For those who (like me) find that the pain gets suddenly and drastically worse when they do exercise it is worth experimenting to find what you can do without spiking the pain (even if it isn't traditionally defined as exercise) and doing it. Any movement counts. I started out not being able to do much of anything, though sometimes I could walk a little very very slowly, I still can't go anywhere fast (forget jogging, it isn't going to happen), but I have gradually been able to increase my distance and speed to where I am at least able to call it exercise now. The farthest I have gone is about 3 miles (which was a bit too far, I hurt for that one), but I am really proud of my 3 miles. It is hard not to compare what I could do before the headache to what I can do now, but the fact is that they are different, but at least I am doing something and that something is gradually getting bigger. So even if comes really hard and doesn't give energy or help your head (I haven't noticed either of those benefits, but I never liked exercise even before the headache), it can still be worth doing. In my case it has been nice to see that at least in one area I can push back the limitations that the headache has imposed on my life, even if I have to do it very slowly and gradually (that alone has been worth the walking). Mary
NDPH support group leader
Dementia support group leader
Not a medical professional...just another patient with my own set of experiences to share. |
