I'm currently taking meds for Lyme disease...just started about 5 weeks ago. Before that I dealt with pain and fatigue,and was able to work out 2-3 times a week at the gym but now I feel like I can hardly move sometimes!
I can tell that my body WANTS to exercise BUT how much should I be pushing myself?
Is it recommended to exercise while being treated??
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Check out what Dr. Burrascano says about exercise (the best kind for lyme patients):
I used to think my body wanted the exercise also, but in fact I think it wanted to sweat.
Weight lifting for an hour, with a day of rest is OK. The guidelines above explain it all.
Does your gym or community center have a sauna?
Go slow, and keep the time low, but it will help you sweat.
I use an IR sauna and it really helps the joint pain.
Posted by jamielett (Member # 42657) on :
Yes my gym has a sauna. I can hardly do anything at the gym now. Was doing so much more now I just do basic light cardio. It wanted to sweat?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Light cardo, if still aerobic, can be damaging. See link below.
Sauna? LOW HEAT INFRARED, only for 20 min. max, NEVER HOT like a regular sauna (unless you can control it and let it be cooler than typical).
Heat can cause damage for those with lyme. For many reasons that I can't explain right now. Maybe will come back with that tomorrow. for now:
AVOID HEAT, hot baths, hot saunas, etc. Here's why.
Toasty, cozy WARM is the way to go for most. Here's why. -
Posted by didogs (Member # 40101) on :
I do short, slow walks. My llnd says these help with detox as well.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I like gentle swimming. I did that even before I found out I had Lyme.
Posted by xrunnerx2012 (Member # 39306) on :
I went through almost a year without exercising listening to that little ole booklet... then I started running like I used to before I got sick. I have not felt better than I do now in a LONG time. Whether it be the Rifampin/MIno or the running, one is definitely working. My head pressure is 75% gone and I can run up to 8 miles now. I have more energy than ever.
Just listen to your body. At first I had exercise intolerance... i felt nauseated after running, dizzy... just plain awful. I pushed through it. Sitting around all day is not good for the body. Yes, your body needs rest when fighting these bugs, but it also needs movement or else nothing will change. The body was made to move. If all your doing is sitting around you're not detoxing or stimulating your adrenal system. I took all the baths in the world with the detox protocols and it never did a single thing for me.
Run or do some yoga!!!
Posted by didogs (Member # 40101) on :
xrunnerx-That is great news. Good for you!!
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
My experience is very similar to xrunner.
I am a runner and had been a competitve runner for many years before getting lyme.
For me, once I felt well enough to walk I would walk and feel better. Once I felt well enough to run, I would run and feel better.
I had been sick for 10 years and doing much better - especially since adding cardio back in my routine. On Sunday I ran 13 miles and feel great and no exercise intolerance. It took me a long time to get back to that point. I feel the best detox when I sweat through exercise.
Key things are knowing how much and how intense to go. I could never have run early on when I was very very sick . But since running is in my blood, once I felt okay I was able to start running again. I had a 50% rule when I first hit the road again. I would run 50% of what I felt I could run. If I felt I could run 3 miles, I would run 1.5 miles. I always left space for recovery.
If you have never run before getting lyme and are very sick then of course trying to go out and run is not a smart thing. And remember guideline are just that - guidelines. Nothing is going to work for everyone and just because one doctor says one thing does not make it true for everyone.
My LLMD encouraged me to start running again - even when I was still treating heavily with abx.s.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
I lift weights at home, and take walks. It's helped me tremendously, and must be done consistently.
But I've never been a runner or high cardio person- ever. My 1st year of treatment, I felt too weak- and then got very weak from muscle inactivity.
Lifting weights has also helped my mental outlook (for the better.)
While on any fluoroquinolone antibiotic, however, (Levaquin, Cipro) I didn't dare lift weights, too afraid of the tendon issue.
Posted by terv (Member # 29410) on :
Can you get a prescription for physical therapy from your doctor? I initially went for a shoulder injury and then got a prescription from my LLMD for balance.
The exercises haven't solved all of my balance issues but they have helped a lot with balance and strength in general. I found that some of my balance issues were do to lack of strength.
What I like about it is that it is exercise done in a controlled environment. It is like having a personal trainer. I rarely overdo it but am getting stronger at the same time.
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now I just do basic light cardio. It wanted to sweat?