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Ah, how convenient.

I had a vertigo relapse two months ago. I am pretty much back to normal now, and started going back tot he gym on Monday Ever since, the vertigo has been creeping back.

Any ideas what it could be? Maybe I am jumping to conclusions...

well working out and sweating can drain nutrition...

Numerous vitamins and minerals have helped patients suffering with varying intensities of tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo. Omega 3 Fatty Acids are essential to brain health as these fats help nerve cells transmit information. Fish oils or flax seed oil can be used to meet this need. Supplements necessary to reduce symptoms are based on an individual's clinical history. In general, magnesium and calcium are important in maintaining regular nerve impulses, the B vitamins are necessary for normal brain and central nervous system functions and zinc promotes a healthy immune system. Vitamins C and E exercise their antioxidant power to fight free radicals that can damage the fragile workings of the inner ear and brain. Each of these vitamins and minerals helps in different ways, but all help to maximize proper function of the hearing and balance systems. Unfortunately, specific dosage recommendations are impossible without the knowledge of each patient's specific medical history. You may find benefits from keeping a low sodium diet and avoiding nicotine and caffeine as all of these affect blood pressure and may increase your symptoms.

i also read how ginkgo biloba helps with vertigo... but "ginkgo biloba depletion" from working out is not going to be a realistic part of the scenario...

what's your daily regimen punchy? sorry if i'm making you repeat yourself!

Does it stay worse? When i exercise my symptoms get worse but then they do improve.

Is it when you exercise that it gets worse?

I think exercise will always temporarily make you feel like horse squeeze. It's not very incentivizing to continue and you just have to accept that it's good for you. Exercise historically would charge us up, but it always makes me feel like absolute hell, but the next day I usually feel more "solid and stable". I think it's just a temporary flare since everything always does that when our body temp. goes up. Couple that with exertion and I, for one, look like and feel like a drunk when I'm done. In my case I just have to defer my gratification from a good workout to the next day.

Exercise and MS is a total oxymoron. Your ability to do it has been severly compromised, yet it's even more important to keep moving the muscles and doing it now more than ever. To me it's just part of the 'fun' of having this crap. I spent most of yesterday in Atlanta and had to walk further than I usually do in a day. It was sssoooo hard on my legs and knees and feet. But this morning my legs feel better than they have in a few weeks. Just my $0.02.

Lew

Thanks for the input.

I exercise everyday, so there's no feeling good the next day. It's not like it flares up just after I exercise - since Monday it has been constant; maybe a little less when I wake up in the morning but then quickly comes back.

I have tried cold showers and long cool-down periods after but that doesn't seem to have worked. I'm not going to the gym over the weekend so I'll see if it goes away and whether it really is the exercise causing it.

You're right Loob, it's nearly impossible to feel motivated.

I used to go everyday too. Now I go every other or even every third day. It just takes so damn long to recover!

Hey Punchy-
Sorry to hear about the exercise fatigue. Jeff has the same issues...his legs are jello the day after a hard work out. He's found that if he mixes it up during the week....hard bike ride 1x, walking 3x, weights 2x....and alternates days, he doesn't get too fatigued in any one place. Like you, he's really dedicated to keep moving, and keep those neuronal pathways chugging. He tries to fool his brain by changing up his workouts. Seems to be working OK. Lew's right about how the "rewards" of exercising come a couple days after the fact.

Jeff had a rough night last night...everything hit him, how this is his life now, and the pain's not going to stop. Man, I really feel for everyone with chronic illness. You guys are my heroes!

keep goin', punchy-
AC

There must have been something in the air last night Joan. I had an emotional time last night as well. Same thing, not being able to see forward with any hope. I haven't cried much over my MS, maybe 3 times over 7 years counting last night. I'm just not put together to boo hoo about much that happens to me (I cry like a kid at movies and stuff, but you know the diff.), but sometimes the relentless "it never goes away " just gets to you. I had been in contact with a fellow MS'er who is not doing so hot and after I read the EDSS scale and read about the number he is at, I just lost it. Probably as much for me as for him, but when you have got glimpses into how f'ed up this can get, it can be unsettling. I read his number and even though I'm not there, I've felt enough MS to understand what he's going through. Man can it get tough sometimes. I used this to describe MS to my wife the other day.

"MS sucks because unlike cancer and other horrible diseases, it robs your life away, but leaves you around to watch it live and in color". I mean I don't wish cancer on myself or anyone, but sometimes you just get frustrated that there are other horrible diseases which you can at least try and fight and sometimes win. With this shit, you try and get in the way, but somehow it always seems to find it's way through a crack eventually. I absolutely hate my MS right now. Not that I ever liked it, but I'm really pissed at it right now and not wanting to be OK with it at all.

Bodybuilding (yes bodybuilding) and exercises with vibro machines (power plate like) promote muscle AND nerve regeneration and affect much stronger than every other type of exercise MSers!
This probably due to the massive increase in natural body endorphins that work as immunomodulators and stabilize hormones.

loobie sorry you're having such a bad time too

Thanks JL,

I imagine I'll come out of it. I always have, but I always have had a little improvement to help boost me out of it. My legs just haven't been gettng better at all. There are many days of stability, and even some days where for half the day or so I think there may be something good happening, but it keeps going back to sludge.

I felt better spiritually after I cried last night. Since I don't cry for myself very often, it is usually very cathartic. Like I said, if I watch a movie, or even a show, that makes me cry it doesn't have the same effect. I guess I know it's close to the surface since I do cry so much at stuff like that now. Maybe I need to do some 'loss grieving' or something, but thanks for the well wishes. That always helps.

Hey Lew-
Really sorry to hear about your friend's MS progression, your legs bothering you, and your hard time with it all. I can tell you are not the kind of man to hold a "pity party" for yourself-neither is Jeff. But it's really important to acknowledge your pain and struggles. Crying, screaming, whatever....it's good to release it. You have every right.

Like Bono sings, "some days are better than others." Seems the moods wash over Jeff now and then. Before his diagnosis, I chalked it up to depression...but we know better. I don't try to cheer him up anymore- just let him experience his emotions.

Wishing you some better days...
AC

As others have said, I am under the impression that exercise temporarily exaggerates your symptoms but causes no damage(actually benefits you)

Hi Loobie
sorry to hear you're going through a hard time right now.
I always feel much worse after exercise, and the day after too. I only exercise 3 times a week now because of this, but it does benefit me. I just need more recovery time than the average person. Another MS "adaption" I resent, but I keep reminding myself at least I am able to exercise at all.
Hope you are feeling a good bit better soon.

WW,

That's funny you should say that because that's the exact same advice my neuro. gave me. I was telling him how for about the first week back into a regular routine I would get pumped up because I could feel the benefits the next day. But then after about a week of it, I would have one exercise session where I couldn't do much of anything. This has repeated many times here lately and he said take one day on two days off. I started back up again today and don't plan to exercise until Tuesday. I hope we're onto something here because even when it hurts, you still have a feeling of accomplishment upon finishing. It's good to hear others echo what I'm going to try. Thanks!