Reply To: Pre-GBS conditioning & GBS ambulatory status

I had been a semi-professional tennis player and was in very good physical condition pre-GBS. GBS took me to being a quadriplegic in 10 days. That was in 2008. I was subsequently diagnosed with CIDP/MFS in 2009 and I am still wheelchair bound today. I don’t think physical conditioning pre-GBS has much to do with post-GBS recovery.

The disease attacks the fatty insulation (Myelin) that surrounds the nerve fibers (Axons). Without the insulation the nerve signals simply short out before reaching the muscles. The muscles themselves are still there in whatever condition they were pre-GBS. The muscles begin to weaken as we are no longer able to exercise them. In my case my legs and feet atrophied.

One of the keys to a better post-GBS recovery is how much Myelin damage was done. The body can rebuild Myelin at the rate of 1 millimeter a day, which is only 0.0032808 ft, this is extremely slow but there has been little that can be done to speed up the process. I don’t think physical conditioning has much to do with Myelin growth.

Getting early treatment for GBS is the best way to get a better and faster recovery. If you are lucky enough to have a mild form of GBS you will recover sooner and more thoroughly.

Here is a survey you may find interesting: http://mycidp.weebly.com/doctors-seen–fitness-levels.html