Exercise

[Cade]

Are swimming and walking really the only exercises we can do? I've been losing a lot of weight through walking recently but I was thinking that I'd like to do some exercises to lightly build up my arm and abdominal muscles but I can't think of anything that isn't known to cause pain for people with PN.

[Violet M]

I work out with light weights, but when I started exercising again after PNE surgery I introduced new things slowly so I knew what caused flare-ups and what didn't. I think the recommendations for just swimming or walking are for people who are diagnosed with a likely nerve entrapment, with the nerve entrapped between ligaments where it might get damaged if it can't glide when stretched. If you have a tight pelvic floor even without an entrapment you probably want to avoid exercises that would cause further tightening of the pelvic floor. So, maybe lying down on a bench and using arm weights without engaging the pelvic floor too much might work. Another good arm workout would be an upper body cycle. You can get ones that allow you to stand up rather than sit down. http://www.biodex.com/sites/default/fil ... anding.jpg
https://tinyurl.com/y9vk5euq

You can also get mini arm bikes that you set up on something.

Violet

[Cade]

I don't think I have entrapment because stretching that area actually relieves pain instead of causing it for me, but I do think I have a really tight pelvic floor, it always feels swollen (seeing a pelvic floor specialist soon to get it figured out). Are all abdominal exercises off limits for me? And the problem with the laying down with weights idea is that laying on my back sometimes causes an increase in nerve pain so I'd have to figure out a way to do it while relieving pressure from the sacral area. I'll look into the bike. Thanks.

[Violet M]

Cade, I don't know for sure what's the right answer for you. In my experience, stretching gave temporary immediate relief but over time stretching the nerve pushed me over the edge into full-blown PN pain. Maybe the PT you will be seeing soon can give you some recommendations specifically for you.

Violet

[Cade]

That's interesting, thank you for sharing that. I never did any prolonged stretches and I'll be sure not to try them unless my PT thinks it's a good idea.