MS news notes: Foralumab, Ocrevus, Kesimpta, exercise

I’ve been e-biking for 2 years now. I used to bike often but had to give it up. The e-bike has been life changing for me! Really helps when those legs get tired!

I am fortunate to still be able to ride my bike for 15-20 miles despite having SPMS. I also lift weights a few times a week. I find rowing to be the best overall exercise as it engages the whole body, doesn’t require good balance and you don’t have to use as much leg strength as biking or walking. I do that in winter or bad weather or don’t feel up to the bike.

Get a hand bike - they’re as cheap as $35 and as expensive as $150 depending on the bells and whistles you want (they’re are many on Amazon for example) - but as an ex-runner it’s the only thing I’ve used consistently to get my cardio in and heart rate up every time I use it. And some of them can also be put on the floor so someone “more able” can pedal it with their feet as well. Worth the purchase - as long as you have at least one good hand and arm.

I do a couple seated workouts on YouTube. The "Wheelchair Core" workout on Adapt to Perform and the "Seated Aerobics Exercise Class" on Learning Labs, are a couple favorites. Also, Ashely Freeman has two seated aerobics workouts, as well as seated yoga classes, on her channel. Some of these classes are more challenging than others, so I can choose according to how much energy I have on that day.

I do not have MS and this suggestion may not work for you due to the difficulty of getting on and off of the bike. But I have ridden a Schwinn Air Dyne for around 35 years on a daily basis. If you can manage to get on and off (Perhaps with a stool or some applicance), there are stationary pegs at the front of the bike that you can put your feet on and arm handle devices to use to power the bike. I am on my third Airdyne and have put literally 10s of thousands of miles on each of them with little to no maintenance. If you get either the 1st or 2nd generation bike (big fan and little fan) they are built to last much longer than the newest ones that have been created once Schwinn was bought out. Anyhow, just an idea. I have a niece in her 40s that has dealt with MS for around 10 years. I admire you for your efforts and hope that you can find something aerobic that works for you. God Bless.

I use the online MS-Gym which provides daily exercises geared to MS. There are regular HIIT sessions which are chair based, such as boxing and running. Both raise the heart rate so I guess if you wanted to increase your aerobic exercise then you could do this most days? Personally this programme has been a game changer, making me fitter, improved my eyes, balance and general resilience. It gives me hope and a sense of control over what is a crappy condition. Best of luck Ed. https://www.themsgym.com/

Hello,
my self Hema 32 years old and recently i have been diagnosis with MS. I am scared that after some time i be not able to do anything by myself also the treatment of MS is too expensive for me.
I am in stage of RRMS the attack was come in May 2023 and now i am fine but some times in my leg and hands i feel numbness can you please tell me the numbness is normal .

i was taking AVONEX Injection weekly from JUNE 2023

Hi I was on a few of the medications discussed and now on Kisempta. Surprisingly this med works good for me.

I was reading your discussion on exercise. Before MS I ran, walked, played tennis, loved bike riding and swam. Now, I can’t do anything and gained tons of weight. Recently I started using kettle bells and doing sit to stands. I feel so less than a person not being able to do much. Tried the gym but when I work too much my right side shuts down. Such a drag