Arthritis

[vaneramos]

Arthritis runs in Mom's family. She manages the pain in her knees without a cane, but others have been less fortunate. Aunt Gayle was confined to a wheelchair by the time she died in her 50s.

I've always attributed my pains to sore muscles until this summer, with several bad flare ups in my hips, knees and feet. Walking on pavement aggravates it. I described the symptoms to Mom and she said with shock that it's probably arthritis.

Today I went shopping with Danny. For the first time, he had to slow down and wait for me, the one who always strode ahead of everybody else. An aggressive driver sped towards me on a side street, expecting me to hurry out of her way. Idiot! If I had a cane I would have waved it. Then I realized this has begun restricting my mobility.

I need to consult the doctor and find out what to do. Would getting back to light weightlifting be good or bad? In the past it seemed to help. Mostly I have my dad’s excellent constitution. I don’t get sick easily, and don’t like to complain about my health.

But I’m only 41 and this sucks.

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

i hobble a lot due to arthritis, especially after getting up from a chair or from bed. the joints seem to oil themselves, or something, after a while. it's a pain, really. i'm sorry you're experiencing this so young.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's worst first thing in the morning when I get out of bed and my legs are very stiff and sore. But it also gets progressively worse when I'm walking around the city, and I know the pain will be worse later because of it. Hopefully some education will help me improve my lifestyle to minimize it. I had hardly given it any thought until the past few weekends spent in Toronto with the girls, and I had to cut short outings because of it, or take sitting breaks while they were shopping. Fortunately it wasn't as much problem when we were camping; hiking on soft ground was okay, but sleeping on an air mattress was not.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

damn bud be well and keep us posted

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I needed to put this down in words, but I don't plan to complain about it much. I'll write again when I have more information.

Thanks,
and Cheers.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Hon, do water aerobics for the best workouts...there is less strain on joints and you get one hell of a workout.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I have to go with what I enjoy, and although I love swimming at the lake, I hate repetitive aerobic exercises. Swimming lengths is not my idea of fun, and if it isn't fun, I won't do it. I enjoy doing light free weights semi-aerobically because I get satisfaction from the results, not to mention seeing other guys work out. I don't think the weights I use (up to about 35 lbs.) should put much strain on my joints.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

I understand...and yeah, the gym rat eye candy is fun to watch...

I just hope you find an answer for your stiffness...well, at least most of it, some stiffness only another person can help you with!

*evil smirk*

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

I usually think of "water aerobics" as dance classes/jogging (in a manner of speaking) but done in a pool rather than on dry land, rather than laps. As always the best exercise is the one you do regularly, though.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Okay, I understand what is meant by water aerobics now. But I still associate this with swimming classes, which I hated as a kid. Sports in general, for that matter. Obviously I'm going to have to change some attitudes in order to improve my lifestyle. But I already spent years teaching myself to enjoy walking and weight training, so if I can make those work for me, I will.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

As with diets, I think the best plan is, quite simply, whatever works for you. If water aerobics smacks of those horrible mandatory PE classes, then it's not for you no matter how much the rest of us like it.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I did an abbreviated workout at the gym this afternoon, and it felt good! I seem to have lost two or three pounds over the summer, which is also good news. The good thing about working with light weights is the muscle tone supports those joints, plus my routine incorporates stretches.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

Splendid!

[apel.livejournal.com]

I've got arthritis too so I have an idea of what you're talking about. Exercise that doesn't jar your joints is a good idea. Yoga is good, jogging on hard surfaces isn't. The best way to find out if light weight training works for you, is to try it. You'll know within a week or two of taking it up if it has a beneficial effect or if it makes the arthritis worse.

Going to the doctor is a good idea. The fact that it's worsened this much in a short time is worrying. My sister got quickly worse after her first pregnancy. She got to the point where she was in so much pain just from getting out of bed in the morning that she cried. But she controls the arthritis with drugs now and leads an active life. There are things she can't do, opening jars with her bare hands, for instance, but mostly you wouldn't know that she has arthritis.

Arthritis drugs in general are pretty nasty. It's worth taking them if your mobility is impaired and you're in a lot of pain but there are also a lot of self care things you can do. For instance I always wear cushioning insoles in my shoes. It makes a big difference to my knees and hips. And of course glucose amine is my friend.

Best of luck.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Another person mentioned glucosamine, and I think Mom uses it, too. I'll look into it. I also need to save up for a pair of decent shoes. Thanks for all the suggestions. This is very helpful.

[f8n-begorra.livejournal.com]

I suffer from osteo-arthritis also. I am six years your senior. I would recommend getting the necessary X-rays on an annual basis to track the progress of the disease. I find Yoga very helpful, and a good instructor would help you with your specific problem.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

My flexibility has always been poor. I've taken and enjoyed a couple sessions of yoga. I heard somebody in Guelph offers pay-as-you-can classes, so I'll look into them. Thanks for these suggestions.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

I have mild arthritis mostly in my fingers and feet. When I first started noticing this, I took glucosomine and chonditrin (1500mg/1200mg if I got the right units) a day. I did it for a month and it went away. I then stopped for a month and it came back. I now take it everyday and it really works for me.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Someone else mentioned glucosamine, and I think my mother takes it. I'll definitely look into it.