Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 I love the warm water exercise classes sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. Here's a link to find the classes in your area: http://www.arthritis.org/events/getinvolved/ProgramsServices/AquaticProgram. asp <http://www.arthritis.org/events/getinvolved/ProgramsServices/AquaticProgram ..asp> I especially like that it's affordable, $25 a month in the San Francisco area for 1 hour class per week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 One other thing I like in addition to warm water exercise, is certain exercise videos. I have found that the Arthritis Foundation's PACE Level 1 Gentle exercise video is doable even when my ankles are swollen. Also, the Sit and Be Fit television show on PBS. I recently got a Sit and Be Fit video especially for arthritis from Collage Video. Those are my favorites right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 Hi Liz, I find I have to ration exercise, I have to find the limit for each exercise, go over that limit and I get pain. I'll have to keep exploring, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 Liz, My doctor told me that warm water exercise would help with weight control. I didn't believe him, but sure enough when I started doing it a couple years ago, I stopped gaining weight. Then, I stopped doing it and started gaining again. I'm back doing it now. I've lost a few pounds but that could have been from the stomach flu. Anyway, I find the Arthritis Foundation warm water exercise classes very helpful. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 Hi Kay sounds like a good idea, I was thinking of trying Tai Chi, I hope I spelled that right. Something that would give me flexibility. I walk about 20 minutes a day, I do my back exercises for Ankylosing, but getting good aerobics is hard. Dancing might be the answer, I have two left feet, and would have to call it something more macho like 'football playbook moves' I read about the rock climbing contest your son was in, very impressive! Take care, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 In a message dated 4/15/2003 3:34:27 PM Pacific Standard Time, supermattvan@... writes: > Dancing might be the answer, I have two left feet, and > would have to call it something more macho like 'football playbook moves' LOL, Oh, guys taking dance lessons are The Most Popular!!! So..if you are married, sign up as a couple, if single... go have a Blast! And not to worry... we all have two left feet when we start. I still have two left feet half the time. Thank Heavens Adrienne managed to get one left And one right. I > > read about the rock climbing contest your son was in, very impressive! > > Thanks! I am so proud of the young man! He was asked to join the climbing team at the gym he climbs at. He is so excited. They are supposed to be 12 to join...and he is 10 and a little bit. So tonight he is at the gym, taking part in a shoe demo ( means he gets to try on lots of shoes and chose one's he likes the best) And then after the shoe demo, he is going to baseball practice. Never a Slow moment! K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2003 Report Share Posted April 16, 2003 Matt, I have severe problems with exercise, it is so easy to make things worse. Like others have mentioned, warm water exercise has proved to be the best for me. But, I can't do the arthritis foundation recommended stuff, it's too vigorous for me. I found a hydrotherapist who primarily works with MS patients - they have a high degree of fatigue like me. She gave me a program that I can tolerate and feels good. First, I wear a flotation belt. That is not a life-saving vest, but something like a flat noodle that fastens high around the chest - you should find one in a sports store. That keeps me upright in the pool in deep water. And in chest deep water, if I slip, the belt catches me and I don't jerk and hurt myself trying to keep from going under. Just 'floating' upright is very relaxing, it provides a gentle stretch on the spine. For active exercise, I very slowly bicycle my legs, moving at even a moderate pace gives me muscle spasms. So, I can slowly move over a part of a lane this way. I can also use my arms slowly to move as well. I can alternate arms and legs or use them together. This proved amazingly helpful for me and was the only thing that gave me some improvement in strength, flexibility and ease of pain. And I was loosing weight at a slow but steady pace. And, all I did was active exercise for 1 minute, rest for 4 minutes and repeat for a total of 3 'sets'. When I stopped, I was up to 4 sets. I stopped because I got that horrible skin rash in early Feb - no pool use with open sores. Then caught a cold, got bronchitis, blew out my back coughing, etc. I'm only now just barely able to move enough to go to my other physiotherapies (massage, manipulation). So, I have to get started again, hopefully soon. You are still working so you are probably a lot stronger than I am, so you should be able to do more active exercise in the pool. But, I'd still recommend using the flotation belt - you wear it up high, just under your armpits. To benefit your back the most, you need to be in water at least up to your armpits. The right size belt will keep you floating at just that level in deep water. With the belt, you can focus on exercising the parts that need it and not have to worry about slipping or staying upright or keeping your head above water. And you can stop and rest immediately if you feel a pinch or spasm. I tried Tai Chi with an instructor who taught a class specifically for the local Arthritis Foundation. She was very understanding about not being able to hold positions or move through all the motions. And she was able to alter the full program to suit you as an individual. I had trouble because I couldn't stand and hold my balance without holding on to something. So, I alternated with sitting in a chair and doing the arm movements and using my rolling walker and doing the foot movements. But, there were plenty of others in the class with quite severe arthritis that were able to do the entire program. I quit because even doing only abbreviated movements, I would get too tired and had to lie down for half-hour before I could manage to go home. I actually got tired of people at the center being overly concerned and coming up and asking every 2 or 3 minutes if I was ok - not good for resting. G supermattvan@... wrote: > I am going through another exercise program. I was wondering what kinds of > gentle exercise others on the list found useful. I have AS with fusing so I > find it hard to find gentle exercise that doesn't end up doing more harm than > good. Any suggestions or experiences? > > -- kjg@... Canberra, ACT Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2003 Report Share Posted April 16, 2003 this was very helpful---about the water exercise. Where would be a good place to get the floatation device at a reasonable price? It sounds like that could be an aerobic exercise that would be good. Tai Chi sounds good but is that going to satisfy the requirements for heart strengthening through sustained aerobic exercise? I do have a huge problem with fatigue.. sometimes not as bad..but yesterday wasa terrible day for me. I was at volunteers and I had to stop and rest every little bit. Then I had to rest after my shift before I could go back to the volunteer office--it is a long ways down. Then I had to rest before the long trip to the car. When I got to the vol office, also, I found it locked for some reason. The security guy came to unlock it but he said from now on you need to just come get the key yourself. There was no way I could explain to him how much it had drained me just to walk to the office ONE TIME let alone go to and from security again!! They just do not get it!!!!!!!!! Liz ~~~~~~ " This is the day which the Lord hath made; Let us be GLAD and rejoice in it! " Psalms 118:24 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EMAIL: juliette@... **ICQ 49746198** MSN-LizKP1952@... PERSONAL HOMEPAGE PAGE http://members.tripod.com/~LizK ADDult HOME PAGE: http://members.tripod.com/~LizK/addult.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2003 Report Share Posted April 16, 2003 Thanks Liz. This group has helped me so much, it helps even more that I can help others. Where to purchase the flotation belt. I got mine at Sportmans Warehouse. Mine is a simple width of foam about 8 inches wide and long enough to fit around my back from armpit to armpit. It has a belt threaded through it that fastens in the front and can be tightened or loosened easily - like an airplane seatbelt. It was the cheapest I could find. Several of the swim clubs - at gyms, etc, carry various other kinds, nicer ones, softer, more pliable, but much more more expensive. Since I bought mine, I've seen similar ones in K-mart and places that sell noodles, etc. Usually they come in 2 or 3 sizes, mine was marked with a recommended weight so I 'knew' what size to get. Even so, I didn't like the fit so well and used a bread knife to cut some pieces off, espcially where it fits under the arm pits, and also to get the right flotation I wanted. That was a big advantage to getting the cheaper 'piece of foam'. The expensive ones have covers of various types and would be very difficult to alter. Now, remember, I'm in Australia, so what and where in the US I'm not sure. I looked on the internet, starting with swimming accessories and found the following sites. This will give you an idea of what to look for. But, if I lived in the US, I'd use the yellow pages and call around locally. It's better to see and try on before you buy in my opinion. Ask for flotation belt, water jogger belt, aqua belt, etc. Sites: http://store./lane4swim/aqtrimfloatb.html http://www.swimtowin.com/ http://www.kiefer.com/ this one has unmanageable direct access http address, click on T & F Accessories and keep looking til you find a flotation belt http://www.swimthings.com/swimthings.jsp?cat=swimwear & scat=aquafitness this site had 3 things you could use, one I've never seen before, fits under the crotch instead of around the waist/chest. These on line belts are much more expensive than I paid, more in line with the ones carried by the clubs I mentioned. I think I paid $25 Australian (about 15 US) for mine, whereas the clubs were charging 60-90 (about 40-60 US). As far as aerobic, my opinion is something is better than nothing. I'll worry about aerobic when I can tolerate more than one minute of constant movement!!! Actually, Tai Chi may not quite fit the aerobic definition, but it is supposed to give an excellent conditioning to all muscle groups including the heart. Once you can do the full sequence of movements, it takes about 30-40 minutes of continuous movement an probably provides enough for aerobic fitness as well. A lot of fatigue is a side effect of poor conditioning as a result of lack of just plain moving because of pain, etc. I am quite sure this is true of me. But, for me, and maybe for you, I am in such poor shape and so sensitive to muscle spasms that it seems impossible to get past any initial step at conditioning. That was the best part of the hydrotherapist who worked with MS patients. She was very familiar with this fatigue factor - MS patients have nerve problems and enormous fatigue problems, a different cause than us, but require a very slow, cautious approach to exercise. This therapist was way cautious about overstressing. She made me slow down further than even I though I should/could go and she made me rest more than I thought I needed and she proved correct. That is, if I kept going til I felt a tiredness, then I would just collapse and not be able to go on. So, she started out by finding out what made me feel the first start of tiredness then cut that amount of movement and time in half. It took 6 sessions with her and each session she cut what I had done the previous session in half before she was satisfied that that was a good -starting- point. Even I thought it was excessively slow. From the point where she said - this is your regime - I almost thought what is the point, because, I got into the pool in the shallow end, walked very slowly to the deep end - about 10 meters - floated for 5 minutes, bicycled my legs for 15 seconds, floated 5 minutes, walked to the shallow end and got out. I did this for about 4 sessions before she increased the regimen by doing 2 sets of 15 seconds of bicycling. So, how is that for very easy exercise. Truth be told, everytime I got out of the pool for these first 10 sessions, I had to have two people pull me out of the pool (pool attendents) because I couldn't even walk up the steps, then had to lie down at the edge of the pool for half an hour before I could get up and go to the dressing room where I lay down for another half hour before I could change and go home. But, by session 9, I could tell a difference, I was getting stronger - I only needed to rest 20 minutes before going to the dressing room. When I stopped (because of the rash) I was doing 4 sets of 1 minute active, 4 minutes rest, warmup of walking 3 times up and down pool, warmdown the same, I could get out of the pool by myself, rested for 30 minutes before changing and that was mostly precaution rather than a real feeling of fatigue. This was 9 months after I had started the hydrotherapy, just to give you an idea of how slow (but steady) my progress was. I started by going once a week, and was going 3 times a week at the end. If (when?) I ever get stronger, I would like to try Tai Chi again, but, after this past 8 weeks of pure torture, I feel like I am back at step one and wonder if I will ever get even to the place where most people start. Oh well... Regarding the security guard, yes, I know. People just have no idea. Even those who are very sympathetic and try very hard to be helpful just have no idea. Good luck, I'll be glad to answer any more questions. G. Liz Kilpatrick wrote: > this was very helpful---about the water exercise. -- kjg@... Canberra, ACT Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2003 Report Share Posted April 17, 2003 matt, try swimming or at least aqua-aerobics of some sort. i swim nearly every day and almost always feel better after a good swim in the pool. james in taiwan. _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2003 Report Share Posted May 13, 2003 I Loved this Ling ) That is one exercise I just might be able to do ) Love Helen Here's an exercise I have been doing to stay in shape. You might want to take it easy at first, then faster as you become more proficient. "Don't be afraid to be yourself. You are unique and special just the way you are." Sue Calwell & ((((((( RAINBOW HUGS ))))))) LOVE HELEN angelbear1129@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 , I took Bev's advise and joined CURVES. I really like it and it works great! The first month I lost 16.5 inches. Good luck! Debra H. San , TX Dr. R. High Point 7-16-02 212/175 --- SHANNON GREEN <greenmail@...> wrote: > Hi all, I wanted to hear what kind of workout > everyone is doing or what you did the early weeks > after MGB. I'm currently doing yoga and treadmill. > > Just curious if there is anything to " tighten up. " > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2003 Report Share Posted September 22, 2003 Hey all - I just wanted to chime in on this exercise thing. I had surgery in March of 2003, so I am about 6.5 months out. As of May, I joined Curves, the gym for women, and it is amazing. It is truly so easy. I mean, it is a work out and is effective, but it is so easy to fit in. Your workout is always 30 minutes and while you are working hard, it is not so bad that you dread it for the next time. As far as results, I don't know how to measure what Curves has done vs. what this surgery has done. However, I do know that I have virtually NO hanging skin (I'm also 23 yrs old). I haven't weighed and measured yet this month, but in the first 3 months I worked out there, I lost 28 pounds, 23 of which were fat. And, I have lost 6% body fat while I have been there. I can definetly tell that my muscles are more toned than before, and that is exciting. I have always been a person who has hated excercise. However, when you can actually see the results because they aren't so covered by fat they are invisible, it is very fun. I have also began running some lately. And, I used to HATE running and I still don't enjoy it, but it is bearable now. It is amazing what carrying 75 pounds less weight around can do for every step. THese are just my thoughts on exercise. From my view, I would say at least try it again, and see how it feels. I bet many of us will like it much more now than we did no matter how much we still have to make ourselves go. n 3/6/03 275/200 > Hi All, > > Exercise has made the biggest difference in my body and in my post MGB life. > I work out on the ellipitical cross trainer several times a week and have > become a dedicated weight trainer as well. I was stuck at 147 for over 1 > year. My weight has come down to about 140 but my body looks very very > different...I look small now. Arms and shoulders and legs are toned. Even > my saggy saggy breasts look slightly better. I still need plastic surgery > for belly and breasts but weight lifting....man....its really the best for > mind, body, and spirit! Nothing makes me feel better than seeing th muscle > tone. And the cardio workouts are aswesome for my depression and anxiety!! > > All the best, > > in DC > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself with MSN Messenger 6.0 -- download now! > http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/tracking/reach_general Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2003 Report Share Posted September 28, 2003 Hi everyone -- Jeannine from Kc here. I am all for exercise but I think n hit the nail on the head when she said she had no hanging skin but was also 23 yrs old. I know the older you are and the longer you have been overweight, the longer that skin has been stretched and I'm not sure if it ever will go completely back to normal. I was doing ok with the skin thing till I got under 200 where I haven't been for over 15 yrs and it's starting to show a little now. I am trying to do more weight training and taking essential fatty acid supplements which are supposed to help too. We'll see where I am when I lose 50 more lbs or so. Take care everyone -- Jeannine 283/193 MGB 3/5/03 >From: " ryann_castle " <ryanncastle@...> >Reply- > >Subject: Re: exercise >Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 20:15:36 -0000 > >Hey all - >I just wanted to chime in on this exercise thing. I had surgery in >March of 2003, so I am about 6.5 months out. As of May, I joined >Curves, the gym for women, and it is amazing. It is truly so easy. >I mean, it is a work out and is effective, but it is so easy to fit >in. Your workout is always 30 minutes and while you are working >hard, it is not so bad that you dread it for the next time. > >As far as results, I don't know how to measure what Curves has done >vs. what this surgery has done. However, I do know that I have >virtually NO hanging skin (I'm also 23 yrs old). I haven't weighed >and measured yet this month, but in the first 3 months I worked out >there, I lost 28 pounds, 23 of which were fat. And, I have lost 6% >body fat while I have been there. I can definetly tell that my >muscles are more toned than before, and that is exciting. > >I have always been a person who has hated excercise. However, when >you can actually see the results because they aren't so covered by >fat they are invisible, it is very fun. I have also began running >some lately. And, I used to HATE running and I still don't enjoy it, >but it is bearable now. It is amazing what carrying 75 pounds less >weight around can do for every step. > >THese are just my thoughts on exercise. From my view, I would say at >least try it again, and see how it feels. I bet many of us will like >it much more now than we did no matter how much we still have to make >ourselves go. > >n >3/6/03 >275/200 > > > > Hi All, > > > > Exercise has made the biggest difference in my body and in my post >MGB life. > > I work out on the ellipitical cross trainer several times a week >and have > > become a dedicated weight trainer as well. I was stuck at 147 for >over 1 > > year. My weight has come down to about 140 but my body looks very >very > > different...I look small now. Arms and shoulders and legs are >toned. Even > > my saggy saggy breasts look slightly better. I still need plastic >surgery > > for belly and breasts but weight lifting....man....its really the >best for > > mind, body, and spirit! Nothing makes me feel better than seeing >th muscle > > tone. And the cardio workouts are aswesome for my depression and >anxiety!! > > > > All the best, > > > > in DC > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Express yourself with MSN Messenger 6.0 -- download now! > > http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/tracking/reach_general > > _________________________________________________________________ High-speed Internet access as low as $29.95/month (depending on the local service providers in your area). Click here. https://broadband.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 You can workout any time of day but a step class won't substitute for the cardio. You can still take a step class for fun if you want, but make sure you're also getting 20 minutes of high-intensity interval training three times a week for maximum fat loss. The choreography of most classes and videos isn't what you're looking for. They keep you in a moderate training range for long periods of time rather than stressing intense intervals. That means you'll burn calories while you're doing it, but you won't get the same kind of fat burning benefits in the hours afterward. The interval training is designed to increase your metabolism for the rest of the day. Exercise I'm just starting the body for life program and I have a few questions about the work out. Is it okay to do the recomended workout Mid day or evening if you can't make it in the morning? Second, for the areobic exercise, is it okay to take a step class instead of working on a starionary bike or treadmil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 t, At our facility, we strongly encourage exercise / physical activity, but with the volume of patients that we see (9 surgeries per week), it is very difficult to follow everyone post-op to be sure they maintain a regular exercise program. We don't have an exercise physiologist on our team, but we do provide resources of exercise programs in the community (Curves, etc). In my experience, the ones that are consistent with their exercise after surgery have better weight loss success than those that don't exercise. - Beth exercise Just a quick question. How many of your doctors performing bariatric surgery insist on a fitness program for their patients after recovery? t Rodman RD, LD, CFTRegistered Dietitian, Fitness Trainer and Speaker for Sport, Health and Balanced LivingLevel Fitness - a unique fitness club7687 MacArthur BlvdCabin , MD 20818 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 t, We have a 2,500 sq ft fitness center in our office with treadmills, arc trainers, free weights, and free motion equipment. Patients are required to pay a set maintenance fee prior to surgery that covers all follow up appointments with the doctors, dietitians, a year's membership to the fitness center, and access to the bi-weekly education classes. In addition, at four weeks post-op, every single patient is required to meet with one of our three exercise physiologists in order to have an individualized program developed. We have created an environment where these patients feel comfortable exercising. We believe the access to the fitness center, in combination with the other ancillary services, has enabled a large percentage of patients to achieve nearly 100% EBW loss. Kate Alie, M.S., R.D., L.D. Director of Nutrition Services Medabolix 600 Way Northgate Business Park ton, WV 25311 (304) 347-4313 (304) 347-4316 (fax)>From: "Beth Goodridge" <bgoodridge@...> >Reply- >< > >Subject: Re: exercise >Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 19:15:35 -0700 > >t, > At our facility, we strongly encourage exercise / physical activity, but with the volume of patients that we see (9 surgeries per week), it is very difficult to follow everyone post-op to be sure they maintain a regular exercise program. We don't have an exercise physiologist on our team, but we do provide resources of exercise programs in the community (Curves, etc). In my experience, the ones that are consistent with their exercise after surgery have better weight loss success than those that don't exercise. >- Beth > exercise > > > Just a quick question. How many of your doctors performing bariatric surgery insist on a fitness program for their patients after recovery? > > t Rodman RD, LD, CFT > Registered Dietitian, Fitness Trainer > and Speaker for Sport, Health and Balanced Living > Level Fitness - a unique fitness club > 7687 MacArthur Blvd > Cabin , MD 20818 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2004 Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 Our surgeon has developed a Bariatric Exercise Program. It consists of a 6 week pre-op exercise and 12 week post-op exercise program. It includes 3 sessions with a personal trainer and education session every Tuesday for 30 minutes. They meet twice a week for 1 ½ hours each session. When they join the Bariatric Program they also become a member of the gym which allows them to workout any day. The gym is down the street from our office and part of the clinic. I usually meet with the group every 2nd and 3rd Tuesday of the month and I try to make it more of an informal support group rather than a nutrition lecture. I can’t express how much our patient’s enjoy the program and the success we see after surgery. Lately, our challenge is getting these patients to actually enroll in this program. Our surgeon wants to make it a requirement but he has people coming from far distances to have surgery. However, we also offer a home program as a second choice.  If anyone has been working with this population for awhile you know they will find anyway or excuse not of exercise. We are interested in researching the outcomes of change in body composition over a year and the difference between a pre-op, post-op, and no exercise program.  Beth Whelan, MS,RD,LD Outpatient Dietitian Harbin Clinic office: (706) 378-8163 fax: (706) 238-8037 exercise Just a quick question. How many of your doctors performing bariatric surgery insist on a fitness program for their patients after recovery? t Rodman RD, LD, CFT Registered Dietitian, Fitness Trainer and Speaker for Sport, Health and Balanced Living Level Fitness - a unique fitness club 7687 MacArthur Blvd Cabin , MD 20818 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 Gretchen here... I walked 30 days in a row before missing. Since then I have been walking a lot more than in the past, but not managing every day. It's sure easier to fit into the longer summer days, sometimes a morning and an evening walk. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 , my husband had plantar fasciitis for a few months. It seemed to be getting more troublesome so our family doctor (who does pretty much a little of everything as he teaches new interns the practice of family practice. Medicare won't let you go to a specialist on your own anymore...you have to have a referral. When he looked at it he said to fill a small bottle of water with cold water and freeze it. Take the frozen bottle and roll it with the affected foot, back and forth. This will stretch the muscle/ligament and numb it so it won't hurt as much. It worked, but not good enough. The next time he saw him he game him an injection in the bottom of the food. It was completely better the very next day and hasn't given him any trouble for over a month now. I was so impressed with his results and had my knee injected. I was having trouble with the nerve that comes from the SI 2/L4and5 (the area in this portion of my spine has built up so much bone during fuzing, that it is compromising the spinal cord. It is damaging the nerve that runs down this area to the foot. Well, I know this is a long story...try to make it short...My Rheumy gave me a shot in my knee (over the years I've had many of them....but they did nothing.) This time I woke up and I have no numbness in my foot/leg/knee, I can bend it almost fully and have no trouble climbing stairs. So don't give up afte just one shot....the next might be the dream. She said if this didn't work....would have to go through nerve conduction test. So I don't know whether I was scared the problem away....or whether a new med was used and it mores marvelously. She said that many times with AS knee....the bakers cyst in the back of knee...swells up with fluid and presses on nerve and it makes it so you can't bend your knee. So it may be two problems....the one in SI and the cyst in back of knee. My brother had this happen to him....so it is fairly common. It made my whole leg swell and foot...Kay B. how is your foot? you had the same thing. My husband was in heaven....after the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 , I had both heels go fasciitis one Christmas. Since I was the only one to do the Christmas chores, r & r wasn't a choice. BUT that's what seemed to work best for me. I was told by my rheumy NOT to have cortisone injections because they more often than not created more problems, though the injections might help in the short run. I can't say that anything but tincture of time helped my pain and it was excrutiating. Walking was agony and I lived in a house with Mexican tile floors--lots of them. PT did 'give' me some inserts for shoes that might have helped a little. They are designed for heel spurs, I think but they were prescribed for me with the plantar fasciitis. They have a plug to pull out where the pain is the worst and that took some of the pressure off when I just had to walk. Hope your luck with pain relief is better than mine was and that you have a short session of the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2004 Report Share Posted June 26, 2004 Kay, you might want to try the steroid shot in your foot. My husband had the Plantar Fasciitis for months. Since the day after his shot...he has been completely free from any symptoms! Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2004 Report Share Posted June 26, 2004 Kay B. how is your foot? you had the same thing. Hi Connie, My feet have been bothering me less. I had PT. I'm still having trouble getting Blue Cross to cover the sessions. I called prior to treatment and they told me it would be covered based on the diagnosis code. Later, they refused to cover PT. They said it would have to be covered under a separate insurer for foot care. They said they only cover it if it is the result of an accident with referral through an Emergency room. They have all of the documentation where they agreed to cover it but said that is not a guarantee of coverage. So after a second denial they are sending it to " marketing " to try to get my husband's employer to agree to coverage. I did file through Foot Care and was told I went out of plan so they would not cover it. If Blue Cross had given me the correct information when I called I could have met the requirements to get coverage for Foot Care. What a catch 22!! Also I have Medicare but I don't think they will cover if Foot Care says I went out of plan. YIKES!! This all gets very complicated. I will take it this issue as far as a can to get coverage as I think I'm getting the shaft by the insurance company. If we can't take their word on coverage when we call to get approval what can we rely on. Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 I did not have the cortisone shot because the rheumatologist at a major hospital in Atlanta told me that doing so often created scar tissue that is worse than the original pain and much more difficult to get rid of. I followed her suggestions and have had no follow up bouts of fasciitis though it has been about 14 years since that horrible Christmas. I hope your husband has the great follow up that I did. / AS/ FMS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Thanks June! I've never heard of PACE before, but I looked and found this link where you can put in your zip code (see the box to the right) and find any water aerobics, PACE classes or support groups that are in your area: http://www.arthritis.org/events/getinvolved/ProgramsServices/PACE.asp I had looked into arthritis water aerobics classes before, and they are all on the weekdays during the daytime! I have to work, and I'm lucky I am able to work, so how about having something in the evenings or on weekends? Not everyone with arthritis is retired or disabled! I did join a gym with water aerobics, but I got the scoop in the locker room that the Tue/Thu evening teacher isn't that good, Saturday's is better. But the one time I went she wasn't there that day, and I haven't managed to make it there on a Saturday since. June - you can thank my mom for the reference to sitting in bed to exercise even if that's all you do. That is what she told me when I was newly diagnosed and telling her I just couldn't manage to do any exercise. My excuses were always too much pain, too tired, or not enough time. As you can see, her persistence won and now I'm a believer in exercise for RA. And I even got her to get to the gym and lift weights, so I ended up teaching her something too. Who could have guessed that would have happened. I was feeling down earlier, but I went and bought some fall- arthritis-friendly shoes and I feel much better. I don't know why I was ever so upset to give up high heels. What was I thinking? Comfortable shoes are the best! Jennie > " Pretty much > everyone could do some form of exercise, even if it's just sitting in > bed and stretching. " > > Good statement Jennie, There are Pace classes(People with Arthritis can Exercise) available everywhere and The Arthritis Society can direct you to a class near you. It is quite amazing to see the difference people who start the classes, stiff and unable to move without pain, after a few weeks, greatly reduced joint pain and great improvement in mobility. I can't stress it enough that you will benefit from exercise. > Hugs > June > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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