Living with Chronic Illness, Muscular Dystrophy, Periodic Paralysis, Celiac Disease, Migraine, Heart Disease, Diabetes

Say Merry Christmas the Easy Way

It's Christmas Eve, and you have been too sick and tired to send out your holiday greeting cards. Don't despair. you can still send them via e-mail or as a mass text message. I just got a Christmassy text from an acquaintance and it was very nice. So, open up your e-mail or pull out your cell phone and make life easier!

Oh, and my very best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful Christmas, a fantastic Yule and an amazing New Year.

Rodney Robbins

Fitness For (Almost) Everyone

I used to read stories to a charming old lady in a nursing home. Her joints were so confined by arthritis that she used a wheelchair whenever she wasn't in bed. What kind of "fitness" routine could she possibly do? Strangely enough, she could have used the same one I use: "Flex, Circle and Twist." I developed this routine years ago to keep my muscles from stiffening up during long spells of weakness or near paralysis. Here is my "Flex, Circle and Twist" range of motion routine works.

Stand (or sit) and work your way up your body flexing, circling and twisting every joint you have.

• Flex your toes.
• Flex, twist (just barely) and circle your ankles.
• Flex and twist your knees (lower leg).
• Flex, circle and twist your hips joints (upper leg, one leg at a time), and so on right up to the neck and even the jaw bone.

I can stand (most days), so no worries for me doing this little routine, but how does a crippled old lady in a wheelchair do it? She would simply flex her toes as much as she can comfortably flex them. She can circle her ankles as far as they will circle without pain. I know she could only move her lower legs (from the knee joints) about 6" but for HER, that was HER full range of motion. 

This routine has kept my muscles fairly limber for about 10 years now. Sure, my muscles stiffen up during an attack or if I sleep on them wrong, over use them on the weekend, or stop doing the exercise but, I've never developed shin splits from it, never pulled a muscle, never injured my knee and never had a heart attack. With a little guidance from a trainer or physical therapist, these exercises can even be used with people who have very little independent movement.

So, if you wonder where to get started with a gentle Gentle GENTLE exercise program, try my "Flex, Circle and Twist" range of motion routine.

How Elephants Cheer Up

There must be good in the world when an elephant can jump on a trampoline.

Mobility Scooter--Back in the Saddle

I love my Shoprider mobility scooter. I have the portable Dasher model, but haven't used it much this year. Over the weekend, I pulled it out to take use at the mall. It was soooo relaxing! I could zip around and not worry about getting stuck somewhere. My wife and I walked the entire mall, both floors, end to end, no worries. Now I remember why I bought this thing--FREEDOM!

Adaptive Technology for Chronic Illness

Adaptive technology doesn't have to be blatantly obvious or terribly expensive. Try these:

• Boots--to keep you steady
• A nice pen--to make writing easier
• New glasses--to reduce your headaches
• Surround sound--to make it easier to hear the TV
• An automatic transmission--to reduce pain in your legs
• An old fashioned watch--to make it easier to read the time
• An electronic timer--to help you remember when to take your pills
• The Internet--to find new treatment, drugs and restaurants where you can eat

Or, try these two adaptive technology software patches for free:

• Notice the things that make you feel worse, and do them less
• Notice the things that help you feel better, and do them more