@lemtrada-uk 

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lemtrada-uk

Rehabilitation advice - Fine motor skill

I had a major relapse 2 years ago. I have come a long way and improved a lot, which I think has certainly been helped by physical exercise and rehab. So just wanted some advice on how to improve things further. It feels as though my left side isn't as responsive as the right side of my body. The different muscles on my left (ie thigh, hips and ankle) aren't as co-ordinated with each other as what the muscles on my right leg are. I really hope that makes sense because it's very difficult to explain my walking gait to someone. If you saw it then it'll be apparent that the different muscles in my left leg have been adversely affected by the MS whilst the right leg is relatively fine. At times I start walking off to 1 side & it's tricky to stop myself from making a circle as I try to correct myself lol. Today at the gym as I was lifting weights (after ages) I was very pleased to learn that the strength is still there in my body. The issue is that my left leg shudders & glitches it way through a leg press lift whilst the right leg is much more fluid & smooth. I realise the science behind it, & know that this may just be symptoms of having interrupted nerve pathways (to transmit the messages from the brain down to the desired muscle group and then return the message to the brain). But surely I can do something to improve those nerve pathways even if they don't totally recover. My physiotherapist told me that repitition reminds the brain how certain tasks are done & encourages new nerve pathways to be created over time. Does a gym-goer or anyone who can relate care to share their thoughts? Much appreciated. Thanks
@Stumbler

@lemtrada-uk , I'm with your physio on this. Repetition is key as this allows the brain to work out what it should be doing and find a way to respond correctly. Do exercises alternately, i.e. good leg, bad leg, good leg, bad leg, etc., etc..

@Noshin

@lemtrada-uk, hi there! When I became more mobile and got out the wheelchair after a relapse, my left side was not as up and running as my right. My physiotherapist said the same as yours- repetition exercises are key- and they were effective. It's still slightly behind the right in progress but hardly. The main thing was walking and being able to balance on the left leg. I was advised to kick a ball back and forth with my sons focusing on the left leg and it helped, as well as other exercises e.g. leg forward squats. Physiotherapy really helped me. It's quite unnerving when one leg wants to do one thing and the other leg wants to do another. I freaked out the first time that happened! Hopefully you will develop new pathways so keep going!! It does sound like you have come a long way- amazing!