Jogging

[KMDB]

My chocolate lab and I jogged race for life this morning. That's a 10k done last year and 5k today since being diagnosed with May Thurner - please don't let anything stop you..... I think it's easy to believe you can't do it but much more satisfying when you can..

[Kelmisty]

Well done! I totally agree with you!

[Louisa13]

Congratulations! I run two miles a day with my dogs. Every day at six am and will also R f L. I think it is very possible to 'give up' with this condition but life is a lot better when you don't. Just waiting for my husband to get back from his run and I'm going out myself. Then I'll ride my horse.

It is all possible.

[Hidden]

Good for you...I cannot run because my knee won't allow it...so I walk around 2k every day and also ride a stationary cross cycle.... I believe exercise to be a mainstay in our daily living with Lympoedema

[Bluedolffin in reply to Hidden]

Hey Ronlin77, nice to meet you. I am in the same situation as you. What happened to your knee?

I had a crusade ligament operation about 15 years ago. Lymph nodes on my knee got destroyed as a result, i can walk but i can hardly run. I used to do rollerblades competition when i was a teenager. Exercise is my only way out of this horrible condition.

[norberte]

wow! out & proud athletes - congratulations all 3 of you

i agree we need to do as much, physically, as we can, just need to be aware that it's not aaaall possible for aaaall people

as ronlin has demonstrated, though, with a bit of creativity we can all do something that's more than we thought - if in doubt, a referral to a physio who's heard of lymphoedema for some help with ideas, technique, risk assessing & problem solving was invaluable for me (but i'm not going to write what i've managed to get to next to these magnificent achievements!)

[lovesradio]

Well done guys!! We just all do what we can don't we and have good days and not so good when our body just won't do what we want it to. Norberte I agree that finding physio with knowledge of lymphoedema is invaluable in settling on what is good for you and what is too much, and on building up exercise rather than launching in. I am lucky cos my lymphoedema specialist is a physio with lots of good tips, but I know not everyone has same experience.

[KMDB]

Hi what does your Physio say to do? I would love a Physio that understands the condition

[norberte]

oh, kmdb, my physio's the best thing since sliced bread!!

she's in the general physio service & is sooooo good at taking everything into account, the epitome of holistic working - when i saw the rheumatology physios they seemed not to know anything except arthritis exists on the planet, & i found myself going 'yes but, yes but' while they looked at me like i was a slacker!

so i went back to the fab general one, who can cope with arthritis, neuroplasticity problems, hyper- & hypomobile & fused joints, back & feet that are the 'wrong' shape, impinged nerves, spasm, circulation problems ... & lymphoedema too (& i've probably forgotten a couple of things, but you get the idea)

i don't see her that often, but mainly she helps me problem-solve

so, for eg, like ronlin was saying if you can't jog you can walk, & ninewells said if you can't powerplate you can swim - like that, but very personal to me

with lymphoedema, any exercise that gets the muscles in your affected areas moving is great cos that massages / pumps the lymph & encourages it to keep moving

ideally with your compression garments on so the lymph's being encouraged to move from inside & out

a physio who knows their stuff can help you work out how to do that in a way that's better for you & give you ideas about realistic goals - for eg mine's suggested that, when i can get back in the pool & i've built up a bit of stamina, it'd be good to have a swimming lesson or 2 to have some help adapting my technique to be as good as poss in the circumstances

it might sound stupid, but i wouldn't have thought to do that - i learned to swim 'properly' when i was little & just thought i'd keep going with what i could manage but a couple of lessons is a great idea

& we've been experimenting with the exercise bikes - i used to use one without too many problems but have found that, since lymphoedema, holding onto the handlebars tended to leave me with heavy arms, & i've got no balance so if i don't hold on i fall off! so we've been experimenting in the physio gym with different ways of being on the bike & having my arms more horizontal / up a bit, without me just buying stuff on the net & spending a fortune before finding anything useful

don't know if that helps you at all - i suppose i'm saying that a good physio can take you & all your foibles & tailor-make a programme of stretches / exercise / whatever

but not all physios are good - check if they know anything about lymphoedema as your first question!

[lovesradio]

My physio said to wear sleeve while exercising, build up muscular movement, don't overdo it, try to avoid arm being in too fixed a position. So if I am on exercise or real bike i flex my fingers and move my left arm from time to time. I have been swimming a lot as well, sometimes wearing an old sleeve and glove. Swimming definitely helps as does yoga, but I avoid arm weight bearing postures except downward facing dog!

[Bluedolffin]

I agree. Downward facing dog would be the only time I bend ahead. Wrapping Christmas gifts standing up front of my bed was the most terrible experience of my life. I have a golden retriever who loves running but I had to stop running as my knee is affected as well.