Running and MS
Hi. I've only recently been googling for MS info. Honestly I dont know if i want to be here (bec what that would say about me accepting that I have MS - I'm a mess). But I'm really struggling with pain and mobility and worse is i don't feel i am getting the support I need from mu neuro.
Anyway. There's lots online about how people still manage to run with MS. I used to run 3-4 times a week, about 4-6km a go, but now I can barely run two before my arms and legs pain, feel numb and I get terrible aches in the days afterwards. Or sometimes I'm completely fine and post-run I am like I used to be enjoying a recovery. my psychiatrist says I should stop running as I am destroying my body. i know I am in a form of denial (if i can run then it means my MS isnt a thing) which we're working on but I honestly love the feeling that running gives me (I also have chronic major depression and recently battled suicide ideation, again!). I'm also a terrible swimmer so I don't get the cardio workout I want from that.
Anyone with similar experiences? Any insights? And how people with MS cope with office work, esp in senior leadership roles. I am a head of department and I've been thinking alot about quitting. The emotional, physical and psychological demand, along with the MS fatigue, is too much for me to cope nevermind thrive.
I’m the same but with swimming absolutely love it makes me feel alive but as you it’s counterproductive if I have a decent run of health and go back to swimming I’m left hurrendos . I have had to admit defeat to a certain point and I’ve stopped working too with defined me I was a very successful self employed hairdresser. I too feel shit angry and it’s knocking my confidence. There’s no easy way out I’ve asked for help from ms nurses to help my emotional state I’m all over the place
Good for you to push yourself to stay active. I do the PT that is listed for me but really don't do much for cardio or get my pulse racing. I had a hip replaced a couple of years ago due to destroying my labrum so that pretty much shut down that type of activity! one thing on the "can't do" list for a hip replacement is running due to the constant hammering on the joint. I have switched over to a stationary bike as a road bike would be challenging where I live (rural life with no shoulders) and potentially balance issues. I set up the bike in front of a TV and ride away. I also do the strength and balance exercises from my PT guy and some good yoga and stretching. This physical activity is also good for us cognitively. I can sometimes feel cog fog creep up on me and want to stay sharp. I work with accounting and systems, data management and ERP system implementations (Oracle and SAP). Hard to get the nurse types to understand the level of concentration and reasoning needed for that type of BA work ;-/ I also keep in mind that the #1 and #2 factors in MS advancement according to some studies are stress and sleep. So - factor that in and your long term health and mobility. What I thought I wanted once I don't think would be good for me. I am now interviewing for a position in managing "Master Data" which are kind of the gears that are needed for transactions to process but shouldn't be as stressful as working with the actual transactions or the people entering them. Maybe there are other ways to get your cardio than running? like biking? and make sure you don't elevate your core temp to trigger anything (hasn't been my issue in past but is for others and stuff like cooling vests help?). I think it helps when I bike in cool temperature controlled environment. In our new house I also make sure there was a spot for me to have a little personal tub and I can quickly fill with hot or cold water if I need to immerse myself quickly to adjust my temp. I've switched up my work a bit to remove what I found most stressful (managing conversion of transactions or working with users regarding transactions) to something more in the "back office"...managing the master data, the "gears" to get transactions to process correctly. I still find it very rewarding and can do the type of data grinding that few people can do. See if there is something else you can do by "stepping sideways" that you don't consider stepping backwards ;-) and take care of yourself first.