I can't walk far at all. I had back surgery in 2009, my disc ruptured and I couldn't do anything. It was awful. Had surgery, got better. But have a partially numb left calf and foot. Had my psychosis in 2011. Was put on Seroquel. I didn't know anything about aps. Gained 50lbs. Was very traumatized by the psychosis, it had ptsd elements in it. Quit living life. Felt very ashamed. Back got worse bc weight gain.

Eventually went off Seroquel, but later down the road ended up IP bc I was in a bad mixed episode and was put on Zyprexa. I couldn't sleep on any thing else. Put on an additional 40lbs. I've lost 30 of that. But still have a ways to go.

Fast forward to now. Twisted my knee really bad on new years eve. It still hurts now and then. It's hard to bathe. I can't stand long bc of my back and now knee. I sprain my right knee and that makes it hard bc my left leg and foot is partially numb. I'm scared.

I'm gonna start pt, but I'm so scared I'll never get to being mobile like I was before my psychosis and meds. I'm thinking og joining weight watchers too. Mainly just to get the materials.

Is anyone else dealing with something similar? I would really appreciate any support while I make my way to being mobile again. Thanks

Don't focus on what might happen. Focus on your accomplishments as they happen and they will. I can't imagine how scary this is, but trust Me, you got this. Keep us posted. I'll be here to cheer you on!

I also have a numb left side (shoulder, arm, leg and foot) and I take Lyrica for the neuropathic pain.

Not much you can do but try to stay active. Just go for short-long walks. I do it at least once a day...need to get out more..

Yes I am going through something similar, but my med addiction...well day three now.

Umm get better soon lol

[Victoria'smom]

I have Cerebral palsy. I was suppose to be wheelchair bound by 26. I'm not in a wheelchair all the time but for places like amusement parks I need one. I've gained weight and that's really, really affecting me. I have to stop and sit often. I go to small stores, need help in and out of the tub.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I have Cerebral palsy. I was suppose to be wheelchair bound by 26. I'm not in a wheelchair all the time but for places like amusement parks I need one. I've gained weight and that's really, really affecting me. I have to stop and sit often. I go to small stores, need help in and out of the tub.

That's terrible and I'm sorry for the inconsiderate previous comment. I really do wish you the best of what and where it's needed.

[Victoria'smom]

I didn't find your comment inconsiderate.

Hi Rose,

I am so sorry you have had such a hard time

That is fantastic that you’ve lost so much weight. That is a great accomplishment, especially on Zyprexa.

I think you’re going to find some strengthening plus more healing time is what you need. A really bad injury just takes a long time.

I had a super bad sprain with a break involving my foot and ankle. Several months later it still hurt, no lie. It took almost a year to feel better.

[Pookyl]

I was born with Spina Bifida.
I’ve been reminded by family and friends all my life that I should just be happy that I’m alive and that I can walk.
For me there must be more to life than being alive or being able to walk at ‘nanna speed’.
I’m finding it harder with each passing year to keep a great attitude.
My latest fun diagnosis is that I have a tumour on my parathyroid gland.

Sorry this post is way more negative than I intended. It’s just that life sometimes is just s***

[~Christina]

Rose,

Just keep doing what you can do , if it’s just one more pacing around your home is a positive. Do it as often as you can , each time do a few steps more.

I’m sure PT will be helpful in teaching you the best exercises for you specifically.

Good job on the weight loss, some psych meds do more damage than good in my opinion. They help psych wise but gaining weight is horrible for our bodies and self worth

[unaluna]

(((Rose))) i rolled over in bed while reading your post and i sounded like a Rice Krispies commercial, snap, krackle, pop, between my back and my knee so you are not alone! I recently rejoined weight watchers, they have an online only option if you want. The people on their website are about as nice as us pc'ers, if not nicer!

[pirilin]

I have a teak stool in the shower. Since I got it, I take a shower like 5 days a week. And thanks to that exercise, I hardly use it anymore. Just to wash my legs and feet standing up. Hope this helps.

Thank you for those that gave support. I really appreciate it.

Yeah, Christina I think doing laps around my apt is a good idea. Thanks so much for that.

Prillin, I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

Unaluna, yeah I'm seriously considering ww. It's really sucks having a hurt knee and a hurt back doesn't it? Thanks for the response.

[bluemountains]

Hi Rose,

So much of your life sounds like my own with the great amount of weight gain due to the antipsychotics, and dealing with psychosis and ptsd. Like you, I have past and current injuries that are causing problems in my life.

Also like you, every day is a challenge for me, but your post offers me support knowing that you are moving forward with physical therapy and striving to make positive changes in your life. What I have done is that I now refuse to take any ap that makes me gain weight, and after many trials I am taking geodon. I have managed to lose 25 lbs. of the original 70 lbs. I have gained over time. I fell last week at work, and injured my knee again, so I have stopped walking for now, but this had been the exercise I was doing.

Thanks to the awful drugs we are prescribed, I know there are others like you and me on here. I don't have a lot of advice for success, but I will be around for moral support whenever you need encouragement. Keep us updated, and good luck with the pt!

Bluemountains

Bluemountains,

Wow! We do have a lot in common. I tried geodon and latuda. They both gave me horrible akathisia. I'm now on only 5 mgs of Zyprexa. I have lost 30 lbs. I was down to 2.5 mgs and lost 50lbs, but my son was having troubles and I gained back like 35lbs, bc I raised the dose to 7.5, with my pdoc approval. So I'm back to losing. Zyprexa really helps me sleep. I've tried so many other meds and it helps the most.

Congrats on losing 25 lbs! And I'm so sorry you fell again.

Injuries suck! Feel free to vent here if needed.

[Wild Coyote]

Many know my story. In a nutshell, I was told all of the damage in my feet/ankles was permanent and I'd never get out of a wheelchair. I'd challenged that by starting to walk, even short distances. The pain was excruciating. I also saw a friend; she is both a chiropractor and a PT. (She used to be a trainer for Olympics.) We worked together.

I'd kept forcing myself to walk and would walk laps in the mall, eventually. I'd worked my way up to walking at a fast pace for 2 miles at a time. My friend later admitted to me that I was so impaired, she did not think I'd ever be able to walk any distance; she hung in with working with me anyway. We'd worked well together. I see her for her services once a month now.

I need to get back to 2 miles at each walk; yet, am still doing well with this -- no crutches, no wheelchair.

It's sometimes amazing what we can do once we set our minds to it. I was very fortunate I was able to be "rehabbed."

Rose, you know my story. You know I support you!
I hope this works out well for you!


WC

[Unrigged64072835]

Meds have been hard on me too, weight-wise. My eating's worse, though. I've been through all kinds of weight management programs and nada. I finally lost 20 lbs on Metformin when I had diabetes.

In the past I've had to do 1 hour of cardio and 1 hour of weights before the needle would budge. Now with lower back pain, bursitis in the knees, and tendonitis in the shoulders it's more difficult. I'm just looking to stay healthy now and not worry about the weight anymore.

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Many know my story. In a nutshell, I was told all of the damage in my feet/ankles was permanent and I'd never get out of a wheelchair. I'd challenged that by starting to walk, even short distances. The pain was excruciating. I also saw a friend; she is both a chiropractor and a PT. (She used to be a trainer for Olympics.) We worked together.

I'd kept forcing myself to walk and would walk laps in the mall, eventually. I'd worked my way up to walking at a fast pace for 2 miles at a time. My friend later admitted to me that I was so impaired, she did not think I'd ever be able to walk any distance; she hung in with working with me anyway. We'd worked well together. I see her for her services once a month now.

I need to get back to 2 miles at each walk; yet, am still doing well with this -- no crutches, no wheelchair.

It's sometimes amazing what we can do once we set our minds to it. I was very fortunate I was able to be "rehabbed."

Rose, you know my story. You know I support you!
I hope this works out well for you!


WC

I didn't know it was so severe! Congrats to you for overcoming so much! Really inspiring.

[AspiringAuthor]

right now I have back and foot/leg pain, but not as nearly as bad as yours. Mine is due to both a structural abnormality and a foot trauma. Here is what I learned:

supportive footwear with insoles makes a really big difference. I have two pairs of sneakers that I were alternating, every other day. One is New Balance with a relatively flat bottom and the other is HOKA brand with a rounded bottom. They provide different type of motion. Both have insoles.

I was supposed to start PT but missed it due to bipolar issues. Need to make another appt.

Lyrica and Neurontin might be helpful and have a good side effects profile. I take Neurontin to help me sleep, on top of either Zyprexa or Clozapine. I also find it extremely hard to fall asleep.

Swimming relieves the pain in the moment for me, but then it comes back. We are fortunate in that there is a 92F pool for disabled people with a ramp for wheel chairs. I do not need a wheel chair now, but knowing that should I lose mobility in the future, I will still have access to swimming is comforting.

[Moreta]

I hurt my back bad in 2015 and couldn't walk for 4 weeks without screaming. They wanted to fuse some of my lower vertebra in my spine and I told them to **** off. I really haven't been doing much since then. I ended up getting plantar fasciitis too since then. I've done physical therapy a couple times since then and it didn't help, what really helps me is yoga. My stupid *** went canvassing yesterday and walked close to 3 miles. I'm not in a ton of pain but I'm sore as hell and my feet are throbbing. Been doing some yoga all night off and on to stretch things out so things don't lock up. I didn't think I'd be able to do it yesterday, but I did it somehow. I'm going to start on walking every day for a couple miles to get back into the swing of things for when I go canvassing. Usually I just do short walks around small stores, but I think I can make some progress now. I've been having back issues for 18 years. Had back surgery when I was 15 and it was ok for a few years but the same disc herniated again and I have degenerative disc disease in the last 3 discs in my back. I also have a herniated disc in my neck and degenerative disc disease and scoliosis. It was quite funny when I horrified my partner I was canvassing with yesterday when my neck popped and you could hear all the bones pop. Oh man that feels so good though. Good luck. You'll get there.

[liveforsummer]

Your stories are truly inspirational. I am in awe of all the will, desire, support and perseverance shown in this thread

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

right now I have back and foot/leg pain, but not as nearly as bad as yours. Mine is due to both a structural abnormality and a foot trauma. Here is what I learned:

supportive footwear with insoles makes a really big difference. I have two pairs of sneakers that I were alternating, every other day. One is New Balance with a relatively flat bottom and the other is HOKA brand with a rounded bottom. They provide different type of motion. Both have insoles.

I was supposed to start PT but missed it due to bipolar issues. Need to make another appt.

Lyrica and Neurontin might be helpful and have a good side effects profile. I take Neurontin to help me sleep, on top of either Zyprexa or Clozapine. I also find it extremely hard to fall asleep.

Swimming relieves the pain in the moment for me, but then it comes back. We are fortunate in that there is a 92F pool for disabled people with a ramp for wheel chairs. I do not need a wheel chair now, but knowing that should I lose mobility in the future, I will still have access to swimming is comforting.

Yeah, I definitely need new shoes. Mine are like 5 yrs old. I'll get some next month. Sorry you're living with pain too.