Through my PMR journey which is just over 2 years I have always tried to maintain exercise I couldn't at first but once it stabilised I went back to regular training albeit in pain , I am a martial arts instructor and still compete so I probably do more exercise than most average healithy people . What is the opinion of all you fine folks , does exercising help recovery from this disease or increase its longevity or does it have no relavence to the situation . My joint pain has recently increased it started when I tried to drop. From 2 to 1 mg and I had to increase the pred from 2mg back to 5 mg, still not keeping the pain off I am taking Arocoxia 60mg once every few days just to give me a rest bite from constantly being in pain. What's Interesting is when I exercise I get a couple of hours of feel ing really good but once I rest the pain and muscle fatigue hit hard . Any thoughts would be appreciated . Stay positive all .👍😀
Exercise effects on PMR: Through my PMR journey... - PMRGCAuk
Exercise effects on PMR
Hi gaz, I admire your determination to keep training and understand the initial feel good factor. The trouble is that Pred is only controlling the inflammation of PMR and by the sounds of it for you it is still active underneath. Our muscles take far longer to recover from exercise than they would normally. What we have is a disease of the blood vessels that of course feed all the muscle groups. It is a bit like doing a vigorous workout whilst on painkillers, you really pay for it later.
You need a form of exercise that keeps you flexible enough for the happy day when you can properly resume your normal life. You also need to pace yourself and build up a gradual programme of activity. Kind of the opposite of tapering your Pred. Walking on the flat, swimming, Pilates are good areas to begin. You don't want to derail your great progress by being impatient. I bet Tai Chi would be good for you with your martial arts expertise - building strength and stability without the pain which is your body's way of warning you.
This is probably a bit of a cheek coming from a cuddly granny who has never experienced your level of fitness and command over your body but sometimes your drive and determination can be your enemy. The life lesson here is meditation and patience. Go well!
Hi Gaz,
Agree with SJ, you're probably trying to do too much for your current situation. Gentle exercise is good, but not repetive circuit training type nor endurance type - your body just can't cope. I've never done martial arts, but can imagine that and the associated training is very demanding. Plus I think if you were very fit pre PMR then you expect to be able to carry on as before, whereas us more sedentary souls are quite happy to plod!
Although you may not want to, it might be sensible to cut back a little on your competitions for a while - give your body a chance to recover.
Your comment about the pain and fatigue shouts to me - you're doing too much!
Plus, as you seem to be worse at the moment, it would indicate you have gone below YOUR level of Pred, and are having a flare. If so, then the most important thing is to get things back under control pronto!
Two years in your PMR is still active, so you still need to heed the warning signs, and slow down on your tapering, and pace yourself a little better. You know it makes sense😉
Good luck
SJ & Dorset lady , I know you are both right with your replies. With martial arts being my occupation and life passion it's very difficult to step away even for a short period, I probably don't train with the intensity that I used to purely because I can't , as you know once that fatigue takes control you become pretty much a couch vegetable, I do anyway . I will try to take onboard what you have both reinforced in my head but I have a crazy competitive nature which at times has been my savour, but as I get older maybe not so . Thanks both for your words , it might just open my eyes .
A competitive nature is not the problem - the problem is listening to your "sensible" head. All done it! But some of us learn quicker than others😉
Very wise words 👍😀
Exercise is good - too much is not. And that is really about all that can be said. Most of the amateur athletes I have met on the forums reckon they can manage about 70% of their previous level. If you go here
pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk/st...
you can read John Robson's story - a firefighter, runner and mountain climber when PMR struck he was in a wheelchair for a while but is back to climbing mountains and long distance running. It all depends on how you go about it.
Your muscles are intolerant of acute exercise - but it is still possible to build it up by training - but the training must be far far slower than you are used to. If you over do a session, you develop DOMS that may take days, even weeks, to recover from - go about it more slowly and you will still get there, just a bit later.
More very wise words PMR pro , thanks for the input I am just about to check the link out 👍😀
Thanks PMRpro for that article! It hit home, as I am a 54 yo female fire officer in Seattle. I was diagnosed at the end of Oct. 2018, and had been suffering with the same issues John had, as a matter of fact, Jan 31, I had my left knee replaced, and at first I thought my issues surfaced because of the surgery... I am a glass is half full person, and am constantly pushing the physical boundaries… I've learned to slow down with my workouts, make sure I get adequate sleep, and keep the stress down to a minimum. Yes I would totally agree, it's not that you can't workout, it just needs to be different perhaps than what you've done in the past, and more controlled, so as not to over do.
Pleased you have got to that degree of acceptance - I strongly believe it helps a lot.
The other day I got a call from the gym which I had signed up for before they even built the building it is housed in.I had been paying (it's subsidized by the city and it's right across the street from me) since it opened last in December. They called to ask why I hadn't gone to the gym at all since it opened, that there were lots of people on the wait list for membership.
Anyway, I decided to go, swimming kind of puts me off, i find I waste a lot of energy, getting dressed and undressed, so I decided to do the rowing machine ( quite unusual a gym has one these days, but here, there were 4 in a row.
I did 10 min and could have gone longer,as I had no pain whatsoever.But I didn't want to risk DOMS, so I stopped.I stretched afterwards and felt great till the following morning when DOMS hit me hard. I figure that after not working the muscles for over a year, I would have got the DOMS without having PMR.
N pain, no gain,I guess😰
PS, My son, a chiropractor and a body builder has recommended L Argenine for both my BP and fatigue.It is supposed to lower BP considerably and to stimulate growth hormone production and improve fatigue.Not sure if it'll do anything yet, as I have just started, but it's worth a try, I think.
I found using the pool not too bad: I put my swimsuit on at home (straight out of bed) and jogging bottoms and t-shirt. I showered at the pool when I got there. Afterwards I took my swimsuit off and wrapped myself in a big towel to dry (bathrobe is even better). Then jogging bottoms and t-shirt to go home. And aquafit class a day at my level kept me upright and mobile for the 5 years I had PMR without pred.
I'm going to try your method.. I actually never had any problems with dressing ..it was just the fatigue..just thinking about getting dressed made me tired! My fatigue, however, seems to be decreasing so I'll give the jogging bottoms and t shirt a try.🏊
I would crawl out of bed - remember, this was totally untreated PMR - and struggle to the gym solely because I knew once I had finished my aquafit class I would be able to move. Some days I then did Pilates or yoga. Knowing how you will feel afterwards does encourage you!
I believe L Argenine is a branch chain amino acid and yes they are supposed to help athletes recover from hard work out and help produce lean muscle growth . I have just purchased Some BCAA's in powder form which mixes into water to use before and after exercise , I will let you all know how it goes with regards to the fatigue and recovery 👍
And I will report it's efficacy on BP ..I discovered that it is one of the active ingredients of a BP med that ends in "pril" so it must work lowering BP. . Although now that I've started exercising, it seems I have my BP under control with no medication. Fingers crossed.
L Argenine is also used for cardiac conditions - it is supposed to help bring oxygen to the muscles ..so should be good for PMR, I should think.
Hi there, would you like to take part in an online focus group discussion held 17/7/23 from 1730-1830hrs. This project is funded by PMRGCAUK. The chief investigator is Dr Anne O'Brien who works in the University of Keele. I am the research assistant on this project - Dr S Eng. DM me if you are interested . And well done on keeping up with the exercises.
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