kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
Dr.B thinks that we can not get well unless we are exercising. Having said that, it needs to be graded exercise. Starting with anaerobic exercise and building up to aerobic. I know it was in his 2002 guidelines, I don't remember if it is in his newer version. Check the newbies link.
But being in a pool is very beneficial. Just go slow. Maybe instead of trying to do multiple laps try just being in the shallow end and walk. The idea is not to do so much as to cause a crash. There are great water exercises that can be modified to not be aerobic but still be beneficial.
For me, I just started exercising. I started at 5 minutes every other day. Bottom line, just go slow.
Best, Karen
Posts: 1844 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
I cannot address how exercise would affect your lesions...sorry.
I do know that Dr. B recommends against aerobic exercise until almost well.
I will say, that I was a very athletic person, doing many strenuous athletic events before getting lyme.
As the lyme hit me (and I didn't know what it was for a long time), I continued to exercise as much as I could. But, it got to the point where a 10 minute slow walk on the treadmill was all I could do.
But, I did it anyway. And I still do. Since exercise was such a huge part of my life before, I refused to give it up....so I just did small amounts. It was good for my mental health to do even a little.
I swim too. At times, it was only for 10 minutes. Now I can swim for half an hour. I do it slowly, and don't exert myself, but it feels good to do something!
I would ask your LLMD what he thinks. If he gives the OK, then do a little...what feels good. Don't overdo. And rest on the days inbetween.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
You want to stay below the point of causing a reaction from the exercise. So, you need to start small and build up gradually to see where that is.
My doctor also tells me not to do "aerobic" exercise. Of course, we are alwys aerobic to some degree !! So, I know, these general statements arent too helpful.
Im not a swimmer, I walk, so I dont know how it is, if you can swim "slow", to keep your heart rate not to much higher than it normally is. Maybe breast stroke or side stroke ? You might want to have one lap, then see in the next day or two if you reacted. If so--it was too much.
As far as walking in the water, to push against the water, this creates more resistance than walking on land, and the water in this case is not helping to hold weight and reduce strain. But it is less aerobic than swimming, in that you can do it slower. It is the heart rate up aerobic that causes the most problems. I think walking in the water would be good, but you should try the same distance on land first (one lap), because it is less work. Then, if no bad reaction after a day or two, go to the water, walk one lap, see what happens.
I have alsways kept walking and have laately started strenght building exercises. And, I am feeling bad, possibly from that. It is hard to find out where to start and how much, but youve got to try.
Personally, if I am only brain foggy for an hour or two after a long walk, I feel successful. But I dont do it to that point often cause we're not supposed to. But, sometimes it just seems worth it, to get out into nature, and do a real walk with teh dog or a friend. (dont tell my LLMD )
Posts: 222 | From Santa Cruz Mountains, CA USA | Registered: Nov 2004
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I was also very athletic before Lyme. I was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia for a very long time, and told to push aerobic exercise.
I pushed too hard, making myself do long routines with tears pouring down my face. I had to take a drug to slow my heart down and narcotics to do the aerobics. That should have been my first clue that I was damaging my heart, but my doctor thought FMS patients should do whatever was needed to be able to do aerobics and get oxygen into their muscles.
Every time I had a bad flare, I would have to start all over and rebuild slowly. I now know I really had Lyme, and should not have pushed so hard and exercised six days per week.
I have painful lumbar stenosis causd by the treadmill, 3 leaking heart valves, and 2 electrical heart conduction disorders.
Now, I go slowly, exercise 3 days per week, and stop when I feel exhaustion creeping in. I never go more than 45 mins. at one time, and I lower or raise the treadmill speed according to how I feel.
I keep hearing how good anerobic exercise is for Lymies, but the pain is unbearable for me. I have lifted small weights for ten yrs. now and never been able to do more than a five minute routine....and that still hurts.
Aerobics is what makes me feel better. I sleep better and am less depressed. I also feel it helps my thyroid function better. Aerobics is what keeps your heart healthy too.
However, do not fool yourself about weight and aerobics. To lose weight by aerobic exercising, you would need to do vigorous exercise for 90 minutes per day, six days per week. Swimming has been shown to cause no weight loss at all,though it is good for your joints.
Aerobics are great for your heart though, and those of us who gained a ton of weight when we got Lyme, including me, have higher risk of heart disease.
Anerobics is the key to helping with weight. If you can build muscle by weight lifting, those muscles will burn fat, even when you are just sitting around.
Good luck with your program! Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Our llmd say exercise is good, but not if you hurt. Stop. Do stretching during herxing and flares, preventing joint and muscle damage is important too.
I never believed in "no pain no gain"
Posts: 1572 | From Pa | Registered: Jun 2001
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I pulled this from Dr. B's '05 Guidelines. It should help clarify some of the questions raised here.
Despite antibiotic treatments, patients will NOT return to normal unless they exercise!
This is because in most cases the chronic Lyme patient is deconditioned.
More importantly, a properly executed exercise program becomes part of the treatment, as it can actually go beyond the antibiotics in helping to clear the symptoms and to maintain a remission.
Therefore, a vital part of any plan for recovery must include serious efforts at physical reconditioning.
This may begin with physical therapy: the physical therapy should involve massage, heat, ultrasound and simple range of motion exercises to relieve discomfort and promote better sleep and flexibility.
Ice and electrical stimulation should not be used!
The program ultimately must evolve into a graded, strenuous exercise program that consists of a specific regimen of non-aerobic conditioning- see below.
Although the scientific basis for the benefits of exercises is not known, there are several reasonable theories.
It is known that Bb will die if exposed to all but the tiniest oxygen concentrations.
If an aggressive exercise program can increase tissue perfusion and oxygen levels, then this may play a role in what is being seen.
Also, during aggressive exercise, the core body temperature can rise above 102 degrees; it is known that B. burgdorferi is very heat sensitive.
Perhaps it is the added tissue oxygenation, or higher body temperature, or the combination that weakens the Lyme Borrelia, and allows the antibiotics and our defenses to be more effective.
In addition, there is now evidence that a carefully structured exercise program may benefit T-cell function in the immune system, an obvious potential benefit in an illness like Lyme that is known to weaken immune responses.
To reap this benefit, the exercise sessions should last at least one hour, but never be repeated more often than every other day.
The following pages is an exercise prescription that outlines these recommendations in detail.
NOTE: a cardiac stress test may be necessary prior to exercising to ensure safety.
LYME REHAB-PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTION
Please enroll this patient in a program of therapy to rehabilitate him/her from the effects of chronic tick-borne diseases.
If necessary, begin with classic physical therapy, then progress when appropriate to a whole body conditioning program.
THERAPEUTIC GOALS (to be achieved in order as the patient's ability allows): PHYSICAL THERAPY (if needed):
1. The role of physical therapy here is to prepare the patient for the required, preferably gym-based exercise program outlined below.
2. Relieve pain and muscle spasms utilizing multiple modalities as available and as indicated: massage, heat, ultrasound, and passive and active range of motion.
DO NOT use ice or electrical stim unless specifically ordered by our office. Paraffin baths can be quite useful.
3. Increase mobility, tone and strength while protecting damaged and weakened joints, tendons, and ligaments, and teach these techniques to the patient.
Use light weights/minimal resistance but a lot of repetitions in any exercises prescribed. Aerobics are not permitted.
Transition the patient slowly to the gym-based program outlined below.
4. Please see the patient two days per week- but do not schedule two days in a row!
EXERCISE Begin with a private trainer for careful direction and education.
PATIENT EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT (to be done during the initial one-on-one sessions and reinforced at all visits thereafter):
1. Instruct patients on correct exercise technique, including proper warm-up, breathing, joint protection, proper body positioning during the exercise, and how to cool-down and stretch afterwards.
2. Please work one muscle group at a time and perform extensive and extended stretching to each muscle group immediately after each one is exercised, before moving on to the next muscle group.
3. A careful interview should be performed at the start of each session to make apparent the effects, both good and bad, from the prior visit's therapy, and adjust therapy accordingly.
PROGRAM:
1. Aerobic exercises are NOT allowed, not even low impact variety, until stamina improves.
2. Conditioning: work to improve strength and reverse the poor conditioning that results from Lyme, through a whole-body exercise program, consisting of light calisthenics and weight lifting, using small weights and many repetitions.
This can be accomplished in exercise classes called "stretch and tone", or "body sculpture", or can be achieved with exercise machines, or carefully with free weights.
3. Each session should last one hour. If the patient is unable to continue for the whole hour, then modify the program to decrease the intensity to allow him/her to do so.
4. Exercise no more often than every other day.
The patient may need to start by exercising every 4th or 5th day initially, and as abilities improve, work out more often, but NEVER two days in a row.
The non- exercise days should be spent resting.
5. This whole-body conditioning program is what is required to achieve wellness.
Simply placing the patient on a treadmill or an exercise bike is not acceptable (except briefly, as part of a warm-up), nor is a simple walking program.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Everyone's giving you such good advice. If you're not feeling well, don't push yourself. I, too, have been pretty athletic before getting Lyme. The first time I tried a LITTLE light exercise after really crashing for the first time, I had to take a nap and couldn't do anything again for almost a week.
Now I'm up to walking about a mile fairly briskly. Sometimes I end up w/a headache and spend the rest of the day w/a foggy brain and droopy eyes, but I can go out and do it again in two days with no problem. Before I was ill, I could run 6-8 miles a week Those were the good old days.
Still, it's progress, and I'm still hopeful that I'll get back to that point again.
Patti
Posts: 449 | From Pasadena, CA, usa | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
I started with Tai Chi and really like it. It helps the balance and is a challenge for me to stand for a hour, but I feel better afterwards. It is low impact and not strenuous.
I have invented Tai Chi Breakdancing--had a couple of seizures and fell down at my last class!
Good luck. Hiker
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 10174 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
I just had a conversation with a trainer and she also advised slow, gentle stretching and swimming. She said if you exercise too intensely, you can relapse... Great replies from all!
Posts: 731 | From NH | Registered: Jan 2002
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LostCityAgent
Unregistered
posted
Thanks Lymeies. PS, Aside from myself this past week. I have helped 3 others discover that they have Lyme disease. 2, w/ Parkinson's DX, 1 w/MS DX, like myself.
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i'm an old lymie and it's questionable how active my lyme is now, but i still have neuro symptoms, and i have severe arthritis-my hands, whole spine and knees.
i have been off aggressive tx for 5 yrs. at the end, getting to work and getting up the next morning was the most "exercise" i could do...but i was a gym teacher-so i did a lot of movement stuff at work.
i had been out of work from an injury when i found the ymca arthritis exercise class. it has helped me more than any other exercise or therapy-including massage, chiropractic, acupucture...others i can't remember.
it is a boring-repetitive class that lasts an hour and stretches and puts every joint in your body through range of motion. there is a little strengthening-and as you go on you can increase your work load a little. the class lasts an hour. it really isn't boring if the people are nice-most of my class is dx with fibro---but we all know what that means. what i really like about this class is -no matter how bad i feel, as long as i get myself there i don't have to think...i just follow the leader...the water is really warm also and then i take a sauna after so it helps with heat and detox.
also, after about 2-3 weeks i started swimming laps after class. i use a kick board and do flutter kick cuz with my back i can't do the other kicks and doing the whole crawl stroke was too hard for me. i started with 5 min of laps added on to my hour and am up to 30 min. so my routine 3 times a week is 1hr ex class, 1/2 hr laps, 1/2 hr sauna(build up to this and check w/ your doc and all).
anyway-good luck. with my history as an athlete and pe teacher, my tendancy was to discount such a simple, non-stressful class...but it has absolutely been the best thing for me.
oh-also-i shower good as soon as i get out of the pool to get rid of the clorine and then sauna and then shower again ...take care.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Low Zn levels caused by Bb's endotoxin maybe to blame. This impacts DMG which is needed to recover from lactic acid produced when we exercise. TMG converts to DMG.
Athletes sometimes take DMG and it's given to horses too. It helps the "recovery" of too much lactic acid.
Training helps our bodies to learn to use lactic acid as a nutrient. Basically, it helps to make more muscle mitochondria (powerhouses).
Bb makes ethanol, not lactic acid, from the sugar breakdown.
If we have a choline deficiency and subsequent "fatty liver" (seen on a liver ultrasound) this may make it hard for the liver to "detox" the ethanol.
How is your homocysteine level? Up? Undermethylated?
A choline deficiency (and Mg deficiency) impacts the Na-K pump and in some, leads to breathing problems due to elastase issues. Once again, the liver is supposed to help out by producing a certain enzyme to regulate elastase.
Are you thinking laps or gentle exercises?
The "Mediterranean" diet is in the news as being one of the healthiest (and tasty!)
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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suki444
Unregistered
posted
I think in dr b's guidelines it says to take Cordymax for lesions..check it out incase I am wrong!
Regarding exercise, he said exercise is important to kill the Lyme because of the increased oxygen AND the body temp increase which helps the abx work better.
At that time I wasn't too bad and he said I could swim but it did not count as rehabilitation exercise because of the low body temp involved so I had to do Pilates or Yoga as well.
Brrr the thought of the cold water puts me off anyway
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