Walking Speed

[Diva1976]

I know our bodies are different, but we all have something in common. Has anyone done or tried something besides ampyra that increased the speed that you walk? I've tried ampyra, dysport and I'm still moving like a turtle. My legs still feel very heavy! I'm still hoping to be walking normal again!

[Hidden]

Hi I was a letter carrier and walking speed was critical to my employment, I tried several things, ampira worked best but only for a short time, after that I focused mostly onpt sorry no magt bullet I found but I did surprise myself with what I was able to do by myself. Best wishes

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Also ps, I did have one or two supervisors who were supportive, and one who used to tell my co-workers " you have no idea what a bad day is , if Robert can make it today, you have no excuse". That little vote of confidence made a huge difference iny self esteem

[Diva1976 in reply to Hidden]

I bet! That was nice! It’s the truth! If we can manage to do something with this MS and another person who isn’t dealing with an ailment, should be thankful!

[Peruzzot]

I walk slow as well, but haven't tried any drugs to help with. I'm already taking a bunch of different medications and don't want any more. But I still go hiking, incorporating many photo opportunities (aka rest breaks). The most challenging hike I've done so far is the Manitou Incline, in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Stairs and I already don't like each other, but I did the incline anyway. It's just shy of 3000 steps up a steep incline. A 3 year old toddler passed me about half way up. Olympic hopefuls use the incline for training. One of these women athletes was doing her leg day on the incline that day as well. She'd get to the top, turn around and go back down, just to turn around and go back up. She passed me at least 5 times going up. I'm slow. I no longer care that I'm slow, as long as I eventually get where I'm going.😁

[Diva1976 in reply to Peruzzot]

Good for you that you’re still doing what you desire! When I’m out I have to have the same attitude! Children are passing me up along with everyone else. I get people constantly asking, are you okay?

When I’m with others they just want to put in my transport chair and save the energy that I do have. I just always think that it has to be something to get these legs not to feel heavy and get them moving!

[Humbrd in reply to Peruzzot]

👍👏

[lbenmaor in reply to Peruzzot]

You have such a great attitude Peruzzot!

Leslie

[mathematics]

Hi Diva1976 my husband did try ampyra for about a month and was checked to see if it was working and no it had not increased his walking speed by enough to warrant them keeping him on it. As it is such a potch to take as you have to take it at exactly the same time each day and you have to time your meals around the doses as well, they did offer to keep him on it but as it had not changed his mobility enough he decided to leave it. He was very worried he would get a fit and not be allowed to continue driving, which he is still able to do at the moment. He now has secondary progressive MS however thankfully his lesions are not active at the moment so he did not meet the criteria for other medication, so at the moment he is not taking anything. He is slow walking and gets good days and bad days but as he has to take about 10 meds for his heart and diabetes he is glad he is not on any more meds. Take care

[Diva1976 in reply to mathematics]

At least he can still have a sense of independence with driving. I’m happy to be able to that as well. And that’s good the lesions aren’t active. It’s the same for me. I’m not on anything for my MS either. They’re still talking of future drugs that may come about.

[erash]

if I walk to fast tempo music, I walk faster. The only down side is I have headphones on and can’t hear my hubby talk to me. Also intermittent pace helps: 10 slow steps, followed by 20 fast steps, alternating. Ampyra didn’t work for me

[greaterexp in reply to erash]

Brilliant idea!

[Diva1976 in reply to erash]

I said I’m going to keep trying!!

[Cwright170994]

I want to get back to my "normal" walking speed too, where I walk so fast my husband, a perfectly fit and healthy individual, would have had to periodically jog to catch up with me 😅 the time when I could walk 1 mile in 15 mins. The time where I could be on my feet for 12+ hours a day. The time where I could get myself onto a counter to get something off the top shelf in the kitchen 😢 unfortunately, all I can do is take MS drugs to provide that temporarily. I've tried copaxone, tysabri, ocrevus, and kesimpta, in hopes that one will get be back to that "me," and the only one that does that is ocrevus.That's my personal experience, so if it doesn't work for you, I'm really sorry.

[Diva1976 in reply to Cwright170994]

Nope it didn’t! I had to come to realization that Ocrevus kept me stable on paper but I could vividly see and feel physically worse. My mobility is definitely worse since being on it! I’m happy to hear that you are able to see different with Ocrevus.

[Frances_B]

Let me see - there's Ampyra and there's Ampyra and then there's Ampyra - and that exhausts the list of drugs which MAY possibly assist with mobility. And Ampyra only works for around 40% of people who try it, and if it doesn't work within the first 3 to 8 weeks it isn't going to work.

Physical therapy and exercise may help if muscles are a bit wasted or have lost strength/tone, especially if you are coming out of a relapse which has affected mobility, but physical therapy and exercises are not going to overcome stripped nerve problems which are the cause of the problem. It may help with developing new neural pathways if the problem is a brain lesion, although not so possible with spinal lesions. but going back to what you were before is probably not going to happen. However, it's still worth doing whatever appropriate exercise you are capable of as that will help slow down the speed at which you lose function.

[Diva1976 in reply to Frances_B]

Yeah I wish it was something that could reverse this! Just as quickly it came about to transform my body. It should be something to transform it back!

[RobbIt18]

hi Baclefin works ok for me. Ampyra made me very tired.

[ahrogers]

I just got an email from MS workouts that they are offering a 7 day exercise class that you can access over and over for a one time fee of $40. They also offer a membership with recurring fees if you want to access more exercise routines.

The 7 day course for the one time fee is only available until the end of March. I just purchased for myself.

[Diva1976]

Yes I received it too! I’m considering it!

[Tazmanian]

Ampyra works for me at least I don't want to stop to find out