Exercise makes it worse: Has anyone... - Functional Neurol...

Functional Neurological Disorder - FND Hope

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Exercise makes it worse

Lolastar profile image
20 Replies

Has anyone noticed that exercise make your symptoms worse. This is the only trigger that seems the most consistent for me which is odd because up until earlier this year I was a fitness instructor and trainer for years. Now I am so deconditioned that if I try to workout they symptoms start up right away, where as before it took a day or more to kick in.

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Lolastar profile image
Lolastar
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20 Replies
julesdiplopia profile image
julesdiplopia

I don't know what symptoms you have. But that is a classic symptom of Myasthenia.

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to julesdiplopia

From what i read on it similar but not the same. Ill aak the doctor about it though. Thank you

Lucy-15 profile image
Lucy-15

Wow !...I get frustrated with my left leg weakness / loss of contro/ limping.....and I was sporty, into yoga, Pilates, dance etc but to be fitness instructor must be even more Frustrating.....

I feel exercise is essential to keep my muscles on my left side as strong as on my right, so yes after swimming or even just a few minutes light jog /walk/jog on the treadmill I limp off much worse than when I got on the treadmill. My neuro Physio got me on a tteadmilll, it's amazing to be able walk on it without limping

Then after resting all afternoon, I tend to slowly recover. For me beginners yoga also helps, Ii have very stiff muscles and am unsupple, but it helps my back pain and alll exercise I manage on 'good' days, helps me enormously mentally.

Gives me confidence, that despite this FND changing my whole life, even with many adaptions , I can still do a few enjoyable things, though at a very much Lower level than before :)

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Lucy-15

Because after a workout i have to rest so much im limited even more of what i can do so it doesnt affect my job. Still i really miss working out. Its the only thing that reall makes me feel better.

Lovelyhols profile image
Lovelyhols

Hi Lola Star, like you exercise makes me worse, I’ve always been told light exercise helps but it leaves me so sore and fatigued that I can’t do anything for days. Like Lucy15 it used to kick in after a day or so but now it’s almost immediately. I have left leg, arm weakness too, dragging heavy leg and arm, falling, stumbling as well as sciatica. I tend not to exercise now which is a shame, it’s like being caught between a rock and a hard place but I’ve got to listen to what my body’s saying, but who knows that could all change again.

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Lovelyhols

This is crazy isnt it. My doctor xoesnt have any good answers of how to excercise other than yoga, but ive done yoga and its still the same problem.

Kosh1689 profile image
Kosh1689

I have the same experience.

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Kosh1689

What is you ls experience like

Kosh1689 profile image
Kosh1689 in reply to Lolastar

More tremors and lose of muscle control.

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Kosh1689

My doctor refuse to understand that im trying to stay healthy by exercising but exercising make it worse. She wont run any test to figure out why? What does your docotr tell you to do.

Kosh1689 profile image
Kosh1689 in reply to Lolastar

My doctor does his best but he is clueless. We work together to create solutions.

Lucy-15 profile image
Lucy-15

Hi Lolastar....just wondered if you've tried the pool? Not swimming as such, just walking and floating in the water. Followed by the jacuzzi or steam room if can manage it....helps my stiff painful muscles a little

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Lucy-15

Suprisingly, swimming sometimes makes it worse when i get out. Its actually scary for me to go to the pool alone so i dont.

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Lolastar

Oh oops i just read the floating part....ive done floating too and floating isnt so bad. Do you mean treading in the water because i still suffer for that sometimes

Chris_uk_kent profile image
Chris_uk_kent

Same problem, I feel for you

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Chris_uk_kent

How does it happen for you

Chris_uk_kent profile image
Chris_uk_kent in reply to Lolastar

The more I push myself the more confused I get and the more the pain sets in from there it's downhill until I get rest

Lolastar profile image
Lolastar in reply to Chris_uk_kent

Diddo

Lucy-15 profile image
Lucy-15

Hi...I've never been into swimming before...but I now find just being in warm water helps my muscles. In the pool I just use floats and the long foam pipe things, you just sit on them and my back and legs relax a little.

We are all different, but at the moment if I didn't float in the pool , or some days walk slowly in the water, Id be in even more pain - as it seems to release muscle tightness for me, so less painful muscle spasms and cramps.

Most of it is mental though, as it reminds me I still have things I can do and enjoy, as I live and work alone in my lounge, it's good to escape the flat too !!

Hope you can find something gentle that may suit you too,even if just on the 'better' days.

If I push it then yes I'm in agony the next day in bed ! It's a very tricky balance this 'pacing' lark eh.

Bellavoce profile image
Bellavoce

Absolutely. I was very athletic (training for Olympics) including teaching (aerobic type/weights/machines). I just started teaching yoga again a few months ago once a week and I am on my a** for 4 days after my one class I teach. What a nightmare. Consistently. Even if I practice at half capacity I am worse off for dayzzzz. 😭

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