Problems with just couch to walking and cleaning

[notlikingthis]

I'm trying to go from couch to just walking and housekeeping as a start.

I'm a stone over weight, older, and been living in a recliner chair in one room for six years until two weeks ago.

I'm staying with a wheelchair bound friend. Shes pushing me to move around a lot with her, but its leaving my back and legs really hurting and with my feet boiling.
I'm so embarrassed because she just accepts being in pain every day to get things done and finds it worth it. But her bodies actually broken, mines just not being doing much, so she thinks I will hurt less in the end, but got no idea when.

I have to stop moving at all by five or six o'clock, even though she's still going, having problems getting to the toilet at night, and am waking up really stiff and hurting. Hot baths help a bit but only for a short time.

Are there stretching exercises or other things that would leave me in less pain, or is this just my punishment for how long I've not been moving?

Well, she's quite right about the need to move around. Parts of your body (your spine) does not function without movement and will cause you real mobility problems. Can you maybe write down a plan to increase your movement in a more gradual and sustained manner? For example, an hour of movement on week 2, an hour and a half the following week. There's no point exhausting yourself on day one then not being able to move for the next week. It sounds as though you really need to increase your muscle tone. Whole body movement is so very important.

Do you have underlying health conditions / issues which have prevented you from moving? Had something recently caused you to stay with your friend?

And there are LOADS of free videos on YouTube with stretching for beginners and to improve mobility. But getting up and doing housework/gardening is very good for you.

Such a lot of unanswered questions but please don't saying wheelchair bound as it's offensive. Wheelchair user is the preferred term now.

How old are you? Why have you lived in a chair in one room for years? Do you have any health conditions? Why are you so inactive? How did you come to be living with your friend?

You've already made a big step by getting up and about, you're doing so well.

It sounds like you've had some significant issues, have you spoken with a GP about this? They might be able to get you more support, whether mental or physical. For example, a physio could set you a structured plan to help you get up and about quicker, and enjoying better health for now and future (you can also do this privately, if you have any funds to do it).

Best of luck with doing this.

Please take some multivitamins with extra Vitamin D to make sure your bones have the right things to get strong again
keep going, this is fantastic for your future self.
and it takes at least six weeks up to three months to feel better for increasing activity

It's not a good idea to drastically increase the amount of exercise you are doing, especially if your body isn't used to it.

If you want your body to not be in pain (from the exercise anyway, can't comment on any underlying health conditions) the best advise is slow and steady increase.

Pacing yourself throughout the day - get up and do a task (washing up, showering etc) then give yourself a break. Then get up and do another task,

Dependent on your inactivity you might need to rest for anywhere between 10 mins and a few hours between tasks.

A stone is not a lot to be over weight especially while being that in active for so long. As pp said slow and steady. Rest in between tasks. Increase activity time gradually 5 minutes a day maybe then have the odd quiet day in between too

I'm sorry for the wrong words to describe my friend. I didn't realize they were offensive.
To answer the questions, I asked my friend if I could stay with her for a bit to try and get a break and some help.

I'm in my 60's. I had an accident eight years ago that caused brain damage.
I got diagnosed with FND and IBS a few weeks after but didn't really understand them then. My marriage, friends and job all went.

I saw physiotherapists in hospital and as an out patient.
I did everything I was told to but when the FND didn't get better they said it was because I didn't want it to. They made me feel so bad I stopped going, but I did still do the exercises for about nine months but they didn't do anything.

I used to go shopping and to jumble sales too much before the accident, but got much worse afterwards because I had more time. I stopped going out shopping after I realized I couldn't get rid of anything to make room for more.
When Covid happened I was told I was vulnerable because of medication. I realized how much I'd still been collecting before even though I hardly went out anywhere. When restrictions ended there was so much good quality stuff just being put out to take that I thought it was better I just stayed in.
It's embarrassing but I ran out of room apart from the chair and narrow paths, and just stopped moving around much.

I was much heavier but my friend sorted out a diet meal delivery service for me which has worked because I can only eat what I have. I don't really do internet things much as I'm not that smart on it.

That sounds really tough, I'm sorry

Thank you.

I didn't think about it when I asked, that how and why I got into this state mattered in how to get out of it. I am on auto immune suppressant medications but apart from not knowing were to start telling what you tube videos would be good or bad advice, I don't think there are any underlying reasons to not just try and get fit.
I just didn't realize it would hurt this much to just keep up with my friend doing normal things.

Have a look, at Dr Jo on YouTube. She is a physiotherapist who has videos about lots of different conditions, as well as advice about stretching.

HOWEVER, you really need a thorough and comprehensive workup from your GP, including not just your physical ailments and your diet, but also your mental health and the hoarding issues.

It seems to me that you would benefit from counselling, possibly CBT, and seeing a physiotherapist and a dietician.

Thank you.
I know you're right. I'm too unfit to get to GP and back and can't afford a minicab. Gp is waiting for me to get fit enough to get to hospital and back to refer me back to physiotherapy.
I saw a dietician and have a list of what I'm allowed to eat and not, but comfort ate anyway, and I was supposed to organise counseling on the internet but didn't manage it.
I don't feel safe to tell Gp about the hoarding. They've given me good reasons not to, so I'm trying to sort myself out.

There may be local charities or volunteers who help with transport for medical appointments. Check with your doctor's office and the hospital.

The Reablement service would visit you at home or at your friends to help you with physio and modifications to your home. Your GP could refer you. I expect they have quite a waiting list at the moment though.

I think you may need to speak with your GP again, or an alternative GP in your practice . Waiting for you to get fit enough to be able to attend the physio doesn't seem to make sense if you need to physio to enable you to safely move again .

Thanks for ideas on transport.I don't think we have anything like that but I will make sure.

I did have reablement service for a few weeks when I came out of hospital years ago. It's six weeks free and then you have to pay. It wasn't physiotherapy, it was relearning how to do things safely at home. It caused lots of rows and was too expensive for what it was.
You only get it here if you've been in hospital for a long time, not when you've just made yourself unfit.
The only modifications my home needs is me to sort it out.

I've only talked to the Gp on the phone but they said to just start moving around more every day and Id soon be able to get to them, so I don't think it is unsafe just that it would speed up getting fit. Everything's just a lot more painful and for longer than I thought it would be.
I've had a try of some of the Dr Jo stretching exercises and they hurt, but lots of things clicked and clunked so I'm hoping that's a good sign.