I really hesitated telling my story because I have read plenty myself and I only wished that it was me but sometimes it just cant be. There are so many who just can't do it because of balance etc.


Tips for strength: Note, you can over due it and I have countless times. A setback can set you back for a month but with patience one can get through them.

Goals - This is most important.

Patiance - Second most important.

Swimming - If you have excess this is great!

(What I do for my legs) I do get the deep down aching pains in my quads and it really hurts BonDon so I can relate a little to what kind of fatigue pain your having. House work still really gets me tired and is a big hurdle. I have found hiking is just a release from the grind and makes me stronger too.


Leg extensions - I use to sit on the kitchen counter top and just extended my legs up and down. Trying to make my quadriceps as tight as possible. Now I have a universal weight machine that has this.

Squats - Just little ones, standing and holding onto something. Think of your legs getting stronger as you do them.

Stair Steppers - I use my stars at home. I just step up then back down without turning around. When one leg gets tired I switch. I do as many as I can.

Tips for setbacks: - Go slow (it years here) and pay close attention to what your body responds too. For some reason I found that if I ice me feet down as soon as I'm done exercising for a half hour and then apply led lights it responds. If I'm in bad shape I will do this several times a day for a week or two. I think it keeps the swelling down. I take my lights with me to work even and I have ice packs in the fridge there. Basiclly I think it's the cold and then warm effect that's doing the most good but the light might be helping too.

Here's where I bought my lights but I think there's better out there now: http://heelspurs.com/led.html

Since my hike last weekend I have been doing this everyday day and I don't think I will be ready for another hike for a couple of weeks but that's ok. I have my whole life. (That's what I tell myself)


All this work only builds the body. It doesn't make my pain any less in fact it can make it much worse. There's so many other area's like food, sleep, supplements, etc. which is my goal to learn and apply for a year to see if it helps.

All I can say is exercise (hiking is my passion) helped my pn. Somehow some way.

Good luck.

-Marty