Pulling muscles

Yes, I feel like my body has really been put through the ringer! I read a while back that some areas had exercise rehab sessions to recover after treatment, but I've yet to come across one... maybe see if there's one in your area?

And I'm sure your GP won't think you've lost it! I'm sure it's pretty common!!

Hi, I also wonder if I will ever get my strength mental and physical  back. I am now 8mths post chemo, 6mths post mastectomy, 3mths post radiotherapy. It is almost a year to the day when 1st diagnosed and I feel so sad still. My gp has been amazing and reassuring but I don’t want to go on pills to get over these feelings. My poor body has had so much pumped into it, cut out of it and been zapped  it struggles if I take a paracetamol. I thought I would at least get control back but I am too tired. 

The hardest part is friends and work  think I am better now and should get on with living. I am joining some fitness classes once schools go back in sept and today read an article by Laura Fulcher which led me to this site. Small steps which I hope will help me. 

Hi Claire, 

I found fitness really really helped me with my fatigue and mental state so I do hope it helps you too! I ended up doing Couch to 5k, inspiration from another Laura - https://www.mission-remission.com/Running-All-Over-Cancer-Couch-To-5K  I feel like a totally different person now! I am a few years down the line from you, so don't beat yourself up about still feeling sad. I still feel like it sometimes, but things do get better x

Hi folks

I'm several years post treatment and have found that time is the best healer of all. I spent several years worrying but for the last 18 months have gone from strength to strength - regaining and even improving fitness and energy levels. I work out in the gym many times a week and feel fab for doing so. Take it easy in the first months and years - be gentle on yourselves and take things at your own pace. H x

Fatigue is pretty common, but gentle exercise helps overcome this. Today NHS England repeats this - but doesn't follow its own advice !  It can be dificult to find suitable exercise, but I found hydrotherapy incredibly helpful.  Perhaps this forum could write about what is available in our own areas.  I have started to compile a list on aftercancers.com/hydrotherapy if anyone has a pool in their area? 

Just passing by the forum and saw this old post of mine! It is so relevant as I only went and pulled another muscle yesterday again! Feel very old, my poor body!

So glad to see this post. I'm 5 months post chemo and my arm muscles feel as if they tear at the least bit thing. I hadn't realised that I would be feeling so fragile after finishing treatment and that it would take so long to recover. 

I was in a similar position not knowing how much exercise/effort I could indulge in when my fitness advisor in our local Prostate Cancer Support Group suggested using a rowing machine. For me it was easy because my daughter had one stored in my garage, but I encourage anyone to try and get access to one. The big advantage I find over any other form of exercise is that you control how much effort you put in and how far you move. I have bone metastases and was worried about over stressing myself, both in terms of effort and range of motion. With a rowing machine you can control both, in contrast to a bike exerciser which forces a particular distance of motion. After four months of ‘rowing’ twenty minutes every morning I have gone from 2600 meters rowed per session to 3500 meters with the same subjective feeling of exertion and my lower back pain has diminished to almost unnoticeable. I also find I am walking more erect and climbing stairs much easier.

Hey that’s real progress, great with the rowing.

Doing whatever form of exercise you enjoy most is the key to building strength, fitness and longevity into your exercise journey .. initial enthusiasm will only get you so far.. A planned structured approach tends to yield better long term results. 

As Scott says above finding exercise that you enjoy is the key, I find that even if you can't exercise keeping moving is important, our body's have been through trauma and any movement is better than none. Taking everything slowly and gently build up strength. Yoga is a good way to start if you feel like you're not sure how to start ?

Liz x