Hi Colin,
I'm just seeing this thread for the first time. I think there has been some great advice here, the most valuable being that everyone's progression is different, so there is no single answer that can tell you what you can and cannot do. Work with your doctor to understand your individual risks, but that said, the diagnosis does not mean the same thing for everyone, so there is cause for hope.
I was diagnosed just over a year ago (female, age 49, Caucasian). I seem to have no bone damage (just bone density issues), and my kidneys have had some damage, but can be managed. I was an ultra-runner who felt "pretty normal" most of the day, but I started to slow down and have trouble in longer races that I couldn't explain.
I started induction rounds of treatment 11 months ago and underwent a stem cell transplant in August. I came into the transplant as healthy as I could. I had backed off the exertion level, but still jogged and power hiked about 35 miles or more every week. The stem cell transplant was no fun, but I was released in 12 days and as soon as I could, I started taking walks in the woods. Then hikes. Then longer hikes. Then, as my HR started to drop, I started some running. On Day +84, I raced a 50-mile trail race and finished over an hour faster than my time 2 years earlier. At 5 months, I raced a 100K, and for my 6 month anniversary I ran a 100 miler in under 25 hours. I am actually running better than I was before my treatment.
I realize my situation is different than most. I was caught early and I was already in good shape. My point is to keep HOPE and don't let this diagnosis alone prevent you from doing what you can do. Every day I would wake up without any predetermined decisions about what I could and couldn't do based on the words "multiple myeloma". I would see how I felt first. Some days I felt great and had great workouts. Other days I felt terrible and stayed on the couch.
MikeB made a really great suggestion further up about doing Pilates. Exercises like Pilates really focus in on small, stabilizer muscles that don't get a lot use because your big muscles are usually more than happy to do all the work. Until they don't. Most weight training focuses on big muscles which is great, but keeping your stabilizers strong, too, will help complete the support structure.
So, keep HOPE and figure out what you can and can't do and set yourself up for success. Keep us updated on how you are doing!
Jen
Forums
Re: Should I start running again for exercise?
Thanks, Jen. I don't know how I overlooked this response. I stumbled across your forum response today and it made me smile with joy. You are so right about the individual nature of our bodies and our experiences with multiple myeloma. Your accomplishments are remarkable, and I hope you are continuing to enjoy ultrarunning.
I am at Day+18 following my autologous stem cell transplant and feeling much better as my counts continue to increase. I managed to walk between 2 and 3 miles nearly every day through the process as an outpatient, which I think really helped me. I look forward to running, biking, and hiking when my energy permits.
Thanks again.
Colin
I am at Day+18 following my autologous stem cell transplant and feeling much better as my counts continue to increase. I managed to walk between 2 and 3 miles nearly every day through the process as an outpatient, which I think really helped me. I look forward to running, biking, and hiking when my energy permits.
Thanks again.
Colin
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Colin - Name: Colin Rice
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Should I start running again for exercise?
Well it's been awhile since I was on this thread and I thought I would just provide a brief update on "running again".
I am happy to report that I have been running and cycling fairly regularly since my stem cell procedure back in June of 2016. It hasn't always been easy to maintain a regular exercise schedule due to various minor aches and pains. I have to say though that most of these are likely not multiple myeloma or even maintenance therapy related (e.g., calf muscle and shin pulls / sprains). I chalk it up to an aging body.
I have enjoyed participating in a few 8 to 10 km races but ran them as training runs and even completed several longer training runs (up to 18 km). I also just recently bought myself a new road bicycle.
My goal is to gain the confidence again to return to longer distances and greater intensity in both running and biking. The secret I think is finding the right balance in training load that I don't cause any bone injuries and/or get over the fear of them.
What I find interesting is that while the compressed discs in my upper back still give me pain when I stand too long on hard surfaces, they are much less painful than they were at diagnosis and fortunately seem to leave me alone most of the time when I run or bike. One never knows what we may be capable of if we don't take a few risks.
I am happy to report that I have been running and cycling fairly regularly since my stem cell procedure back in June of 2016. It hasn't always been easy to maintain a regular exercise schedule due to various minor aches and pains. I have to say though that most of these are likely not multiple myeloma or even maintenance therapy related (e.g., calf muscle and shin pulls / sprains). I chalk it up to an aging body.
I have enjoyed participating in a few 8 to 10 km races but ran them as training runs and even completed several longer training runs (up to 18 km). I also just recently bought myself a new road bicycle.
My goal is to gain the confidence again to return to longer distances and greater intensity in both running and biking. The secret I think is finding the right balance in training load that I don't cause any bone injuries and/or get over the fear of them.
What I find interesting is that while the compressed discs in my upper back still give me pain when I stand too long on hard surfaces, they are much less painful than they were at diagnosis and fortunately seem to leave me alone most of the time when I run or bike. One never knows what we may be capable of if we don't take a few risks.
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Colin - Name: Colin Rice
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Should I start running again for exercise?
Hello Colin,
It's good to know that you are doing well and able to increase your running and cycling distances. I also had compression fractures, and I don't feel pain in them either. They seemed to heal up over a few years, so that is fortunate in my case. I regularly walk and sometimes get in a day with 8 km! I would like to walk a 10 km event in the spring if possible. So far this year, my longest walking day was 17 km, but that was really a lot for me!
Good luck and watch out for the west coast fog!
It's good to know that you are doing well and able to increase your running and cycling distances. I also had compression fractures, and I don't feel pain in them either. They seemed to heal up over a few years, so that is fortunate in my case. I regularly walk and sometimes get in a day with 8 km! I would like to walk a 10 km event in the spring if possible. So far this year, my longest walking day was 17 km, but that was really a lot for me!
Good luck and watch out for the west coast fog!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
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