A year ago I wasn’t in a good space. Seven years into a Multiple sclerosis diagnosis I knew my physical ability had deteriorated hugely and my level of disability had increased.

When I was diagnosed mid 2016 I began walking as exercise. Whilst this seemed like the answer it probably wasn’t. I was proud of the 5-6 kilometres I could push to do at once, usually at least three times a week. Often it was ugly, my gait was not great, and it definitly hurt. Eventually I had trouble with a knee, walking became very hard and extremely painful. Whether it was caused by a fall is questionable. When I asked an Orthopaedic surgeon if my MS related gait was causing the issue his reply was “I’ve never known someone to hurt their knee walking!”  Those guys are very black and white! Fortunately, my husband was with me and later told me “He never listened to your question” Another orthopaedic surgeon was more sympathetic to the damage and we came up with a course of action.

I battled on for awhile and my knee improved but the old adage “use it or lose it” came into play. I wasn’t really using anything.

A visit to my physiotherapist resulted in seeing a physio who had some knowledge about neuro physio and Jilly Davies “Head start” program. Fantastic, I was making headway. Then, along came COVID19. We continued with exercise programs on zoom and restarted clinic visits once we were able. Unfortunately, this lovely physio who was helping me so much was from England and while her working visa was extended her family needed her to return home.

In the following years I tried a personal trainer at a gym and another physiotherapist. Neither worked and my mobility and physical ability was getting worse.

In October 2023 I read an Australian book, Whispers of Resilience: Our Stories of Multiple Sclerosis. It told 26 peoples personal account of their MS journey. Quite frankly rather than uplifting, I found it terrifying, confronting and depressing. There was a silver lining though. The referral to ‘exercise physiologist’ popped up several times as someone who had helped individuals with their MS journey.

I had never heard of an exercise physiologist, had no idea what they did and wasn’t sure if they existed in New Zealand.  With the help of Dr Google I discovered Carrie Aspin and PhysioFit, relatively local to me in Cambridge. I still find it hard to describe in a meaningful way what we do, some people hear physiologist and assume physiotherapy others hear exercise and its associated connotations. I would say personal trainer is a better description.

 I’ve learned exercise and MS isn’t about beating your body up in anyway, walking, running, gym work. It’s about a co-ordinated and targeted approach to managing all aspects of MS and its associated challenges. It is very complex and way out of my league to describe.

One year on, the results have been amazing. My annual neurological clinical exam shows an improvement of certain motor functions. Okay, I’ll never physically be what I was prior to my diagnosis, the damage to my spine and brain had already occurred. But I’ve proved to myself that with help from Carrie, hard work, determination and some pig headedness on both our parts, I can achieve more than I dreamt possible a year ago.

So, thank you Carrie Aspin, it’s been a huge commitment on both our parts but for me, such a worthwhile and life changing one.