Hi. Fitness has been a part of my life for many years. I exercise in some fashion everday. For the last 16 months I have suffered with an ear disease that killed off my balance system in my left ear. I have been told that it will never come back and that I can expect to continue to suffer with imbalance and vertigo attacks. I was also told that it will most likely progress to deafness in that ear and could effect my right ear too. Needless to say, my ability to workout at the intensity that I was used to has diminished. The vertigo can last up to 7 days. The imbalance leaves me feeling very fatigued. I continue to exercise the best I can and I am still in good shape but emotionally I feel like it's not good enough. How do you handle your health set backs?
Hoe do you handle health set backs?
- Thread starter fitmom24
- Start date
4
40something
Guest
Fitmom...what I would do if I was you would be to concentrate on strength training and do what cardio you can, when you can. You may even find that working out at a gym, with machines, will be better for you because you won't have to be worrying about balancing at the same time. Another suggestion for cardio would be to use cardio machines that have hand rails so you could 'hold on' while walking/running/doing elliptical and you might feel safer too.
Goodluck to you with this medical condition.
Goodluck to you with this medical condition.
I am so sorry to hear about the ear disease that seems to have changed your life. I have not dealt with any health issues that I did not fully recover from, so I do not have first hand experience. But what I can tell you is not to let yourself get too down or give up. Have you found any support groups for people with imbalance/vertigo problems. It might help to talk to and find out what other people are doing who may have this. I don't know if this is what you have, but you may find something there http://www.menieresforum.com/. I know this cannot be easy and I wish I could help.
I will keep you in my prayers.
jooge
I will keep you in my prayers.
jooge
LuckeeLaydee
Cathlete
fitmom:
I have had a different kind of set back with a herniated disk. I just play it by ear and each day I wake up and asess what I am able to do. I must admit things are better now but for awhile there were more off days than on. I wish I could be more encouraging but I know how difficult it can be emotionally to be willing to exercise and not able.
I guess my advice would be to treat your "self" like a best friend that you wouldn't want to hurt themselves. Just "do what you can" and let the rest take care of itself.
Sincere best wishes.
Paula
I have had a different kind of set back with a herniated disk. I just play it by ear and each day I wake up and asess what I am able to do. I must admit things are better now but for awhile there were more off days than on. I wish I could be more encouraging but I know how difficult it can be emotionally to be willing to exercise and not able.
I guess my advice would be to treat your "self" like a best friend that you wouldn't want to hurt themselves. Just "do what you can" and let the rest take care of itself.
Sincere best wishes.
Paula
winsomehill
Cathlete
I am struggling with a reoccuring injury that I can't seem to shake. I have Plantar Fasciatis. I posted a little about this yesterday, sorry for those of you who are reading it for the second time. Anyways, my doctor told me I will probably not be able to run again at least not like I have in my routine in the past. My approach is, I just have to accept it and get excited about some different activities. I have to work around what I can do. I am now wanting to incorporate swimming and biking in my routine. And, focus more on weight training. I hope to be able to do aerobics again, but won't be able to do any until I completely heal. I recognize that your situation is much more serious, and difficult to confront because it will effect your whole life. Are you able to drive? What if you find a workout partner, so you'll have someone who could be aware of this issue, and be able to look out for you if you need it?
Good luck,
Heather
Good luck,
Heather
RE: How do you handle health set backs?
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
I am able to drive but may loose that ability due to the unexpected vertigo attacks.
I do weight training 2-3x a week. I have found that Cathe's circuits are pretty manageable for me. What kind of weight training focus do you mean? I actually prefer weights to cardio but always kept up the cardio for health benefits as well as the calorie burn.
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
I am able to drive but may loose that ability due to the unexpected vertigo attacks.
I do weight training 2-3x a week. I have found that Cathe's circuits are pretty manageable for me. What kind of weight training focus do you mean? I actually prefer weights to cardio but always kept up the cardio for health benefits as well as the calorie burn.
The biggest lesson I have learned ane belive me it took a long time to learn, was to allow myself to have setbacks. I have 2 herniated discs in my neck, carpal tunnel both since about 1984 and now for 2 years PF. I was just off six weeks due to neck pain. For years, I tried to workout over the pain, making recovery longer, bringing myself to tears it hurt so bad...but if I am working out for health, isn't that a little backwards?
So finally one day it occured to me that it is OK to have time off. So now I have leanred the subtle signs of when to back off and just take time off and not beat myself up for it.
Colleen
So finally one day it occured to me that it is OK to have time off. So now I have leanred the subtle signs of when to back off and just take time off and not beat myself up for it.
Colleen