Have you had any experience training people with progressive neurological disorders?

[Salvatore]

Hey Coach,

Just curious if you have previously/currently trained people that have chronic/progressive neurological disorders? Do you have any tips for me, or an abbreviated routine that I could follow? My symptoms are similar to that of Multiple Sclerosis, but it has been ruled out as a diagnosis thus far:

- Heavy fatigue
- Heat/exercise intolerance
- Numbness
- Pain
- Assymetrical weakness/general weakness
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Vision problems
- Any amount of pressure on my limbs or body effectively cuts off circulation, so squatting leaves me pretty messed up.

My neurologists are still scratching their heads though, trying to figure out what's going on. It has been 2 years since my symptoms and decline started.

I have been doing the basic SS routine (minus powercleans), and it basically leaves me comatose for the next 2 days. I really do not want to stop training and become weaker than I currently am.

Thanks for your time.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I have trained people with MS between attacks, and training seemed to keep the situation in check. I am not familiar with your situation at all. Sorry. Do as much as you can, but don't overtrain. You'll have to learn how for yourself.

[Salvatore]

I have trained people with MS between attacks, and training seemed to keep the situation in check. I am not familiar with your situation at all. Sorry. Do as much as you can, but don't overtrain. You'll have to learn how for yourself.

Ok, thanks alot. Whatever is going on with me follows a relapsing-remitting course, I actually just got out of hospital again a couple of weeks ago. Each time I have these episodes, it takes something away from me though or makes an existing symptom worse. I'll be honest, it's getting to the point where I don't want to be here anymore, I feel that terrible everyday. I'm 24 years old, and I still have alot that I want to achieve.

I was always a fan of lower volume routines, even when I first started training and was pretty clueless.

How does this look?

Week 1
Mon - Deadlift 1x5/2x5?
Wed - Bench 3x5
Fri - Squat 3x5

Week 2
Mon - Deadlift 1x5/2x5
Wed - OH Press 3x5
Fri - Squat 3x5

How would my progression fare by alternating bench and OH press every week?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Ok, thanks alot. Whatever is going on with me follows a relapsing-remitting course, I actually just got out of hospital again a couple of weeks ago. Each time I have these episodes, it takes something away from me though or makes an existing symptom worse. I'll be honest, it's getting to the point where I don't want to be here anymore, I feel that terrible everyday. I'm 24 years old, and I still have alot that I want to achieve.

I was always a fan of lower volume routines, even when I first started training and was pretty clueless.

If you think that the volume is more a factor than loading, try some triples for a few weeks, no sets across, and see if that helps you recover while still training a little.

[Salvatore]

Thanks Coach, I will try it for 3-4 weeks and see how I feel.

[Will Morris]

Has an Opthamologist done a complete eye exam on you since the onset of your symptoms?

[Salvatore]

Has an Opthamologist done a complete eye exam on you since the onset of your symptoms?

Hi William,

Yes I have seen an Opthamologist, every test has been normal. Other clinical tests including MRI of the brain and spine, lumbar puncture and nerve conduction studies have been normal. These have been repeated every few months for the last couple of years. Originally they diagnosed it as either Guillain-Barre syndrome or Transverse Myelitis. I came down with a cold, recovered, and a week later I became paralyzed from the waist down, could not stand, pass urine or use my bowels. That happened within the space of 4 hours. Since then I have had relapses every few months, with my upper body now affected. I have no feeling anywhere, I can only sense different temperatures or pain.

At the moment they are trying (guessing) something else, and looking at it as an ion channel disorder. They have prescribed me Diamox (Acetazolamide), which is used to treat glaucoma, epileptic seizures, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, altitude sickness, cystinuria, and dural ectasia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetazolamide

I don't know how they came to the conclusion to go down this route, they possibly saw something different in my latest blood panels. Why do you ask William?