A Daily Stretching Routine Can Help or The Importance of Stretching with AMN

[SongStream]

From Harvard Health:

health.harvard.edu/staying-...

Having been diagnosed with AMN for 20 years, I can attest I'd be permanently in a wheelchair by now if I hadn't practiced yoga and incorporated stretching in my daily life. You must be assertive in your own personal care (physical therapy, weight resistance exercises, balance exercises, extensive stretching, etc.). Yes, it's challenging and time consuming as all hell but what is the alternative? As I've been living alone now, I am able to be self-reliant with all tasks including laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, gym, etc.....by practicing pacing and self care.

[julie_]

So true, so true! We need to be assertive in our personal care - if we don't do it, no one can do it for us.

Thank you for posting the article.

It has been 8 years since my diagnosis and I'm noticing in the last few years that I've been putting in more time in self-care. I don't mean to say that, by doing all the exercising, stretching, etc,, I circumvent all amn symptoms - not at all. I mean to say that I'm keeping symptoms to a more manageable level. I hope to still be able to do this in my 20th year of diagnosis, like you Steve!

[SongStream in reply to julie_]

Thanks Julie. Some days are better than others but I feel it's so important (especially the newly diagnosed) to be proactive. I definitely have sensed a change during the last few years but my mantra is "(Improvise) Adapt and Overcome" which my Dad, who was a Marine, often said.