know, but it’s so true!
Hi climbroxx, keep climbing and going up those mountains:-) I used to climb but not much since I had children but still spend a lot of time belaying my teenage kids. Been away this week and actually did a climb, just a grade 4 (practically a ladder for non climbers out there) but it felt so good when I was struggling to walk from living room to kitchen in april. I’m in diagnosis limbo land so who k nows if I have ms or not butkeep going, even when I cant do anything great to watch my kids Good luck, froo
Hi, I too have just been diagnosed with MS… with a passion for climbing / mountaineering / hills and all that’s outdoors generally. While saddened with the news I remain hopeful I can continue as long as utterly possible. I may have to re-adjust; maybe a Corbett rather than a Munro, but if I’m unlucky later in life, at least I’ll have memories of what I have achieved to date; remembering them would be a bonus too. Keep going as long as you can
I used to rock climb, just as my first symptoms started appearing (weakness in the leg). I gave it up about 3 years ago (I probably could have carried on a longer but was feeling a bit defeated with an undiagnosed thing going on). I didn’t want to make it worse as it only appeared when I exerted myself, so I pretty much gave up everything physical I loved and enjoyed through fear of perhaps something irreversible happening.
Over the last 3 years I have lost some of my mobility, I can no longer run, I walk with a limp, I walk usually without a stick, but if I know I have distance I must use a stick and my arm has developed new symptoms which means I struggle to grip things and my arm stops working, much like my stupid unresponsive (much like my ex) leg. I can only drive
Fast forward to now…fully diagnosed and was told by my physio yesterday to get myself back in the gym, do whatever I want/can do, but plan, don’t over do it and take regular rests. Being active may bring on symptoms but you are not making your condition worse…so for the first time in 3 years I am going to rejoin the gym…can’t wait to feel fit again!
The bittersweet, indeed, 2 years ago I did a Crawley to Brighton bike ride then cycled back to Crawley. Climbed Snowdon 3 years ago, wanted to do it again next year, don’t think I’ll make it now but there is the train :). I’d rather walk though :/.
Don’t fret about what isn’t happening with your body, do what you can and what you want. By having a diagnosis of MS, I doubt you will ever take your abilities for granted again. Hope your symptoms stay stable and you continue to love life
It is important to keep yourself and others safe, but it is vital to do stuff while you can. An interesting and difficult balance. My perspective for long term and short term planning changed with my diagnosis of RRMS in 1991 and SPMS in 2008. After my initial dx I was told by one doctor that I should not go to altitude or to ski, (far too risky) but if I had not ignored him I would not have great memories of the most sublime skiing to look back on once I was no longer able to do it.
Thanks for your all your feedback folks, it’s much appreciated.
It seems you’ve all carried on as long as possible and some of you are still going, that’s great to hear. I have kept up with the climbing and although I have to rest a bit more than I did before I can still do a good few hours in the climbing gym (way too cold for outdoor crags at the moment). I did a mountain hike in the snow a few weeks ago which was fabulous, made me feel so alive.
I’m starting on Plegridy in January so hopefully that will help prolong the remission times. I’ve been told exercise is the best thing for me as long as I take proper rests in between, so that is what I am continuing to do. My husband is a trained Mountain Leader and looks after me on our hikes and climbs, his support is amazing, I couldn’t be without him. I’ve got brilliant memories of the last 61 Munros I’ve climbed and would like to think I’ll manage to scale a big chunk of the 221 left…
Hope everyone is well and keep kicking MS’s backside…
I had been climbing about a decade when I was diagnosed in 2007.
climbing went from being a sport, albeit a slight obsession, to being a transparent escape metaphor and probably a symptom of my denial of my condition.
dont care. I Love it.
i can’t do the walk ins anymore - drop foot on both sides and use a stick - but I still did this:
there are paraclimbing competitions organised by BMC which include a category for “Using Upper & Lower Limbs (any number) (Neurological Physical Disability)”
in short - NO don’t give up. YES it will get harder but -no-one said tough stuff wasn’t tough; it’d just be stuff and we wouldn’t even talk about it. You’re not alone.
I lost an incredible career when I became unwell in 2012 I was at the top of my game.
I’ve kept a couple of the things I loved and found avenues in life I never would have gone down if this hadn’t have happened.
I am also a far nicer person… yes Bruce it does get harder but it also means more to accomplish what we do.
I broke my toes with drop foot this week and I was so P****d off but I limp on lol … I had a diificult day today but your post has reminded me of the many victories we can and WILL achieve so thank you.
Im just on the cusp of being diagnosed and I’m a horse rider. I have my own horse and I ride every day. I also compete in show jumping etc. Although I havent been diagnosed yet, it’s very likely I will be and just like you, my biggest worry is what is going to happen regarding my biggest passion. I know mountain climbing is a little different to horse riding lol but it still is a dangerous outdoorsy sport that requires me to have control of my body (and another animal’s) and its something I honestly live for every day.
Ive spoken to my neurologist about me continuing to horse-ride if I am diagnosed and he simply told me that there is no reason why not to unless I get symptoms that will prevent me. At the moment I have no symptoms - his advice was to carry on. MS effects everyone so differently that I feel I should just enjoy myself while I can.
Sorry about your diagnosis, but I think you should just continue on with your hill walks as long as you can )
the paralympics were inspiring but if i were to say i’m going to start training for the marathon, i may as well say go back to playing the piano - which i have never done!
Thank you for all your feedback and Bruce, that dam looks like a fantastic challenge and has now given me itchy feet to try it. Well done for tackling it, you have totally inspired me to think about that one for next year! I have to agree with everything you said, especially the “don’t care, love it”, I think that will be my new motto… hahaha!
You’ll all be pleased to know that since my diagnosis over a year ago and due to all your fabulous advice, I haven’t stopped climbing and have come on leaps and bounds. It’s been a great summer of trad and sport climbing and I’ve never felt better to be honest. Spending most of my weekends hanging off a sea cliff or crag somewhere in the sunshine is definitely the best medicine. Of course I have found that if I spend the whole weekend doing constant activity, I will crash and burn with the fatigue for a few days at the beginning of week, which isn’t great as I work full time, but thankfully have a very understanding boss. I just have to learn to take everything in equal measures. We have taken the gamble and are heading off to Spain for a week of climbing next month, sunshine being on the Neurologists orders, so we thought we’d combine the two and see how I cope with the heat and activity.
We even purchased a slack line this summer which is very addictive, helping no end with the core strength and balance, highly recommended.
And my advice to anyone in the same situation, definitely don’t give up on doing what you love until you have to, even then you’ll have a job to stop me. See below…
Thanks again all… it’s really good to have such amazing support!
Hi climbroxx, Really good to hear you are still able to climb. I’m a hiker, a climber, I scuba dive… I’ve just been diagnosed and I’m really worried about how my lifestyle will be affected. So many people keep telling me I’ll have to give it up, that I won’t be able to do it etc and I’m so scared for what my future holds. I asked this on a Facebook support group and was essentially told by other MS sufferers that I’ll probably not be able to go on. Many many people just replied saying ‘oh, I had to give up because of this’ ‘im in a wheelchair now, just be grateful you can still walk’ etc… I just want hope that it’s not over
It isn’t over until it’s over. Just enjoy yourself and let the future take care of itself. The thing to avoid is closing off your options and narrowing your life simply because you fear for future change, rather than because of actual problems that getting in the way right now. If problems come, you’ll deal with them; please do not waste sweet life trying to take your fences until you come to them.
but there is the train :). I’d rather walk though :/.