I've just been diagnosed with high blood pressure. I also have osteo-arthritis and polymyalgia and moving is extremely challenging - difficult and painful. My brain has one over-riding thought: "if I don't move it won't hurt". I could really do with some help to overcome this massive hurdle, and I'm slower than a slug when I do walk, so joining others isn't an option. I know all the things I should and shouldn't do, but it's not been possible to override the decades of this one thought, however much I know I should. Any ideas very welcome!
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MollyM1
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What about swimming Molly? Let the water support your weight and keep the strain off your joints, but still you can exercise as hard (or as easy) as you like.
I've been looking for a pool that's not quite as cold as the leisure centre and I'll be trying one out next week. There are some other disincentives like the sock and shoe put-on devices needed to get dressed, the tendency to athletes foot (not being able to reach my feet to dry them doesn't help) and, last but not not least, I can't swim. But I'll try hard with this one because I discovered snorkelling and coral reefs a few years ago (with a floatie vest and a lot of help) and it would be magical to be able to do that again!
Yes I am not strong enough to swim but I walk up and down the pool . I have built up to 20 mins now and when I started I could only do 1 min .its really helped
Some places have classes that are like aerobics but are done in the swimming pool, maybe you could into them and also ask are here classes for people with disabilities.
The water holds your weight but also create a soft barrier that helps work your muscles and helps them to strengthen.
Thank you jimmyjimmy. I'm hoping my hydrotherapy trial next week will be the start of this; it took a lot of searching but I've managed to find one where you can self refer, pay a few £s and the water is a bit warmer than a normal pool.
Cardiac rehab classes (stage 4) are not only for those with heart problems. You can be referred by your GP due to high blood pressure (at least you can to the one I go to) I have been going for 2 years now and, although it's obviously good for my heart problems, it has also helped my arthritis (osteo and inflammatory). I have much better mobility through building some muscle around joints. You are not pushed further than you are able to cope with. Might be worth a go?
Perhaps surprisingly, the experts say lack of exercise worsens arthritis pain, and exercise is actually good for arthritic joints. I can see it's hard to put this into practice when moving is painful.
I would start slow - the water walking / chair yoga looked gentle, but any movement is better than none. Do you need to lose weight? That can also help with blood pressure, as does salt reduction.
You could give Shibashi a try. You don't have to go out, it's very gentle and easy to learn. It takes about 20 minutes. Just follow the video: youtube.com/watch?reload=9&...
"Trust Me I'm A Doctor" found that it gave a good workout without strain or pain. My tutor says it can be done every day.
I haven't heard of this before, although I have a friend 50 miles away who is devoted to Tai chi and also says it gives a good but gentle workout. I also hadn't thought of doing something like this using you tube, so a double thank you jimmyq.
In our local council run leisure centre we have a room called the Feelgood Factory which is full of pieces of equipment that do the work for you. You lie/sit on them and they move you rather than the other way around and apparently are very beneficial to folk like yourself who find it painful to move. It may be worth looking into.
I've had fibromyalgia for 30 years for which exercise really does help. I coped with hat but 19 yrs ago developed trapped nerves which have got worse as my spine nas disintegrateed. I am now in constant, svere pain. After my HA I was refered for cardiac rehab and was very willing to try despite now using a wheelchair. Sadly all I got from the rehab nurse was "Oh you wouldn't be able to do that". I am absolutely furious. NO one knows what I will be able to do unless I try but I just can't get any further with them. I am afraid to do it without support but I've been 6 months now since the HA, just slowly pottering around the house. You are not alone. I can't go swimming , 1 because i can't swim and hate water and 2 because I can no longer lift my mobility scooter out of the car and have no one to help me. There surely must be cardio exe4rcise tat can be done at home or while seated?
Dear Qualipop, I too am furious that you haven't got the support that you clearly need, and very sad to hear of your problems. This is my first time on this website and already I'm overwhelmed by the helpful suggestions that people have made above - they are all about very gentle exercises that can mostly be done at home, some seated - might some of these help you? For me it's difficult to get motivated to start, but the online support above (and the sunshine today :-)) have made me determined to start gently today.
There must surely be more help available for your mobility issues and I hope you find it, maybe via this website?
I hope things improve for you soon, good luck! And by the way, I love your screen name!
OH believe me, complaints have been made and my GP has written to eh cardiologist who organises the rehab. I don't know if i just got a very unhelpful nurse or one who just doesn't understand my condition. Yes it hurts like h*** to exercise, I can't remain standing more then about 5 minutes before the pain gets unbearable and also have problems with one shoulder so I can no longer use my wheelchair- hence the scooterbut they can't t ell me it's impossible. I heard on here of someone doing exercise at home that was planned by a crdio team so I know it can be done. Yes this site is amazing with so many helpful people who have all gone through it.
Oh thank you so much for that. I don't know if I will manage them. The main problem is needing some sort of support to know I'm doing hem right and ot overdoing things. Security blanket sort of but that's a real help.
I had seen the yoga ones and can't do any of them because of my spine (no bending or twisting)but I can certainly do the chair exercises.
My knee hurt so bad last year that I bought a recumbent exercise bike. At first my knee was so stiff that I couldnt even make one revolution with the seat as far back as it would go! Now, Im able to scoot the seat closer and ride around 7 miles in 30 min and added a little resistance. My pain is much less now. I still have the arthritis but can get around easier.
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