So, I have been doing really well. I started sea swimming (well, a little swimming and a lot of nattering) a few weeks ago and it’s been great, made me feel bold and brave. I’ve been having a lot of aching around my neck which I put down to too much head up breaststroke. Today, though, I would like to rewind.
I went to a Beginners Sea Swimming class to learn about tides, waves, winds etc. What I hadn’t thought through was 1 ½ hour sitting on the stony beach before the swim and how much my body would dislike that. To compound things I thought I’d give a wetsuit a try... Okay I can hear you groan! To cap it all instead of just putting a robe on top of my cossie and changing at home (which I have been doing) I decided to do the impossibly frustrating change under my robe - with the added tension of being the slowest and last all the time.
And now, yep it’s the double shoulder ache down to the elbows and agitated hips. Feeling sorry for myself.
I don’t want to stop the swimming - it’s supposed to be good for inflammatory diseases and certainly helps my mood. I’ll give it a miss tomorrow as I’ve zoom Pilates anyway. Should I be resting waiting for the pain to subside or just carry on - gently.
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Enfin
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Hmm, swimming yes, sitting on stoney beach and then wetsuit wrestling, no. If you got cold at any point, double no. Sadly, if is often the case that one has to build up to what one thought of as basic activity. I’m only now thinking about doing pre-beginner Pilates exercises to be able to do it properly after three years, having been super fit before diagnosis. I’d say, let yourself recover completely so you can see what’s what and then have another crack but with a bit more frustrating caution and lower expectations. It does get better.
I would wait for pain to fade. And one thing I absolutely couldn't do was swim (or do aquafit) in water that wasn't warm enough, For me 27C was barely warm enough. And amusingly, I have seen signs on Lake Garda that tell you it is dangerous to go in the water if the temperature is 19C. I doubt anywhere around the UK coast EVER gets near ...
The pain from exercise should go away in 2-3 days. Keep in mind that muscle recover better if used. Only if you have injury, you need to rest. Gentle stretching and trying to increase range of motion is the best you can do to speed up recovery. I love swimming, because if done properly, uses most of muscles and it is not weight bearing, so it is good for joints too.
I've been outdoor swimming recently and find it really beneficial BUT its crucial to not be static and cold. You describe sitting cold on the beach, I imagine this hasn't helped but I think you know this - It's just so hard to plan on an arranged course.
Wait for things to settle again and make sure when you 're start there is no sitting around and when you finish, a fast get ready with a flask of soup/ tea . Take a scarf and woolley hat.
I also do wetsuit and robe thing which works but it is easier if you are wearing a cossie.
Hope you get back to it soon - I love my outdoor swimming.
I would leave a day in between swims for recovery. I would also recommend doing another type of exercise as well as swimming. Sounds like you are doing Pilates which is great and will help with keeping the muscles supple.
My problem with swimming is the cold. I seize up in the cold and then suffer trying to release the muscles. I am a good swimmer but by the time i have got myself ready to swim I am too tired to do it! Last few times I tried was in a very warm environment but still found I had real trouble getting dressed after.
I've just got back to cycling. I have an electric bike to help me get back to cycling which it has. However I am only doing gentle rides over a few miles and I am finding that I need a rest day at the moment in between rides. Mainly due to fatigue rather than pain!
Pacing is so important with PMR I have found and it takes a while to adjust to what is and isn't possible.
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