Re: Weak Spine (Janet)

[Guest guest]

Janet,

I had to stop swimming when my legs stopped doing their left and right bit. I

gave it a good shot did it till I was 54. The other year I tried an Hydrotherapy

pool but I was unable to even float, which turned out to be even more

frustrating to me since I was a good swimmer.

I'm always moving as many parts of my body that still move, thank goodness I do

not suffer from Fatique. I stopped that back in 1977 when I started getting

Vitamin B12 injections. But I am getting to be an old lady now.

I'm in a wheelchair, my legs gave up a while ago but in summer I still swim

which I find a very important exercise. I always get out of the pool (or rather

- often am fished out of the pool) with more energy than I had when I got in

there. In winter I don't swim and really notice the difference, especially to my

spine. In winter I am all day either sitting in this chair or asleep (or rather

trying to sleep) in a bed. In summer I spend at least 3 hours in the pool a day

which gives my spine a welcome break.It takes an hour before my legs will do

anything other than trail along behind me then the stronger one kicks in (pun

not intended) and by the end I can usually manage some half-hearted

breast-stroke legs. The exercise invigorates me so much that I can often walk

back up the 7 steps to the house hauling myself up on the handrails, on occasion

use a walker, then even stand for a minute in the shower. It lasts about half an

hour then I am back to sitting in the chair but with a more comfortable spine. I

urge you to try and get dunked in a pool (as long as the person promises

to fish you out too), it really does wonders.

Most days I can't get up off the floor myself after yoga and I always think it

wasn't worth getting down there in the first place but after I've calmed down

and got my dignity back, I am always pleased I exercised. To me it is the same

as cleaning my teeth - something you just have to do every day.