A few weeks back, I put out a call for questions to answer on MSMonday. I got some really good ones and one of them was about leg weakness and what we can do about it. I wanted to tackle this one first, since it seems to be another topic similar to last week’s topic where the doc’s answer is just deal with it and/or there is nothing you can do, so just deal with it. I hate that answer, obvs. It takes our power away and insinuates that we can’t do anything about our disease or disease progression.
Nothing fires me up more than getting the word out that you can do more that just wait for progression to happen to you. In fact, that is my passion and drive behind my mission at LissMS. But that’s a story for another day. Onto today’s topic: leg weakness. What can we do about leg weakness? Exercise!
But Alissa, I heard that exercise doesn’t work, since my legs are already not working right because of demyelination, it won’t do anything.
That’s is the conventional wisdom floating around the interwebz these days, for sure. I even read it last week. However, yes, we can do something about weakness, even if it is caused by demyelination.
I’m not talking about exercise in the way that we usually think about exercise, like squats and deadlifts. I think that’s where most people get freaked out in the first place. The word “exercise” is synonymous with strenuous movements. But it doesn’t’ have to be at all. The exercise I’m talking about are exercises in the form of specific movement patterns, that help our neurons bypass the damaged areas so that the signal can still communicate with our muscles and joints to get the job done. #neurology
Leg weakness with MS can happen for a few reasons. Relapses, muscle atrophy and underuse of muscles are the big ones. Usually (not always, but usually) when you’re feeling unstable and weakness in your leg muscles, something is happening in your hip. Our hips are the main drivers of motion of our legs. Whether it is demyelination leading to hip instability/weakness or underuse, hip instability can lead to leg weakness. Hips are responsible for so many things in our bodies, alignment, strength and posture to name just a few.
One of the best exercises to begin with when having leg weakness is a pelvic tilt exercise. In the video you’ll see that I have a ball between my legs, this is to help with deeper muscle and core engagement. If you don’t have a ball, you can roll up a towel or use a foam roller if you have one.
You’ll want to get down on the ground and start in a neutral position- knees bent and hips/back relaxed. To begin the exercise:
5 reps may be too hard, and that’s totally ok. Start where you’re at and build up from there. This will give you a great building block for stability, strength and preventing or recovering from weakness.
If you have any questions/comments, drop them below! I’d love to hear how this goes for you!
I’M ALISSA!
I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,
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My MS Journey Over the Past 10 Yearsfollow along on Instagram:
First, save this for later!
Second, what you gotta know about “managing stress” is:
it really matters how you care for yourself in the moment and afterwards
You see, most of us know when we’re experiencing moments of stress,
but we don’t know how to attend to ourselves to mitigate the impacts.
It all comes down to awareness of:
- Your present moment
- How that moment is impacting your body
Once you’re aware of how the stress you’re experiencing is impacting you and your body, THEN you can start attending to yourself and changing how your body handles stress.
👆🏼👆🏼that’s also how we mitigate stress induced MS symptoms or relapses.
Awareness is always the first step babe.
Wanna know more?
Come to my Masterclass all about stress + MS, Cultivating Resilience
Comment ATTEND below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #spoonielife #thisisms
First, save this for later!
Second, what you gotta know about “managing stress” is:
it really matters how you care for yourself in the moment and afterwards
You see, most of us know when we’re experiencing moments of stress,
but we don’t know how to attend to ourselves to mitigate the impacts.
It all comes down to awareness of:
- Your present moment
- How that moment is impacting your body
Once you’re aware of how the stress you’re experiencing is impacting you and your body, THEN you can start attending to yourself and changing how your body handles stress.
👆🏼👆🏼that’s also how we mitigate stress induced MS symptoms or relapses.
Awareness is always the first step babe.
Wanna know more?
Come to my Masterclass all about stress + MS, Cultivating Resilience
Comment ATTEND below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #spoonielife #thisisms ...
Yes I had been moving consistently
Yes I had been eating my veggies
But, the big thing that has helped over the last few years is regulating my nervous system.
You wouldn’t necessarily think so right away but let me explain..
You see, working on your nervous system means improving the amount of stress your body can handle.
And when your body can handle more stress, you can do more things (like walk miles and miles)
Stress is one of the biggest triggers for MS symptoms and relapses, so working on your nervous system usually brings MS symptom relief.
ESPECIALLY when you’ve “done everything” and “nothing works”
I’m hosting a Masterclass on Feb 18th:
The MS Stress Solution
Inside you’ll learn my blueprint for nervous system regulation that I’ve used with my clients.
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement
Yes I had been moving consistently
Yes I had been eating my veggies
But, the big thing that has helped over the last few years is regulating my nervous system.
You wouldn’t necessarily think so right away but let me explain..
You see, working on your nervous system means improving the amount of stress your body can handle.
And when your body can handle more stress, you can do more things (like walk miles and miles)
Stress is one of the biggest triggers for MS symptoms and relapses, so working on your nervous system usually brings MS symptom relief.
ESPECIALLY when you’ve “done everything” and “nothing works”
I’m hosting a Masterclass on Feb 18th:
The MS Stress Solution
Inside you’ll learn my blueprint for nervous system regulation that I’ve used with my clients.
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement ...
Get in MS girlie, we have stress to manage 💅
But seriously… stress management is the KEY to symptom management when you live with MS or any autoimmune disease or chronic illness.
You see- STRESS is where our autoimmune diseases alllll started.
Either due to emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress… you get the picture, stress is the problem.
And unfortunately- it’s never going away, we can only learn how to manage it better for ourselves and our bodies.
Totally lost on how to do that? I got you!
I’m hosting a free masterclass all about how to manage stress in your daily lives- and in a way that doesn’t add a ton to your already packed to-do list.
Wanna sign up? Duh..
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement #seasonaldepression #healingmultiplesclerosis
Get in MS girlie, we have stress to manage 💅
But seriously… stress management is the KEY to symptom management when you live with MS or any autoimmune disease or chronic illness.
You see- STRESS is where our autoimmune diseases alllll started.
Either due to emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress… you get the picture, stress is the problem.
And unfortunately- it’s never going away, we can only learn how to manage it better for ourselves and our bodies.
Totally lost on how to do that? I got you!
I’m hosting a free masterclass all about how to manage stress in your daily lives- and in a way that doesn’t add a ton to your already packed to-do list.
Wanna sign up? Duh..
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement #seasonaldepression #healingmultiplesclerosis ...
It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??
If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,
You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS
We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.
Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!
#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??
If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,
You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS
We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.
Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!
#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms ...
This is hard!!
We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..
But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.
If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.
Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)
I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!
#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
This is hard!!
We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..
But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.
If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.
Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)
I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!
#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety ...
Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms
I could go on and on.
We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.
Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.
Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems
Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms
I could go on and on.
We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.
Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.
Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems ...
I get it..
It seems like it would be good.
Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..
But what about you??
In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.
I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.
Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.
This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses
And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
I get it..
It seems like it would be good.
Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..
But what about you??
In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.
I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.
Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.
This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses
And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems ...
✨How to do this✨
First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference
Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.
These will serve as your reminders.
Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?
Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine
This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress
This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!
✨How to do this✨
First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference
Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.
These will serve as your reminders.
Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?
Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine
This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress
This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!! ...
✨Moving your body✨
Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.
Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.
Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:
Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance
It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.
Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.
My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.
Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
✨Moving your body✨
Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.
Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.
Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:
Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance
It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.
Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.
My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.
Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems ...
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.
There are SO MANY things that can help us.
But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?
Working on your mindset and stress management tools.
We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..
But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.
Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.
My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.
My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.
There are SO MANY things that can help us.
But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?
Working on your mindset and stress management tools.
We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..
But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.
Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.
My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.
My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!! ...
Changing my diet changed the course of my life.
I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.
PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!
Changing my diet changed the course of my life.
I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.
PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits! ...
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃
We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.
#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃
We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.
#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis ...
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