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Laura Parry, 18, from High Peak, Derbyshire
In 2004, Laura had what she described as a 'funny turn' at
work, followed bysome painful and distressing symptoms; her
vision went blurry, her arm and tongue went completely numb
and she had an excruciating headache. To make matters worse
she found she couldn't speak properly to explain to her colleagues
what was happening to her.
Laura's symptoms confused Doctors, who at first diagnosed
her with a 'migraine', and she spent months trying different
medications and painkillers. She continued to suffer from
extremely painful headaches and fatigue, which meant she was
unable to work, until one day, she lost her job.
After undergoing numerous assessments, including a brain scan
and eye tests, and an appointment with two neurologists, Laura
was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
She was sent home from the Hospital with little idea of what
this entailed or how she could overcome it. She explains:
"I left there feeling so confused, I'd never heard of
CFS and the Hospital
never even mentioned that this was in fact ME."
Laura was deeply affected by her illness, and she spent many
months 'trapped' at home and unable to get out due to her
fatigue and other symptoms. She continues:
"There was no support from anyone on the medical side
and I ended up
depressed and gaining a lot of weight. There didn't seem to
be any way for
me to fight it."
After 8 months, Laura knew she must do something about it.
She knew of the Brain & Spinal Injury Charity through
her Mum and contacted them for help.
She soon started volunteering for the charity, and then learnt
about the opening of its power-assisted exercise facility,
BodyBASIC.
She applied for a job to work at the new gym and has had her
own 'prescription' for exercise during trials at the centre.
The state-of-the-art exercise machines have not only led to
a healthy one-stone weight loss for Laura, she says it's also
helped her to get her life back:
"If it wasn't for BodyBASIC I would still be sat at home
depressed and have gained even more weight. I'm a completely
different person since I've started assisted exercise therapy.
"It's so easy to just give in when you're suffering from
CFS, but the machines are fantastic, easy to use and do all
the exercise for me. I never thought it would be possible.
Exercising like this has given me more energy and I've even
managed to get myself a house, job and social life. Although
I often get migraine-like 'attacks' where I can't speak or
see, I'm able to live my life again."
Roger Ennis, 57 from Bolton, suffers from Multiple
Sclerosis (MS)
Roger has been battling with MS for 6 years now. Although
the condition is most common in younger people, Roger fell
victim to MS at 51.
Roger first noticed he had a problem when his right foot started
falling behind him and had blurred vision.
MS works like a virus, by attacking the central nervous system.
It erodes parts of the brain and spinal system, but can then
lie dormant with an unpredictable outcome when it ‘returns’.
Roger had to give up his job as a University lecturer when
he was diagnosed, leading to him becoming inactive. He was
told by Doctors that, although the illness wasn’t life-threatening,
they had no way of predicting its course.
Over the years, Roger’s walking has gone very downhill
turn and he has to now use a stick to get about. He has become
very tired and suffers from fatigue, making it hard to get
any motivation to walk. He explains:
“It’s the stamina that’s the biggest problem
– it’s very difficult for other people to appreciate
how difficult this is. It completely wipes you out and drains
you.”
Although Roger sees a consultant on an annual basis, there
is little support by way of physiotherapy available to him
on the NHS. Although he’s constantly worried that his
condition is starting to flare up again, Roger remains positive
and is determined to help himself.
He joined BodyBASIC during trials and, since then, says his
mobility has had the greatest improvement since his diagnosis.
He says:
“My biggest problem was exercise and getting the ‘right’
sort of exercise. I find it too difficult to use a mainstream
gym, and can’t get the energy to do the exercise once
I’m there. The machines at BodyBASIC move my limbs whether
I’m in the mood or not! I’ve now got lots more
mobility and stamina as a result.
“The last thing I want to do is sit at home and vegetate,
and the centre is the only thing that keeps me active. Because
it’s clinically-supervised, I can get lots of advice.
The people who run it are really friendly, so it’s somewhere
you actually ‘want’ to go, rather than a chore.”
As well as getting more movement in his right leg and arm,
which were most affected by his condition, Roger says the
therapy has also improved his fitness and mood:
Glynis Shaw, 53, lives in Irlam, Greater Manchester
(Brain tumour & Stroke)
(Awaiting approval)
Glynis is continually recovering from a serious brain tumour,
which she had removed in 1998. During surgery she suffered
a stroke, leaving her with hemiplegia (weakness down one side
of her body).
Most people would have given up by now, but Glynis has faced
her illness head-on, losing 10 inches during trials of BodyBASIC.
She has also started doing part-time voluntary work for the
charity to keep her active.
Prior to her illness, Glynis used to work as a clerk at an
insurance brokers, until one day her leg started to drag behind
her. Doctors initially thought she had MS, but tests confirmed
that Glynis in fact had a brain tumour.
Since the tumour was benign, Glynis was sent home and booked
in for an operation to remove it several months down the line.
However, during this waiting period she suddenly became violently
sick, and was rushed into Hospital for an emergency operation.
She explains:
"It was bad enough finding out about the tumour, but after
I woke up from my operation, they told me I'd also had a stroke.
This left me completely paralysed down my left hand side."
Glynis stayed in Hospital and underwent four months of physiotherapy,
then she was allowed home with full-time carers. She learnt
to sit in a chair on her own, then gradually, managed to stand
and walk independently.
She initially attended BASIC for aromatherapy massages, which
helped to de-stress her mood and relax her. Then one day,
Glynis learnt about the opening of BodyBASIC, and jumped at
the chance to become active again. She says:
"Without dieting I've lost 10 inches from around my body
- and this is only in 3 months."
Glynis' main problem nowadays is that her left arm doesn't
respond, and she needs to have regular botox injections to
get it moving. The physiotherapy she can now receive from
the Hospital is now extremely limited, so BodyBASIC is the
only way she can stop her muscles from deteriorating through
lack of use. She adds:
"All anybody in my position can really do is walk to the
car and back. There's no way I can exercise on my own. At
BodyBASIC there are qualified staff who know what they're
doing, who assist me on the machines and give me exercise
that's safe to do."
Glynis is continuing to lose weight, build muscles in her
arm and lift her spirits through the power-assisted machines
at BodyBASIC.
Ann Kurley, 53, from Swinton, Greater Manchester
– Spinal Tumour Patient
When Ann Kurley was diagnosed with a spinal tumour, she was
terrified by news that she might lose her ability to walk.
Although Ann found it difficult to stand, or getting up from
sitting down, and she went into denial about her condition,
until one day she could no longer ignore it. She says:
“I didn’t want to admit the problem, and kept
trying to avoid it. Then I stood up one day and, to my horror,
I fell backwards. I thought ‘I can’t keep going
on like this’, and had to face the reality of my situation.”
It was 1993 when Ann first went into Hospital and underwent
the complex procedure of having her tumour removed. The type
of tumour she had can intertwine in the spinal nerves, and
neurosurgeons had no way of knowing before operating what
extent they would have to sever her nerves to remove the tumour.
Ann says:
“There was a real possibility that I would not be able
to walk when I came to from the operation. I was terrified
when I woke up, especially since I couldn’t feel anything
in my legs or back.”
Fortunately, neuro-physiotherapists were able to put Ann at
ease not too long after she woke up. They thought from the
way she was standing after her op that she would be able to
build her strength back up, and walk again one day.
Although this was great news for Ann, the last twelve years
have been a struggle. Following her initial rehabilitation,
Doctors said that there was nothing more they could do for
Ann. She has been on her own learning to walk again and regain
her balance. But Ann is determined to improve things for herself.
She joined BASIC’s membership scheme many years ago,
which gave her access to it’s Neurocare Centre, and
advice and information on her condition. When she heard about
the new Assisted-Exercise Therapy at BodyBASIC she jumped
at the chance of being able to exercise again. She says:
“I’ve tried to join a normal gym before but it
actually did me more harm than good because I was doing things
I shouldn’t have been! It was very painful and not at
all equipped for my injuries.”
Ann has been attending BodyBASIC during trials since September
2005. A neuro-physiotherapist prescribed a programme of exercise
for Ann that was suitable for her condition, and since then
there has been no stopping her. She explains:
“The muscles in my legs had become very weak over the
years. Now the machines are building the muscle definition
on my legs which is improving my walking – I’m
keeping at it, and determined to improve my condition, and
keep fit.”
For the first time, Ann can exercise confidently, and get
the assistance she needs on the machines. She adds:
“I have the peace of mind that I’m in good hands,
and I’m making more progress than I have done in years.
BodyBASIC is not only helping to strengthen my legs, but it’s
improving the way I feel about my situation, which is the
hardest battle you face when trying to recover from a spinal
tumour.”
There is overwhelming evidence that people like Ann can benefit
from exercise, both in their mental and psychological recovery.
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