Hey all!
How do you stay fit and/ or exercise? What are your limitations? What works for you?
I have tried several things but I am usually foiled by a flare up of head pain/ severe migraines which doc thinks is residual nerve damage after decompression surgery. I find low impact exercise that aren’t “bouncy” are best. I can’t do burpees or anything else that requires that quick up and down motion. I try to do small increments each day like 20 mins 3x per day when I have time, some days it doesn’t happen. Especially now that I’m back to work.
I would love to go back to running, but everytime I try I end up agitating my head and then pay for it with a week or two with a constant migraine. Any other runners out there?
Well, you are not imagining it that’s for sure. After almost 4 years post op, I still can not do many things that cause the brain to hit my skull (also wasn’t able to about 6 years before surgery as well). That would also include, roller coaster, amusement park rides and long car rides, jet rides extra. If we do travel on a long road trip, I usually have bad head pain for about the first 3 days of the trip.
My dog has been very therapeutic to me. Walking her is one of the few things I can do, and then it is usually just around the block. I’m sure you’ve noticed good shoes with much padding help. If it’s hot out, I walk early morning or late at night. I am 45, and so my metabolism has started to greatly slow. So, I have to be so cautious of what I eat as I can not engage in rigorous activity to burn it off.
I used to love yard work, cutting grass, raking, gardening, and I can not do that either. However, I sit down with a bag and weed on occasion. I just can’t look down constantly and can’t kneel. I have to sit on my bum and periodically look up. Again, yes you are right about small increments. When that starts to get me down, I think, even that is better than no activity at all.
Another thing is, you might possibly notice muscle wasting. So, now I lift 4 lb. weights everyday. My physical therapist told me it’s not how strenuous, or how much I do everyday, it’s that I commit to doing a few sets everyday to keep muscle mass. Just a tiny bit will do a world of good he says. I just got my weights at Five Below. Hope this helps :).
I’ve tried different levels of exercise. Running and any exercise which causes any type of vigorous movement or change in elevation is no good. Speed walking while trying to control the bounce has kept me as active as possible when it comes down to aerobics. I do stretch. You have to try different types until you find the one that you can tolerate. Good luck.
Can you do some long slow walks? How about swimming or even water running. Water running is very gentle. You might try gentle Yoga or Barre 3 and let the instructor know your limitations so they can modify as you need. I had surgery Oct 24. Prior to surgery I was a marathon runner and also did cross fit and Bikram - even with the Chiari issues. I had some set backs after surgery with complications - not at the surgery site but other issues. I have been walking 3.5 miles a day for the last month and just within the last 5 days started adding a 1 minute run every 5 minutes. I have been very fortunate and all my Chiari issues are gone and have not returned - even with the bizarre complications.
I started with building up walks with my dog. We live in a very hilly area so it was a good start. I still walk the dog but also go to a personal trainer 2 times a week. We have built the muscles in my back up and I now have a very strong core too. I have felt so much better since doing this and I don’t get any kind of headache or throbbing like I do with running.
Thanks for the replies. I am going to start walking with my pups, I will start small and set goals to build up. I think the weights are a great idea too especially to stop the muscle wasting and strengthen target ares-- my core is so weak compared to what it used to be.