Walk This Way

 

 

 

Whaat?   A guy with multiple sclerosis is gonna talk to ME about walking?

That’s laughable.

Next, you’ll tell me a heart patient is talking about snow shoveling….a diabetic who’s making cupcakes….or a chemo patient chatting about hair growth.

 

All kidding aside, My Odd Sock, accompanied by his two sidekick canes, wanted to take a walk—and we did!

 

 

But before I spin my tale, let me say, anyone who is remotely familiar with the words on these pages (and still have their sanity), will know that I am a BIG advocate of exercise.

Exercise will help you manage your MS.  It helps you mantain strength, balance & flexibility.  Exercise will lift your spirits and shoo away the dark clouds of depression.

We as MSers are not perfect (I have the dribble stains in my underwear to prove it!), but even with our limited physical abilities–we can use what we have left and improve it through movement & exercise.

 

 

 

That’s why I decided to strap on my well-worn wheels, head to the local track and see just how far I could drag my butt.

 

It was one foot in front of the other draggy-foot in a battle of shoe leather versus the asphalt.

 

 

I chose the local, high-school track because of the smooth, level surface.

No cracks to contend with.  No holes.  And no dips (if you don’t count me).

 

           

 

I rose from my wheelchair like in a zombie from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video.  And began a lurching, clumsy, baby-giraffe like shuffle, quad-step.

Alternating left-cane, right-foot, right-cane, left-foot with the precision of a Wankel engine.

 

 

 

 

A caveman moved with more grace.

(My back about as hairy.)

(Yo Grog–put on a loin-cloth!)

 

 

 

 

There were no speed records set here.

Government moves faster.

It was a grind as slow as a retired female stripper at the neighborhood senior center.

 

I made it down the straightaway, stopping several times for a slight respite.

I turned around and retraced my steps back to the comfort of my wheelchair.

All totaled, it amounted to a hike of over 200 yards.

Pretty good for an Odd Sock.

 

I was whipped for the rest of the day, but it was a good whipping.  And I vowed to return and do it again in the coming days.

 

My point is, you gotta do what you can with what you have.

You don’t have to step-drag 200 yards like me.  Walk to your mailbox or back & forth across your living room.

If you can’t walk, reach with your arms & kick with your legs.  Stretch as far as you can.

Lay on the floor and try to roll over.  Lift a canned good over your head for added resistance.

And the next day—do it again.  But try to do it more times than you did before.

Do it because you can.  And you’ll feel better for it!  (Just call me the Jack Lalanne of gimps!)

 

I’d love to hear about what you do–how it makes you feel.

Tell me how it helps you coexist with your MS.

Walking.  Moving.  Exercise.  It’s not just another groin pull.