Suggestions for becoming more active? (and, Newly Diagnosed!)

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I joined this group a while ago, knowing this is what I have. I was

FINALLY diagnosed with PsA and Spondy, after years of being ignored by

different doctors. I'm 36 now, and signs of this have been developing

since I was about 12. Too long to list, some of the symptoms that

stood out were extreme iritis, a number of different infections coming

out of nowhere, flares that move from one joint to another, and of

course psoriasis.

I'm doing a huge WOOHOO! right now, having landed into the hands of

one of the best Rheumy's in Toronto, and hearing his numerous " wow "

responses when reading my history, along with his comment of " I don't

understand why no one has done anything about this. " I could have

kissed the man! I've had serious pain in my lower spine for about 12

years, every moment of every day. Such a huge emotional and mental

relief! Starting on 15mg of Mobicox, taking a stomach med before

dinner to avert any upset from the drug.

I used to be so active, but the past year has been hard. I know I

need to get my butt moving more, but I feel like there's just no

strength in my muscles. Almost like there's no muscle there. I also

know that once you get into it, you develop more energy, but it's the

getting started that's so hard. There's an indoor pool in my

building, which I had just started to use, and it was really doing the

trick....until they shut it down to re-tile it and have been taking

their sweet time, lol! Does anyone have any comments about how to get

your seemingly non-existent muscles moving?

[Guest guest]

Hi Crystalized...

You ask: " Does anyone have any comments about how to get

your seemingly non-existent muscles moving? "

I know that you are living in TO, but how deeply into that big city do

you live? I ask because I find I am most motivated by nature. I can

hike in the bush, canoe down a river, or ski down a mountain much more

easily than I can stand/putter about my home. My feet and legs do best

when the ground is varied and uneven like the forest - not flat and

regular like city sidewalks and lawns. I also have an elliptical

exerciser that is very low impact but good for moving joints and

bringing up cardio-pulmonary function.

With spondylitis, one must keep one's lungs breathing hard so that ribs

and inter-costal regions remain mobile. My feet and knees seem to hold

me back the most. When they are OK, I can generally find the energy to

grind myself through some pain in my back/and SI joints. The key is

not to over extend Oneself. PA/AS people must save some energy. They

must quit exercising before they get too tired or sore. Exercise in

short bursts. Otherwise your body may not have enough energy to make

the repairs it needs to make to your continually damaged tissues.

Best wishes,

Brent from BC

[Guest guest]

I have recently figured out that I am never going to get back into shape and

more active unless I get past that " getting started " you are talking about.

It used to be that I could just jump into a new exercise routine and after a

few days I'd be accustomed to it. But NOW....ugh, I can't even explain how

difficult it's been, and I've put on a lot of weight over the past year as a

result of this disease, which is frustrating because I've never had a weight

problem before this.

But I do know that 5 years ago when I first started the arthritis part of

this disease (and was unaware of what was going on), I was attending a gym

and was able to get into good shape, and it made all the difference. The

disease seemed to go into remission. I don't know if the exercise was the

cause or if it was just a coincidence, but I felt great for about 2 years

because of it. Then I got pregnant with my *last* child and things gradually

got bad again. Now he's 3 and I'm in the worst shape of my life and really

frustrated and debilitated by this disease.

SO...recently I discovered that my pain med of choice (ultram) helps me not

only with pain relief, but it seems to give me energy. I don't know if it is

because it's acting as a stimulant or if it's because my body is energized

by being relatively pain-free! But whatever the case, it is amazing. So I

decided that if I'm too achy/pained/fatigued to exercise, that I can take

advantage of the medication. When I feel that energy burst, I try to do

things that are active while I can. This helps me get some much-needed

exercise. Whether it's on my low-impact cardio-glide or just doing more

household chores than usual, it is beginning to make a difference! I am so

excited, because as I've thought about it, if I can get into better shape

it's bound to help with the disease or at least with the severity of it. (I

hope!?)

So that's my current plan/thought. Anyone have any advice about my plan or

about exercising & losing weight when dealing with PA?

[Guest guest]

,

I just visited my Rehum this week, and she strongly suggested doing

some more exercises at the gym. I usually do cardio a couple

of times a week, but she suggested doing more " symmetrical " exercises.

The conversation kind of shifted so I did not get any specific

exercises recommended. But I'm wondering if there is a book or on-line

guide to recommend routines for helping with the RA.

Good luck.

Orlando

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the ideas. Sometimes I am concerned about when it is good for me

to exercise and when it would be harmful and cause more inflammation.

I did a little research online and found a suggestion for Rheumatoid

Arthritis that would probably apply. It said that during a flare it is good

to do stretching and even toning, but not cardio or endurance exercise. Then

when things are calm it is helpful to do cardio exercises.

So that's what I guess I'll try for. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Slow easy yoga. thats what I've found to keep me from getting too stiff. And

walking 30 minutes per day. I do the yoga by myself because it is awkward now

that I can't use my feet or hands in the way that makes yoga move smoothly. but

I like it best. casey

[Guest guest]

- the only workout my rheumy will allow for me is aquatic. I

tread water for 45-60 minutes several times a week. My ankles and

toes are so painful that even walking is out of the question. If I

walk for more than 20 minutes, I suffer for days. I used to do weight

training regularly, but the tendinitis caused by PA makes that

inadvisable now. For all of us, aquatic exercise will put the least

stress on our joints and tendons.

regards,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

That's a great idea, Sherry. I have been thinking about water exercises.

There's a hotel near here that will let you have a membership at their

indoor pool for wintertime. I'll have to check it out.

I'm still okay with some walking, but only about 15-20 minutes before my

feet start throbbing. It's frustrating. Has anyone experienced what some may

call " burning feet " ? You just feel like your feet are almost on fire. My

teenage daughter used to get it often so the Dr. put her on Ibuprofen 400mg

3x per day for about 2 weeks and it went away. I hadn't understood it until

recently when I felt those " burning feet " ! I realized that it must be

inflammation that causes it. I was wondering if any of you feel that

sometimes?

--

On 8/10/07, S. Zorzi <szorzi_1999@...> wrote:

>

> - the only workout my rheumy will allow for me is aquatic. I

> tread water for 45-60 minutes several times a week.

[Guest guest]

I used to do yoga and really enjoyed it. I haven't for awhile, I'll have to

get going with it again. Thanks for the ideas!

On 8/9/07, casey <denise05775@...> wrote:

>

> Slow easy yoga. thats what I've found to keep me from getting too stiff. And

walking 30 minutes per day.