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Northern Lights: Returning To Exercise
By: Nancy Shamanna; Published: September 12, 2013 @ 1:34 pm | Comments Disabled
This summer was an unusual one here in Calgary. In June, after weeks of rain, a severe flood devastated parts of our city. The bike and pedestrian pathways and bridges that are heavily used along our river banks were partially washed out. The system was closed for awhile, until assessments and initial repairs could be made.
This impacted most of us here. I use the pathway system quite a lot, either on foot or by bicycle. I was relieved when later this summer we were able to get out along the rivers again, for that is a big part of the outdoor exercise program I have set for myself.
After my awful fall in 2009, which lead to my myeloma diagnosis, I wasn’t up to much of any movement. Collapsed vertebrae caused so much pain that even hobbling around the house was a major effort for me.
Today, four years later, I can walk long distances and cycle up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) again. It is a miracle to me, since in the summer of 2009 I thought I was becoming permanently disabled.
I think that the treatments with bisphosphonates, along with the treatments that halted my myeloma and put me into a remission, helped me to get back on my feet again. I took them for almost three years. At first, I received an infusion of the bisphosphonate Aredia [1] (pamidronate) once a month. The dose was subsequently lowered to once every two months and then to once every three months. My oncologist discontinued my treatments a year ago, since I am quite well again. In addition, he did not want to unnecessarily expose me to the risk of getting osteonecrosis of the jaw, a side effect of bisphosphonates.
Getting to where I am now was a gradual process.
There would not have been any value in me taking a walking stick and hiking 10 kilometers (6 miles) or pedaling away on my bike on the pathways right away. I needed to feel comfortable that it was more or less safe to do those activities, and it took at least two years for me to feel that way.
At first I started walking around my neighborhood, still using a walker for stability. I was literally terrified of falling, since a fall was the cause of my fractured vertebrae. My bones were so weak at that time that I was jumpy about doing anything that might cause more fractures.
I am fortunate to have a membership at a good fitness club, but it took me months to get back to the gym after my initial diagnosis. I first started using a stationary bike. I also gradually got back into the swimming pool at the gym and did some aquatic exercises. Later I took an aquasize class and eventually tried some gentle yoga.
To my relief, none of these activities caused more injuries. In fact, I haven’t had any more fractures since the initial ones, although I have had a lot of pain at times, especially in the lower back and hip areas. I still am especially careful about lifting heavy objects, since that is very painful.
In the meantime, I also started walking outdoors along the river. Over time, I increased the distance I walked to about 3 kilometers (2 miles) a day.
After I fell hard on the icy sidewalks twice in the wintertime and was able to get up and brush the snow off my coat without sustaining injuries, I knew I was definitely a lot stronger than before. When I crashed down hard on lava rock while snorkeling earlier this year and sustained the largest bruise I have ever had, but wasn’t seriously injured, it also made me realize that I must be a lot better now. So although of course I try not to fall or get injured, every day life does sometimes have hazards, and it is nice to know that I have survived a few accidents without further injury.
In the last year, a little puppy has come into my life that belongs to one of my daughters and her husband. Since they both work full time, I have offered to take the puppy for walks during the day. Since dogs are definitely always interested in going for a walk, I am up to walking about 6 kilometers (4 miles) some days now. I have the little dog to thank for that.
Last winter we tried snowshoeing again. Since I am still fearful of falling, it seemed reasonable to switch from skis to snowshoes. That worked fine, although I saw some people out for walks going faster than me. I guess we need to find some snowier trails this winter. I haven’t been back on my downhill skis or skates since the injuries, and it doesn’t seem likely that I will be either, although maybe cross country skiing would be okay.
My bicycle is a different matter though. Since, like many, I learned to ride a bike as a child and had been riding all my life, it was something I missed terribly when I was sidelined by myeloma. I can’t tell you how I would dream of biking, skiing, and skating when I was going through treatment. I am sure that this may seem trivial to most, but I so missed my outdoor activities.
I gradually got back on the bike again. As I mentioned earlier, I started out on a stationary bike. Last year, I started taking some rides along the river banks on my mountain bike. This year, I got back on my cherished light-weight road bike. I was thrilled to find that I can now do a 35-kilometer (22-mile) ride along the river pathways. I am still not cycling up steep hills or using ‘clip-on’ shoes. The gentle ride along the river is enough for me.
I am still trying gentle yoga, but as with other exercise classes, it seems easier to use a DVD at home for that rather than go to a class. Maybe I will graduate into going to yoga classes this winter, since I have enjoyed the drop-in classes I have taken so far.
My favorite exercise in the summer is to go on a mountain hike, and so far this year, I have been on several of those. The beautiful surroundings are salve for the soul!
Compared to my previous self, I am not as strong and as quick on my feet and I do not have as much endurance as I did a decade ago. But that’s okay. I think we all expect to lose a bit of strength and endurance every decade. But to lose almost all of my strength and then have a lot of it built back again, that is modern medicine at its best. And I think my determination to get better again has contributed to it, too.
Have any of you returned to your previous exercise routine after being diagnosed with myeloma?
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The quotation for this month is from Zhuangzi (369 B.C. - 286 B.C.), a Chinese philosopher, who wrote "I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river."
Nancy Shamanna is a multiple myeloma patient and a columnist at The Myeloma Beacon. You can view a list of her columns here [2].
If you are interested in writing a regular column to be published by The Myeloma Beacon, please contact the Beacon team at .
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[1] Aredia: https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/aredia/
[2] here: https://myelomabeacon.org/author/nancy-shamanna/
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