What if I CAN'T walk, walk, walk?

Hey guys, I read all the time sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk... well, what if I can't? See, here's the situation.. I was partially paralyzed for several years.  I now have use of my legs, but am very limited.   A short walk (half a block) makes my legs and back wobble so much, that I look like I"m humping the air.. LOL.  This is because of my nerve damage.  I lose control of my pelvic motion, if that makes sense.. where the legs go into my pelvis just 'turns to water'.  The rehab centers can't do therapy at my size, too big for their equipment.   Second problem.  I take multiple pain meds just to get the mobility I DO have... after surgery (and indeed shortly before) I won't be able to take some, as they're NSAIDS.  I take these meds to get out of bed in the am.  I"m not sure how I will even walk in the hospital, let alone afterwards.  My surgery doc refers me to primary doc, and he says he's given me the best he could think of.. alternatives didn't work. Thoughts? Dale

Hello brother Dale.... Well, you are in a different spot...and I'm glad you are thinking aobut it a head of time....since youare partially bed bound,,,, lets not think about what you can't do.....tell us what you can do....if you are worried about blood clots, and the walking....well they have foot squeezy devices for that, and shots.... but for exercise...your legs are crap, from what yo have said...so lets see about the arms....and sitting on the side of the bed and moving your legs...when you are bed bound...you have to get creative... so the conventional things are out the window....what can you do....? We have all had simular things....so turn you thinking around....Given you have a second shot at this....what can you do to make it better... roll from side to side...leg lifts from the securiety of the bed...knee lifts from a chair...all sorts of arm movements.... Nsaids are not totally out of the question...this is for your doc to decide...my doc gave me ibuprofen, on day 2...from his hand to my mouth...so it depends on your doc..... all right...now chat back.....lets make a list of what we can do...we are here to help russ

Hi Dale. I'm in your neck of the woods. I live in  Grove City and moving to Circleville soon. I'm not sure who you're getting surgery through, but OSU's program has facilities that are set up just for people like you.  Even if you don't have your WLS there, check out the rehab facility. They have a heated pool just walking and they have cardio equipment for people that can't walk or fit regular cardio machines. The Wellness Center is up off Kenny Road and Lane Ave. http://http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_s ervices/healthy_living/center/ Good luck Earl

Hello Dale, I have a simular problem because I also have limited use of my legs and hips.  I go to physical therapy 2x per week at the University of Florida Sports Medicine facility.  I previously lived in Columbus and I am sure that Ohio State has simular facilities. If they don't they better get one and be ready for the Gators to come whoop them again. (LOL) Eugene

Along with the suggestions that Russ made, I would also like to recommend getting in the pool.  If there's an issue with being mobile or standing up in the pool, there is equipment in most rehab facility pools that have a harness to assist you.   Just a thought. Absolutely concentrate on those things you can control, not what you can't control.  Capitalize on the physical strengths and abilities and minimize the weaknesses.  Before too long, and the weight drops off you'll find that the limitations that you have now begin to disappear one by one. Best wishes! Cards Fan loseSMART!  loseSTRONG!

Dale, That phrase- "Walk, walk, walk, sip, sip, sip…" Is about early on… It’s about staying hydrated and keeping clots from forming in the legs. It’s more about (a lot more about) Frequency than Duration. Lord, it took to big strong male interns and a really butch nurse To get my azz up and holding onto a walker, but they did it. Even a little strut over to the TV or down the hall and back is adequate, AS long as you do it every hour or so. The pressure changes on the lymphatic system and overall Body liquid pressures, created by walking are miraculous in speeding recovery And preventing blood clots from forming. I was at about 3 months out before I could walk 50yards. Still, I drug my big butt up every few hours and walked around a bit. Helps immensely. Gas passes quicker, blood oxygen levels increase, System-wide waste is disposed of quicker, etc… Once that first hundred pounds falls off, You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to get around. Imagine. A gallon of milk weighs around 8 1/2 pounds. Imagine carrying about a dozen gallons of milk, EVRYWHERE. Pick ‘em up when you stand, carry them and hold them when you take a shower, etc… Never set them down. Now imagine dropping them all of the sudden. Just that first hundred pounds alone, was enough to make me think I could flat-footed jump over the house. I dropped 25 gallons of milk that first year! Felt like Superman! Still Do. Knees that used to scream bloody murder just so I could stand Suddemly stopped hurting. Back that felt like a recent auto accident 24/& Was suddenly not an issue. Those first few weeks? Hell on a Cracker. Next month? Easier. And the next, till one day you find That the thought of actually just "running for Fun" isn’t insane anymore. Walk all you can, and "What you Can," will grow amazingly fast each week. Best Wishes- Dx

Hello DX How have things been going for you? Good here been really busy with life(mom issues) I have a question for you, maybee you have heard of something like this. All of my joints have been hurting nees, shoulder, hips its been really weird! My wife says Im just getting old but I am not buying that. I somewhat think it might be some sort of lack of nutriants or some vitamins. I have been taking the same mix of vit now for three years. Yes Im going to my doc for a blood check but you know how that goes someties. Well hope all is well with you and any help would be great. Thanks, Derrick L

Derrick, Wow! Long time! Hope ya’ll are doing ok! I’m in Portland this year for the week of Thanksgiving. I may have some info… Look at your fingernails. Vertical ridges down them? That is an indication of imbalance or deficiency with Vitamins and Minerals. Check out- Fingernails&Vitamins… For "Joint Pain," The "Usual Suspects" are B6 and B12. You take you B-12 Sublingual or through shots? If just taking it in a Multi-Vitamin, it’s not getting absorbed. The "edited stomach pouch" doesn’t generate "Intrinsic Factor." No "intrinsic Factor" then binds with the B-12 stuff before it enters the intestines. Without being bound to Intrinsic Factor, it won’t be absorbed. Use the sublingual, or ask the doc for B-12 shots, Or, if already doing that, Up the dosage. No such thing as "Too Much" B-12. It just goes out in the urine if there’s too much. Both B6 and B12 are mentioned in this one study- "A Japanese study of 174 university students Found that students with lower levels of vitamin B6 Showed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome." -- "Vitamin B12 - a study looked at the effectiveness of vitamin B12 for people with carpal tunnel syndrome Due to overuse of the nonparalyzed arm after stroke. For two years, 67 people in the study Received 1500 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, and the remaining 68 did not. After two years, there was significant improvement In the group taking vitamin B12 compared to the untreated group." B-1 also figures in in a number of studies. Hey, you really could just be getting old!

Hit up the doc and have him check out your blood-work. Even us Old Dudes don’t deserve Joint pain! Here's my Portland Project Coming up soon- ChristmasCarol'07 Best Wishes- Dx

 

Well your doctors shoudl be made aware of these things prior to you having surgery...there are other things that cna be done...the idea is to keep you as mobile as possible so you don't develop a blood clot.   One thing they often do on larger patients is prior to surgery installing a vein filter to prevent any blood clots that form from getting to your lungs.   You might want to ask your surgeon about this.....it does pay to be proactive. I did see that you were having the RNY on the main forum...RNYers in general cannot take NSAIDS...you'll have to find another form of treatment.   DSers on the other hand can take NSAIDS (after their stomachs heal).....this is one reason some people have the DS over the RNY...because if you are on long term pain managment ....there is often a need to have NSAIDS.  At least in my case, tyelonol does crap for me in the pain management area.....I might as well take a sugar pill......it would have the same effect.  On a related topic...you might want to talk to your doctor about pain managment after surgery too.....because you already have a base line of pain meds....whatever they give you might need to be a big "harder" beacause your body may have adapted to many of the pain meds they try to give you. Scott

Dale,

Anything you can to to make incremental progress early on would be helpful to you.  In the past, I have had bad knees and herniated discs with nerve pain that limited how much I was able to walk.  But as you lose weight, it will get easier and the pain will decrease--at least it did for me.  I took pain pills every day for years.  But I haven't had to take any since my surgery.   As you are recovering, you might want to consider consulting with an exercise physiologist about designing a routine for you according to your needs.  For example, it might be possible for you to use a seated stepper machine.  This is a recumbent device that takes pressure off of your lower back.  A recumbent bike might also be good.  I used both of these early on and got good results with them. Good luck!