Interesting info on the myotonic dystrophy. Never thought about having more than 1 thing going on.
My Dr. took a biopsy of the thigh muscle and said that there was scar tissue instead of regenerating cells in that sample. So he thought that the muscle just dies when torn instead of building back up. So he warned me not to do too much exercise.
But after not exercising the last few years, (since being retired I don't get the work out like when I was a letter carrier) I can see a dramatic muscle loss. There can't be any more loss than this, so I might as well try working out slowly, as you suggested.
Today is a new day and I am going for it! I really appreciate your help, Jenna. Have a great day and take care!
I don't know what scar tissue in a muscle biopsy would indicate. I had a biopsy which came back normal, but I did insist they take it from my leg where I had more myotonia, rather than my arm, where I have more weakness....I didn't want to lose my precious arm muscle :-) In my legs, I had plenty to spare.
>I have a bit of an aversion to doing any weights with my legs because I'm worried increased strength/muscle will mean increased myotonia, and I don't want to lose the mobility I have.
My legs hurt the least when I was doing the most serious body-building-type lower body weights.
Like you, I have less strength and less pain in my upper body, both.
Stretching does NOT help MC contractions, in my experience, and can actually worsen them. You have to force the muscle to shorten, relieve the cramp, and then stretch the uncramped muscle. Stretching the cramped muscle will make it cramp harder.
That said, EXERCISE is the best thing you can do for the condition! The size of your muscles is NOT associated with the severity of symptoms. Hypertrophy is in itself harmless. Exercise moderately every day, and you will be in the least pain.