The power of walking.

[monkeybus]

theguardian.com/lifeandstyl...

It's well known that walking is excellent exercise. Might not unleash the endorphins like running but I never realised quite how good for you it is, a neuroscientist says so, so it must be true.

Releases brain derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Likely something traveling in a wheelchair cannot do.

Maybe it's only the likes of us with mobility issues that understand just how much goes into walking. The balance, the muscles involved, the signals going back and forth.

Anyway, a good article. Have a read.

[monmon]

And we know all about the lost magic of walking and talking at the same time 😬

Oh well, as we become worse walkers we turn into better listeners... ☺️ still good for the 🧠!

Great article, thanks for sharing.

[tieaknot]

Love this!

[SongStream]

I can relate to this message and was a very active walker (a NY walk) before and after being diagnosed. However, now, walking is not enjoyable. It is a chore. I walk when doing errands, at the gym on a treadmill to improve bone density for my osteoporosis and maintain important fitness regimen. Walking is even more impaired with hip pain that has further progressed. My advice is to continue walking and savor it. The time may come when you won't be able to.

[easygoin1 in reply to SongStream]

So true! Do you have adrenal insufficiency? The reason I ask is, you mention having osteoporosis and when they first diagnosed my Addisons 30 years ago they said I had Osteoporosis and I also was low on Testosterone. After being on a Testosterone supplement for years my bone health has improved greatly. It does seem that AMN can lead to both Adrenal insufficiency as well as Testosterone insufficiency.

[SongStream]

Hi easygoin1, yes, I was diagnosed with Addison's when I was 17 (almost 40 years ago), and did not take excessive does of cortisone which can be detrimental on bone health. Oddly, my brother who was diagnosed with Addison's at 19, also has osteoporosis which was diagnosed years before I was (I was diagnosed just 4 years ago but had osteopenia, a precursor). I also take a testosterone supplement (also beneficial to bone health. Gents, check your levels!). However, my bone health did not improve but my bone density test last year had some changes but not drastic. I will have to make a doctor's appointment regarding the hip pain and the grinding (and popping which sounds like bubble wrap) noises of the shoulders and neck. As we know, we put out the health fire which needs immediate attention: chronic pain, psychical therapy, etc....<sigh>. Thanks for responding 'cuz I felt so alone with this symptom. May I ask at what age you were diagnosed with osteoporosis?

[easygoin1]

I was diagnosed with Addison's and Osteoporosis at the same time when I was 23 in 1989, but had obviously had Addison's for quite a while and it was only found because my Mother found it in a home medical guide she had and said "this sounds like you". I then went to our Doctor and she tested for it and the test was positive and she sent me to an Endocrinologist and then a few years later my older brother was also diagnosed with Addison's and our Endocrinologist happened to read about ALD and put 2 and 2 together and we were diagnosed with it and then our Mother was diagnosed. This was all about the same time as the movie Lorenzo's oil came out. It turned out through further genetic testing of other family members that it started with Mom. It is quite a story and I'm sure more than you wanted to hear about, sorry.....

Cortisone is only going to be detrimental if it is taken on top of what the body produces, but with us we aren't producing any so it isn't so much of a concern that way.