We can make amazing progress - even before surgery

[GardenB]

Hello!! Five weeks ago I decided to try out the local pool to see if I could increase my range of motion overall. Chronic pain, lack of movement, and all the rest has had me feeling trapped in my body. It’s been like living in a painful cage.

Well I got in the water and using a kickboard just focused on moving my legs with minimal pain. Bit by bit I’ve been able to do more and my bad knee, arthritic foot, and long ago injured shoulder have been able to handle incremental progress. There is no way I could actually do a front crawl and manage the breathing right now, so instead I got what many of the other people use, a snorkel mask.

Today I actually did the full range of motion swimming with my arms, using the mask, for 40 minutes. This is epic for me! Huge and life changing. I NEVER imagined 5 weeks ago I’d ever be doing this. And none of it hurt!!! I can feel my body responding and growing stronger.

I share all this because I’m thrilled to discover that even at my heaviest and 4 months pre-op, I can still make progress. I don’t have to wait to have my life improve. None of us do. I can’t believe it, but small changes do add up. After years pain and problems, I feel like my body is actually working with me instead of against me. I can hardly believe it’s true.

 

[missyinacage]

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. I am really happy for you. For me, the work I put in pre-surgery was really what kept me strong after.

And once you have surgery and the weight starts falling off, you are going to be able to do so much more than you can imagine.

 

[GardenB]

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. I am really happy for you. For me, the work I put in pre-surgery was really what kept me strong after.

And once you have surgery and the weight starts falling off, you are going to be able to do so much more than you can imagine.

That’s so encouraging! Thank you for sharing it with me!

 

[Marie Favorini]

Has anybody had experience with doing water aerobics post-surgery and if so does anyone have any tips of any sort?

 

[KristiLyn]

Hello!! Five weeks ago I decided to try out the local pool to see if I could increase my range of motion overall. Chronic pain, lack of movement, and all the rest has had me feeling trapped in my body. It’s been like living in a painful cage.

Well I got in the water and using a kickboard just focused on moving my legs with minimal pain. Bit by bit I’ve been able to do more and my bad knee, arthritic foot, and long ago injured shoulder have been able to handle incremental progress. There is no way I could actually do a front crawl and manage the breathing right now, so instead I got what many of the other people use, a snorkel mask.

Today I actually did the full range of motion swimming with my arms, using the mask, for 40 minutes. This is epic for me! Huge and life changing. I NEVER imagined 5 weeks ago I’d ever be doing this. And none of it hurt!!! I can feel my body responding and growing stronger.

I share all this because I’m thrilled to discover that even at my heaviest and 4 months pre-op, I can still make progress. I don’t have to wait to have my life improve. None of us do. I can’t believe it, but small changes do add up. After years pain and problems, I feel like my body is actually working with me instead of against me. I can hardly believe it’s true.

Right on!!!!