Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log
Comments
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Thanks everyone!Sleeves are on and I will keep an eye out for redness.
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Hey girls. I will give you all your nordic poles answers but it is the weekend and I am busy at momzy's.
Becky, No, I really don't think it will wear out a glove. There are two types, strapless and strapped. Maybe the strapped would pull and move your glove/sleeve a bit. I have strapless and I just got back for walking with them. My glove didn't budge. Let me play around with them for a couple weeks to give you a full report ,once I grip and pump with them a lot more. Right now I am not overdoing it to avoid any flares due to overworking arms, so the glove hasn't moved.
My MLD girl prefers the wrist straps as she says you let go of the pole and then grab as you push thru and this causes you to have a pumping action, but I feel my strapless ones also make me grab and pump, maybe not as much. (ask me about my special strapless one's, they are erogonomic (how do you spell that word?)
Tina, I think you asked about the bent arm. It is slightly bent but not at a 90 degree angle and more downwards. Picture yourself extending you arm to shake a hand, usually we don't stick it straight out. About bending the elbow when I pole. If you use your elbow to pick away as you walk then you are not using the proper muscles. That is why is it best to picture yourself shaking a hand. If you walk and talk with your friend you will forget to watch your elbow posistion and you will start to pole with your elbow wearing it out. You have to pay attention to the arm posistion. Poling is super easy. Takes 5 minutes to learn.
Poling is excellent for rehab in BC reconstruction, Bilateral reconstruction with implants which I have poses no problem. Check with pyhsio first for approval then proceed.
Seeing that it is my 2nd day back poling, I just kinda drag and pull forward on my poles basically not working my arms. Once my arm muscles get accustomed I will put more effort into it and pump away.You will have toned arms and Lats. It makes me stand straighter when I pole.
Nordic poles are not the same as ski poles. Mine have little rubber boots on the end which makes it easier on pavement. I can take them off when I want to hike in the forest and then there is a carbon tip on the end. When I think of it, I was afraid of falling while trail hiking. The poles will now help me be more stable,. Glad I am getting back into it.
If you have knee injuries, this is the thing to have. It takes a bit of the pressure off. I just can't say enough good about them. Sports stores have them. Just make sure to get telescopic and aluminum.
The drawback is, you can't walk your dog on a leash as he would tangle.
Well you could try!Did I mention you can do it on a treadmill. Oh the list goes on. I love them.
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Hugz, Thank you so much for all the details on nordic walking! I plan to investigate. I assume it's an oLYMPHics event!
Today was pretty much an exercise day off for me, giving yesterday's new stitches a day or so to do their work before I do any jiggling. I did MLD (bobbing and weaving around gauze) this morning and will again in a bit before bed, so LE care is so-so today...especially since I realize as I write this that I was so focused on a bunch of tasks today that I did not really drink any water. That's seriously bad, since drinking water should be the easiset part of this whole affair!
Tomorrow I go to Chicago for Dr. Massey's LE symposium, and I emailed her what I think are some good questions. Looking forward to the event, but it will definitely consume my entire day--3 hours each way + the symposium 9-4. I'll do lots of deep breathing and definitely commit to water (and thus potty stops!).
Have a wonderful, active Saturday, everyone.
Carol
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Thanks, Hugz, I am going to explore. Have fun with momzy!
Carol, glad to hear you are doing fine. Water is something I forget at times, which is why I have that silly note. Can't wait to hear what you think about Dr. Massey's conference. Have fun!
My company arrives in the morning, and I still have a few things to do. Will be focused on practicing self care and balancing with entertaining. My husband plans to stay out of the way, or I should say run away! Old girlfriends talking is not his idea of fun. Will be popping in and out. Hope everyone has a good weekend.0 -
Tina, Have a fabulous time catching up with the girls, and I especially send big wishes for LE concerns fading into the background for what should be a great weekend of talking about fun topics.
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Carol-you will love Dr. Massey's symposium! She is a very engaging speaker!
I use trekking poles when I hike. I love using them to keep the swelling out of my hand! I think I got mine dirt cheap at Target!
Yesterday I lifted and then ran 3 miles... Did I mention I sweated?! This morning I am off to martial arts. I just got my purple belt Thursday night, so I am excited to go this morning!
Keep rocking the exercise ladies!0 -
Nordy, purple belt!! Now, that conjures up quite the image to accompany the quote 'take that, you doctors in denial!'
I did enjoy Dr. Massey's symposium, and I learned a bit, too.
Carol
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Carol- so glad! I think there were quite a few BCO gals there. Did you manage to meet up with any of them?
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Nordy, yes! There were six of us that I'm aware of. The event had 67 attendees, so possibly more bco women.
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Carol, Do share your Dr. Massey experiences.
No exercise for me yesterday and today only massive garden exercise.
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It sounds interesting, Carol. As said by hugz, share.
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The Dr. M forum was interesting. I learned lots I did not know about implant reconstruction, which she is not a fan of and had not been my own choice (so I had not particularly studied it before). The lengths she goes to to provide LE care for her patients (those with or at risk for LE) are quite extensive, including LE risk-reduction education; bandaging patients for surgery and afterward; having CLTs provide MLD each day while in the hospital, including instruction on self-MLD; and teaching patients to wrap. She also explained, with fascinating photos, how she does node transfer surgery.
I was also fascinated by some lymphoscintograms-- images taken that show the flow of lymph, after the patient is injected with some kind of dye. They looked to me just like the images the TSA back-scatter machines take when we go through airport security these days--hands over the head in 'stick em up' position and all! The technology to follow the speed and location of lymph flow is really quite amazing, although I have read that it's too expensive to use for general LE diagnostic purposes.
Dr. M is certainly an engaging speaker who has a passion for her topic. And she feeds her guests very, very well!
Carol
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Sounds most interesting Carol.
Have my dear friend coming over this evening once it's cooler out to wrap me up and we'll go for the power walk and other exercises. Will do it daily, hoping that once it's under control again can back down to every 2-3 days of wrapping yet still do exercises with sleeves/gloves. Don't know if I'm being unreasonable - right now I'm fighting it having control over me.
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Enjoy that walking, galsal! We'll hope for the best; that you can get back to wearing sleeve instead of wrapping every single day.
Today DH and I took the dog on a long walk in a big game reservation nearby, for 3 miles in an hour, so a moderate pace. It was just beautiful out. Then I did some light gardening that earned me some additional steps, and I think I'll top up to 10,000 steps for the day before lights out in a few hours.
Hugz, what kind of massive garden exercise are you up to? I pulled a lot of weeds, but no heavy work like digging or spreading mulch.
Carol
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Hi All---Took the day off from cardio yesterday. I am advisor to Best Buddies in which a college student is paired with a mentally challenged adult in the community to interact with and help normalize their lives. We had our annual prom last night. So I was dancing away for about an hour. Did not sweat or get breathless but had a lot of fun.
Am swamped with end of semester grading so am going to continue to do the elliptical every 15-30 minutes for a minute as I sit and grade.
Hope to do an hour on the elliptical. It is very hot outside with a heat alert so will stay inside.
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Becky, dancing sounds like it was great fun, and what a sweetheart you are to be advisor to the Best Buddies organization!
Rainy here today, so my cardio will be indoors. Sigh.
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Hey all,
I just received the Lebed Method DVD/Book I ordered. Guess I have to wait a while to try anything since I just had a TE replaced on the 17th. Anyway, after looking through the book, I am a little upset that it took me so long to find out about this! Had I not happened upon this thread, I still wouldn't know.
I wonder why doctor's don't mention it? I can't wait to get started, as my bad arm has very little range and I often feel like I have a massive charlie horse in it.
Also, if looking for a new Medical ID bracelet, check out the ones at Lauren's Hope. I was able to personalize every element.
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DM13, Welcome to the frustration club! What would we do without this website and especially the LE forum, where women really do look out for each other. I'm glad you like the DVD. How long did your PS say you need to wait before doing exercise of any kind? The ones on the DVD are very gentle.
Thanks for the lead to Lauren's Hope. I'll be sure to check that out.
Carol
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Carol - I have to keep my arm at my side for another month. Hopefully then he will release me to do movement. But since I already lost one TE, have to be very careful to keep this one.
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DM, you might check with your doctor about the breathing and neck stretches at the very beginning of the opening section on the DVD--they help clear the nodes in your neck and stimulate lymph movement. The second section is mostly legs, and there's another section a bit later about balance that you could also do without using that arm. The final dance section has a routine, about half of which doesn't involve moving the arms. If you get the go-ahead, even that much would help move lymph fluid and get you moving a bit.
Just a thought. Be well!
Binney0 -
DM, Yikes, it's easy to see why you're not tempted to throw caution to the wind! Binney's suggestion for some movement that avoids your arms, and includes some node clearing, could lift your spirit and move some lymph while you wait. In any case, I hope the month flies by, and we'll look forward to hearing how you do with your exercise when you're able to start that part of your LE care.
Carol
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Thanks for the good words. No question, I have to do this. Folks at work even noticed the swelling of the bust area.
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Carol and Binney -
Thanks for your suggestion. I have only read through some of the campanion book, have yet to turn on the DVD. I am going to watch it as soon as I can move a little better. Today was my first day driving and it has been painful... oh well, everyday things get a little better, I may not notice it, but know it must be.
I will keep following all you on this thread and will let you guys know when I can do some.
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So.....the climate is the pits, I didn't sleep well last night and today I looked at the building with the stairs and voted on French fries instead. When my time came later to walk, I curled up into a ball and tried to nod off. I guess I will try to get some exercise in later but I am just in lazy mode.
Oh,on a better note, I gardened all afternoon, then did Lebed MLD opening at bedtime last night.
I see you girls are still marching on and I am so happy someone is Kicking LE in Butt today because it sure isn't me!
Carol. Dr. M. seminar sounded very interesting. Thanks for filling us in.
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DM - lebed is poke your eyes out fun.... Lololol! Actually, it is a really good program, just kind of corny to watch. My husband laughs everytime I have it on. Good luck with it!
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Hugz, 'voted for French fries' --very funny! Tonight I voted for a glass of wine.
Nordy--corny is a good word to describe the Lebed DVD, but it sure does seem to work. Well, I only do the lymphatic opening part, but those stretches just make sense.
Today I did indoor cardio, because of rain. I managed 32 minutes on the treadmill, using some intervals and lots of time with a steep grade, so I was really heart-pumping and sweating. Then about 75 minutes of weight lifting and stretching. Did lots of varieties of squats, with and without weights. Did walking reverse squats--proved what a klutz I am! I'll have sore lower body tomorrow I think. I left the gym with a this-feels-great worn-out, totally relaxed feeling.
Now--bedtime! I hope those who did not report in, had a good day. And Hugz, tomorrow I expect to hear how you tossed the French fries to the wind, jogged the beach for a half hour, and then ran up and down steps for 45 minutes (well, you're always reminding us to get out and move--hop to it, my friend!!)
Carol
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Wondering if it would be a good idea to ask LT about wrapping trunk for night time, help things stay under control and all.
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Hi all--Just finished my MLD and am getting ready to get on the treadmill for an hour. It is 7:00 am but our support group is meeting at noon and I want to get all of it in before then. Exercise is our theme for the meeting!
Hugz--French fries vs stairs. No contest! I haven't had an order of french fries for about five years but whenever any of my students come to class with french fries they know the rule is that I get to have one. That keeps me sane.
Got 20 extra minutes in on the elliptical yesterday doing the one minute every 15-30 minutes. I go all out and my legs are sore again.
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Somehow I have an image in mind of a woman on an elliptical, furiously pumping legs, with a single French fry hanging from a hook just out of reach....
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Carol. I didn't lose the french fries to the wind as I see I am wearing them on my hips. Thank you for the virtual exercise push as I am lagging a bit. Can't do 45 mins of stairclimbing as 10-15 has me gasping.
Tina. Regarding stairs. We have a park called "1000 steps" my goal is to do them by summers end at least once.
Becky good rule about the fries. And I thought I was doing good when I order and ask to have them serve me only half. NOW THANKS TO YOU...I will have to ask for only a quarter order and then share them! I don't know if I can. I am greedy about my fries....and pizza. Will have to try Carol's trick of dangling the fry just out of reach in front of the ellipital. Too funny!
What kind of a support meeting do you go to? Sounds weight related. Support groups are great.
Good you are keeping up with the one minute exercise. I bet you are getting killer breathing in which no doubt stimulates that huge lymph system in our diaphram area.
Since I have been practicing wrappin I have no time to be regular with my MLD opening. Wow ,this Le stuff keeps me certainly busy. What will happen when I have grandchildren? I hope I have time for them. Oh, I know... I can get them to wrap me for fun! Kill two birds with one stone. NAW!
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