Athletes and PN

[Lernica]

It seems to me that many of us were athletes before developing symptoms of PN. I would like to start a threat asking what athletics you were engaged in before PN, how intense or often you trained, and what exercise you are able to do now.

I was a highschool athlete in many sports, then was a runner and weightlifter for twenty-five years (not heavy to increase bulk but light to maintain fitness). When full-blown PN symptoms appeared in December 2009, I started swimming lengths with a floaty between my legs every second length because of hip/groin/sacrum pain. I cannot walk because of sacrum pain and seized-up pelvic and buttock muscles.

But I love my daily half-hour in the pool and my long post-swim soak in the hot tub. I feel so much better afterwards, and the good effects last for up to an hour and a half. I have heard that exercise is as effective a painkiller as opiates, and I can attest to that from experience.

Lernica

[Violet M]

Lernica, I've always been athletic but not anything extreme -- just running, basketball, aerobic dance, etc. Two months before PNE hit I started the Body for Life program and was doing lunges and squats with weights.

So, here I am 8/9 years later and my best exercise now is walking. I love swimming but I'm not near a pool and I HATE cold water!

[Faith]

I was a competetive swimmer for 8 years growing up. I was always playing intramural sports in college and going to the gym (just cardio and light weights). In the 3 years before PN began I ran 2-3 miles a day, did pilates, aeorbics, hiked, and sometimes biked (not a lot though). After the pain began I gave up everything but walking. Lately I've been having more pain with even walking for exercise. I try to do light yoga sometimes (nothing crazy!)

[scaredgal]

I've been an avid athlete all my life (with the exception of a short period with asthma as a kid, which running actually improved significantly and a few years after first entering the workforce). Running since age 13 (I'm now 51), weightlifting (heavy for about 3 years, until an inguinal hernia put an end to the "heavy") . Also a certified personal fitness trainer, which I did for my own knowledge (only did it as a profession for about a year, part time). I witnessed my mother having a very debilitating stroke at age 40 and inherited her hypertension, my granddad's high blood sugar and inflammatory arthritis which also runs in my family. Although I'm an exercise addict and truly love it, I continue it not just for my passion for it, but my medical necessity to control my other conditions. Basically, the pain from PN cannot put a stop to my working out because I need it for so many other reasons... so I move on through the pain.

[grerichm]

Hello my name is gregg, i believe that i developed it also after being involved with athletics, i ws playing all types of organzied sports and then inj late 2009, i developed PN with really tight bulbo muscles which made me have tight erections and painful ejaculations. Lately i tried a procedure called prolotherapy which caused bladder problems, painful urination, frequency, burning, etc....not sure what is going on, but i am going to dr potter friday to get the t3 mri, i will post my results. Does anyone else have the sexual problems along with the urinary problems.

BTW, i had my urine cultured several times, and it showed nothing.

I pray for everyone to heal from this awful disease,
Gregg