In most cases, primary progressive multiple sclerosis totally incapacitates the individual. One exception is my client Bob, who I have been working with for several months now. My name is Rivak Hoffman, and I am a medical exercise specialist with Somagenesis Health and Fitness in San Diego CA. My niche’ is complicated rehab, and working with unique special populations. Bob is not my typical client, but my absolute favorite to see and work with.
Initially, when I began conditioning Bob, all the muscles of his upper and lower extremities where terribly tight, and when stretched, always went into fasiculating spasms. Today, Bob has exhibited complete range of motion with reduced spasm’s, and the focal muscular achiness, that accompanies primary progressive MS.
Bob has also reacquired the ability to flex and extend both legs once the muscles are initially primed, and forced into full range of motion. Moreover, his leg strength greatly improves, once primed. Priming involved assisted forced ductions of limbs. Once properly primed, his legs can perform on their own. Moreover, It literally takes every ounce of my arm strength to restrain his leg press’s.
MRI’s have repeatedly shown multiple lesions at C-6 and C-7 and therefore Bob should be completely paralyzed. Contrary to medical science and explanation, Bob can solo ride, a recumbent bike, turning the pedal crank both forward and backwards. Each direction is exercised for 30 minutes for a total of 60 minutes daily.
Although Bob cannot quite yet stand up on his own, I have complete faith that he will eventually stand, and progress to walking with limited assistance. I realize he defies much of what modern medicine believes and understands. Modern medicine is still very immature. His neurologists can’t quite explain what is going on. Any, he has seen the very best at University of Chicago, Mayo Clinic, and now UCSD . This simply proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that primary progressive MS is not the end of the road, it is simply something that physicians have ceased to explore and only theorize.
The great thing about working with Bob is his positive upbeat attitude. This rarely wanes. I really enjoy working with him. He is brilliant, funny, and always sheds a humble perspective on life. Best of all, he always manages to make me laugh to tears, as he recites every funny episode of Seinfeld verbatim!
Stay tuned for future updates on Bob as he shows us all that Primary progressive MS can be overcome. For those of you who have any interesting comments about MS or know somebody with Primary Progressive MS, I would love to read your comments!
