Guest guest Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 A good part of your pain is probably from the overweight and lack of exercise. Losing weight = less pain just because you're taking the stress off sore joints. It won't halt the progress or anything else, but it sure will decrease the pain and stress. If your hips hurt, don't you think they'll hurt much less if they aren't trying to drag 100 extra lbs around? Weight is a crucial factor in RA pain -- no one can possibly be badly overweight and not suffer more than they would if they were down to their normal weight. Water exercise to lose weight is definitely valid and as you lose, you should notice how much better you feel all around -- less pain, more mobility, more energy, the ability to do regular exercises that you haven't been able to do. Think of it as: the exercise/weight loss won't affect the RA, but it definitely will affect the pain that that extra weight is causing. ----- Original Message ----- From: Ila Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 11:29 AM Subject: Water Therapy (long) Hi allOn Tuesday this week I began water therapy at my request. I practically had to beg my doctor for a script to do this. But she did give me one and my insurance will only cover 20 visits.I am at least 100 pounds overweight and due to pain haven't done much but housework and walking in a long time. Since I can no longer work and my DH, who has a terminal illness, volunteer drives to help with extra income to add to our disability, I overcompensate out of my own guilt because I feel like I am not contributing properly to the house, with housework that would make Martha or any white gloved zealous mother in law proud :-PMy first interview with the (male) PT instructor was about what I expected. He looked at my hands and feet, had me walk back and forth and said that yes, it is very apparent that you have RA and you are in a lot of pain but if you lose weight your pain will decrease and it will be more comfortable for you to move. He also told me that I can no longer be a land based exercise critter but that from here on out I will have to be a water critter which I have no problem with. After all, even though I can't swim a lick and I float like a stone I was in the Navy and I do love the water.Tuesday was my first day in the water. 90 degree pool ahh wonderful!!!! He warned me both before and after the session that I should expect to be VERY sore that evening and the next day as I had been without real exercise so long. I believed him and kept waiting for it to happen. I did an hour of exercise, never felt my heart rate increase, or shortness of breath, and it was sooooo easy and so much fun that I felt guilty that I was having so much fun. Wednesday was my day off and still no soreness, (except for some swelling in my hands from gripping the dumbbells) in fact I felt better than I had in awhile. Thursday I dreaded going back because I was still not sore and I was sure that he was going to tell me that I wasn't working hard enough, or not doing the exercises correctly or that I was doing something wrong.So I go back on Thursday and get in the water and start my exercises and he adds a few extra ones including 3 sets of 12 step ups from the 4 foot section of the pool to the 3 foot section that wasn't even hard for me to do and 3 sets of 12 per leg of lunges. I told him that compared to the way I do housework that these exercises are like a break/vacation for me and that I felt better after doing them than after housework and had more energy. I had my 12 year old with me and she said to him "yeah if you want a workout come over and do housework with Mom and you'll know what a workout really is, it keeps me in shape". She looks like a 16 year old and is in great shape but that is another worry.Well I am again, not sore today but he assures me that if I stick to this that within 9 months time I will notice a difference in my weight, my pain level and my RA, which truthfully would make me very happy even though I am not sure what and how it can make any difference in my RA. Has anyone else done water therapy and had it help? I mean this is am immune disorder and I don't see exercise halting its progression or weight loss halting it though I do see weight loss lifting my self esteem.If you did water therapy were you sore? Did it do anything to help the RA? Do you see any logic to this claim at all? He knows that I can not afford to continue to see him.I have explained to him that since my insurance will only cover 20 visits that I need him to teach me all that he can and then I am going to apply for financial aid at the YMCA and continue on there and he is cool with that.I can see less weight = less wear and tear on the joints which would slow down the normal wear and tear of joints in any person but to say it will slow the progression of RA or degenerative joint disease which I also have just doesn't add up for me.Would appreciate any discussion on this at all.Ila in Maine mailto:sewcraftyila@..."I'm Halloween's answer to Santa Claus."— King Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Thanks , that part I do understand and totally agree with. He just seemed to be making it sound as it it would make the RA halt its progression and I am at a loss as to how that can happen. I am still new to learning about this disease but I wasn't aware that was even a medication that could do that. I appreciate your reply very much. Ila in Maine mailto:sewcraftyila@... " I'm Halloween's answer to Santa Claus. " — King Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Congratulations on starting the water therapy. I am of average weight, size 10 and before and while I got RA I was going to the gym 3 times a week. I don't think your weight has anything to do with your RA, I think that may be true of someone with Osteo Arthritis, which is more caused by wear and tear of the joints and excess weight on them. A lot of people have trouble understanding the difference. > > Hi all > > On Tuesday this week I began water therapy at my request. I practically > had to beg my doctor for a script to do this. But she did give me one > and my insurance will only cover 20 visits. > > I am at least 100 pounds overweight and due to pain haven't done much > but housework and walking in a long time. Since I can no longer work and > my DH, who has a terminal illness, volunteer drives to help with extra > income to add to our disability, I overcompensate out of my own guilt > because I feel like I am not contributing properly to the house, with > housework that would make Martha or any white gloved zealous > mother in law proud :-P > > My first interview with the (male) PT instructor was about what I > expected. He looked at my hands and feet, had me walk back and forth and > said that yes, it is very apparent that you have RA and you are in a lot > of pain but if you lose weight your pain will decrease and it will be > more comfortable for you to move. He also told me that I can no longer > be a land based exercise critter but that from here on out I will have > to be a water critter which I have no problem with. After all, even > though I can't swim a lick and I float like a stone I was in the Navy > and I do love the water. > > Tuesday was my first day in the water. 90 degree pool ahh wonderful!!!! > He warned me both before and after the session that I should expect to > be VERY sore that evening and the next day as I had been without real > exercise so long. I believed him and kept waiting for it to happen. I > did an hour of exercise, never felt my heart rate increase, or shortness > of breath, and it was sooooo easy and so much fun that I felt guilty > that I was having so much fun. Wednesday was my day off and still no > soreness, (except for some swelling in my hands from gripping the > dumbbells) in fact I felt better than I had in awhile. Thursday I > dreaded going back because I was still not sore and I was sure that he > was going to tell me that I wasn't working hard enough, or not doing the > exercises correctly or that I was doing something wrong. > > So I go back on Thursday and get in the water and start my exercises and > he adds a few extra ones including 3 sets of 12 step ups from the 4 foot > section of the pool to the 3 foot section that wasn't even hard for me > to do and 3 sets of 12 per leg of lunges. I told him that compared to > the way I do housework that these exercises are like a break/vacation > for me and that I felt better after doing them than after housework and > had more energy. I had my 12 year old with me and she said to him " yeah > if you want a workout come over and do housework with Mom and you'll > know what a workout really is, it keeps me in shape " . She looks like a > 16 year old and is in great shape but that is another worry. > > Well I am again, not sore today but he assures me that if I stick to > this that within 9 months time I will notice a difference in my weight, > my pain level and my RA, which truthfully would make me very happy even > though I am not sure what and how it can make any difference in my RA. > Has anyone else done water therapy and had it help? I mean this is am > immune disorder and I don't see exercise halting its progression or > weight loss halting it though I do see weight loss lifting my self esteem. > > If you did water therapy were you sore? Did it do anything to help the > RA? Do you see any logic to this claim at all? He knows that I can not > afford to continue to see him. > > I have explained to him that since my insurance will only cover 20 > visits that I need him to teach me all that he can and then I am going > to apply for financial aid at the YMCA and continue on there and he is > cool with that. > > I can see less weight = less wear and tear on the joints which would > slow down the normal wear and tear of joints in any person but to say it > will slow the progression of RA or degenerative joint disease which I > also have just doesn't add up for me. > > Would appreciate any discussion on this at all. > > Ila in Maine mailto:sewcraftyila@... > > " I'm Halloween's answer to Santa Claus. " > — King > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Okay, , I agree with you there! What I meant is RA exists no matter what weight you are. I guess I have a sore spot for people and even doctors who are ignorant about RA vs OA. When my RA hit first in my feet some doctors told me I needed to change my shoes. Yes, that would make me more comfortable but poor shoe support was not why I had RA. > > > > Hi all > > > > On Tuesday this week I began water therapy at my request. I practically > > had to beg my doctor for a script to do this. But she did give me one > > and my insurance will only cover 20 visits. > > > > I am at least 100 pounds overweight and due to pain haven't done much > > but housework and walking in a long time. Since I can no longer work and > > my DH, who has a terminal illness, volunteer drives to help with extra > > income to add to our disability, I overcompensate out of my own guilt > > because I feel like I am not contributing properly to the house, with > > housework that would make Martha or any white gloved zealous > > mother in law proud :-P > > > > My first interview with the (male) PT instructor was about what I > > expected. He looked at my hands and feet, had me walk back and forth and > > said that yes, it is very apparent that you have RA and you are in a lot > > of pain but if you lose weight your pain will decrease and it will be > > more comfortable for you to move. He also told me that I can no longer > > be a land based exercise critter but that from here on out I will have > > to be a water critter which I have no problem with. After all, even > > though I can't swim a lick and I float like a stone I was in the Navy > > and I do love the water. > > > > Tuesday was my first day in the water. 90 degree pool ahh wonderful!!!! > > He warned me both before and after the session that I should expect to > > be VERY sore that evening and the next day as I had been without real > > exercise so long. I believed him and kept waiting for it to happen. I > > did an hour of exercise, never felt my heart rate increase, or shortness > > of breath, and it was sooooo easy and so much fun that I felt guilty > > that I was having so much fun. Wednesday was my day off and still no > > soreness, (except for some swelling in my hands from gripping the > > dumbbells) in fact I felt better than I had in awhile. Thursday I > > dreaded going back because I was still not sore and I was sure that he > > was going to tell me that I wasn't working hard enough, or not doing the > > exercises correctly or that I was doing something wrong. > > > > So I go back on Thursday and get in the water and start my exercises and > > he adds a few extra ones including 3 sets of 12 step ups from the 4 foot > > section of the pool to the 3 foot section that wasn't even hard for me > > to do and 3 sets of 12 per leg of lunges. I told him that compared to > > the way I do housework that these exercises are like a break/vacation > > for me and that I felt better after doing them than after housework and > > had more energy. I had my 12 year old with me and she said to him " yeah > > if you want a workout come over and do housework with Mom and you'll > > know what a workout really is, it keeps me in shape " . She looks like a > > 16 year old and is in great shape but that is another worry. > > > > Well I am again, not sore today but he assures me that if I stick to > > this that within 9 months time I will notice a difference in my weight, > > my pain level and my RA, which truthfully would make me very happy even > > though I am not sure what and how it can make any difference in my RA. > > Has anyone else done water therapy and had it help? I mean this is am > > immune disorder and I don't see exercise halting its progression or > > weight loss halting it though I do see weight loss lifting my self esteem. > > > > If you did water therapy were you sore? Did it do anything to help the > > RA? Do you see any logic to this claim at all? He knows that I can not > > afford to continue to see him. > > > > I have explained to him that since my insurance will only cover 20 > > visits that I need him to teach me all that he can and then I am going > > to apply for financial aid at the YMCA and continue on there and he is > > cool with that. > > > > I can see less weight = less wear and tear on the joints which would > > slow down the normal wear and tear of joints in any person but to say it > > will slow the progression of RA or degenerative joint disease which I > > also have just doesn't add up for me. > > > > Would appreciate any discussion on this at all. > > > > Ila in Maine mailto:sewcraftyila@ > > > > " I'm Halloween's answer to Santa Claus. " > > - King > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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