What kind of exercise?

[curiousforever]

I have severe muscle spasms in my neck/shoulders. I also have peripheral neuropathy that affects my arms and legs. I have arthritis in my neck and lower back. I have loose ligaments in my shoulders that cause pain - and should keep my shoulder muscles strong to ease that pain.

Walking too much hurts. I'm told that lifting light weights can worsen muscle spasms - so can't exercise those muscles. Too much activity period makes me hurt worse.

Any suggestions? I'm on a ton of meds -one for tachycardia....so too much activity increases my pulse - and then I feel crappy with my heart pounding.

[debhun]

I have tachycardia and am on 1 med for that. But I have learn how to stop mine when I feel it going on. Knock on Wood I haven't had any trouble for 5 years now I think. I have a new treadmill I am using now. I have started off slow and I can't walk that good from have sugary on my Achilles tendons. But I do 6 mins in the morning and 6 in the PM. so far so good. But I am coming off a lot of meds I don't think I should be on cause of what my body is telling me. I am feeling better than I have in a while. Get you a Big rubber band and a soft ball you can put in your hand and squeeze it to start do 20 then work up. The rubber band stretch it. see if that helps.

Best to you
Deb

[Kathi49]

cf,

Are you taking anything for the spasms?

Also, my NS gave me a little booklet that was nothing but neck and shoulder stretches to help with those spasms and such; no weights involved. You might want to ask your doc if he has something similar. And what helped me was to do them in a hot shower. I also did some PT for awhile...after my first fusion. They had me using those stretch bands and doing gentle stretching again. I wish I could list them all out here and I would...but I would check with the doctor first.

As for the legs and back, I am doing nothing right now other than some hip stretches a PT also showed me. I am just not supposed to do too much in that regard right now. But I did try some piriformis stretches the other day and I think I overdid it. I do have a recumbent bike but am staying off of it for now because of pelvic floor issues. I hope someone can come along with some better suggestions.

[curiousforever]

I take flexiril twice a day. It keeps the spasms under control for the most part....

I guess I'll just start walking a little - and try to go a little further each day.

[debhun]

Just go a little ways then after a week then go farther. I am walking for 5 -6 mins don't do more than that till you are ready. don't push yourself.

Deb

[curiousforever]

Ok. I'll start tomorrow.