Getting back into vigorous exercise

[Surgical_Injury96]

I'm intimidated to get back into vigorous exercise because I collapsed last time I did a while ago and then had a serious migraine later on that day. Anyone else?

[Leaf100]

hi SJIt isn't unusual for people with brain injuries to have issues with regulating.

For examples, it may take longer for hour BP to adjust when we stand up, for us to cool down after excercise, for our body to adjust to temperature changes or changes in barometric pressure, etc.

For exercise, take it really slow and by really slow I mean slow. For example try going for a walk for 5 minutes and see how you feel after. If you're OK increase the time. And, as you walk go gently - not as fast as you can go.

You can try various things and see how you do, like you may find you have more tolerance say rowing or doing something you can do sitting or laying down. Or not.

You may find seeing a bi literate physiotherapist helpful.

You've had an injury that is often slow to heal, not well understood by the medical community, and one which we ourselves are unaware of the fall out.

Maybe call Headway to see what they can suggest.

Not sure how far out you are from injury. I remember about 2 years out I had finally relearned how to pedal and got an excersize bike. I did a minute, slowly, taking the 'start slow' advice. When I went to get off I was so dizzy I almost took a header.

Try keeping a log. It helps to look back and see you are actually doing things in a day, maybe just not what you would have pulled off in your life before.

Healing keeps happening, that's the good bit. Your brain keeps trying to figure it out.

Leaf

[NASAH_2015]

Hi.

Exercise post ABI is something I have also struggled with since my ABI. I had my brain haemorrhage while I was exercising in my local gym, but I was given the advise so long as I took it easy for the first few months I could more or less do as I pleased after that. So I tried at about 3-4 months out going for a short bike ride, and initially felt that wonderful post exercise buzz but that quickly gave way to really bad fatigue and headaches which lasted 2-3 days.

I have learned to moderate the exercise I do. The biggest trigger I can see for me is getting heart rate / blood pressure too high. So if I moderate the intensity of the exercise, and don't try to do too much then I am OK (ish). If I am already fatigued I will stay away from the more strenuous exercise. It's a case of finding your own boundaries. I still work with a personal trainer that is cardiac rehab trained and she uses a similar approach on me which in short entails more gentle interval / circuits rather than me going for a 40 mile bike ride. 30 min sessions in the gym are my maximum now.

That all said, it is very personal, I once spoke online to someone who had a very similar ABI to me (NASAH) and they didn't loose the ability to run long distances (what they did loose was the ability to exercise and lead a class at the same time; they were a fitness instructor, that multi tasking ability was the thing that went for them.).

Good luck with this, I would like to hear how you get on as this is something I struggle with still 9 years out. However today isn't a bad day so I will pop out on the bike for a little bit!