It's been kind of a "on the fence" pain day for me. I can feel a migraine and a shoulder flare hovering in the background, occasionally rearing their ugly heads and chomping down for a bit before slinking back to the shadows. For the last two weeks I've been coping with a two different migraines: week one was the result of sensory overload from a shooting range, week two seems to have been a sinus/head cold deal. I am still a little sick. The point is, I don't feel very awesome. This morning, I braved windy conditions to attempt a walk, but the cold wind was too much for my head, even as bundled up as I was. Robbie has had only a few walks during my migraine weeks, and mostly treadmill time. It gets him exercised, but it gnaws at me because it isn't as good for him as walks and heel work. This afternoon I didn't feel up for a walk, but didn't want to do treadmill time. So we compromised. A Good In-BetweenOn days when you don't have the energy or don't want to go far from the house, doing simple heel exercises mixed with playtime in your own yard (or in your home if it is raining) can be an excellent way to give your dog exercise without totally exhausting yourself in the process. Tools Needed:
How to Work Your Way Through:
By the end of the timer, Robbie & I both got 30 minutes of exercise, but without the increase in pain that might have arisen from a walk, and with the safety net of knowing that if a flare struck, I was only a few steps from the house not 1/4 mile or more. If you needed to sit more, you could easily come up with a 30 minute yard session based around activities you could send your dog to do, as well as do heel work in shorter increments such as 1 minute at a time.
The next time you don't quite feel up for a walk, give this a try!
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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