Graduated from PT and Using a Trainer

It's Monday afternoon and pretty nice out for Oregon this time of year, and I had a bit of time so I thought I'd spend a moment talking about graduating from PT. From the time I was diagnosed in August until 3 weeks ago, I had been going to PT 2 to 3 times a week. For the 3 months I was in a wheelchair, I was literally plopped on tables so the PT's, yes, sometimes two of them, could do lots of passive stretching, and then later assisted stretching and exercise. This was against the advice of the Neurologist, at first. I decided not to tell him I was doing it in spite of his orders, as after reading the Lundgren study (Shawna mentioned it can be read at the at the Myositis website) I felt like it would help with inflammation and decrease muscle damage. Interestingly, there was an appointment where, at the end, he grabbed his head and said "I forgot to tell you to start with PT so you don't end up as a pretzel!" To late, says I. I have been doing it for MONTHS!
 
At any rate. I have graduated to a local gym, "Fitness Over 50" where the owner had a deal with the local PT offices that refer patients, where-by 2 weeks are free, then $25 a month for 3 months, then you can join for $40 a month no initiation fee. The owner has a PHd in exercise physiology for people over 50, and works closely with the PT referrals to build an exercise program that he carefully watches you do for a month to make sure you have got it and that it is working. Usually Jasen, the owner, is working with hip, knee, shoulder replacements, stroke and arthritis or Lupus sufferers. Never myositis. But he is really good and after watching some of my functional problems - hip extensors and some glute and hamstring issues, we are working on some specific exercises that will target those areas. Also really working on cardio stuff since I sure lost a lot of that! So 4 days a week at the gym alternating upper and lower body, and still 3 days a week lap swimming or doing water aerobic class.
I am tapering on Prednisone, and a bit on MTX, truth be told, so am down to 8 MG on Prednisone and haven't felt too bad yet. I am waiting to see if it saps energy level. I do find myself waking up with stiff hands and more sore from working out than I used to, but I think that is a good thing because it lets me gauge in a more real way how the workout is going.
Things are definitely better because I drove 200 miles on Thursday to facilitate 2 community and business meetings with a State agency, then drove another 100 miles to Astoria on the Oregon Coast to deliver 6 hours of non-profit workshops on Friday and Saturday, then drove 4.5 hours back home...and felt pretty good! Not too tired!
I'll log in in another 2 or 3 weeks to comment on the specific weight training program and if it working. My Rheumy said it would take a year to get my strength all back. My Corvallis Neuro thinks I never will, and the Neuro at OHSU thinks it is a toss up. In the meantime I have a list of 3 things on the wall above my desk that remind me of my goals for the next 6 months, and how good it feels to strive for something positive. My husband's 45 year old friend had a wife who was diagnosed with stomach cancer about the same week I was diagnosed with Myositis - and she died 3 days ago, leaving behind 3 teenagers. So really, it could be much worse, and I spend most of time feeling grateful for "lessons learned" and a new sensitivity to people who are disabled and suffering from odd diseases.
Now...best foot forward....