Re: Update - June (a/strength training)

August 18, 2004

a,

I posted about this before but I'm not sure if you saw it. I was

surprised to learn just how many machines at the gym I could safely

operate. My RA is pretty well under control with medication, and I

can lift quite a bit of weight. I have osteopenia and I am very

glad I'm able to do this.

Recently my mom and I went to the gym together. She has no joints

in her hands and feet, her wrists and ankles are collapsing, her

feet are so disfigured it's amazing to me that shoes fit on them and

her hands look like hands of a 99 year old woman. She is on

disability and cannot work. If she goes anywhere, like to visit my

sister or my grandmom, she has to take the next day and rest because

driving (turning the wheel, pushing the pedal) causes so much pain.

In addition to having RA for over 20 years, she's had a brain

anurysm that was successfully operated on but the scar tissue caused

seizures so she's on medication for that, she has severe

osteoporosis (not helped by decades of prednsione and really

advanced after starting a certain seizure medication)... you get the

idea. She is on Enbrel but it can't really help the bone-on-bone

pain she has from joint erosion.

My point in telling you this is that my mom can live weights at the

gym! We had no idea she could and were both surprised that day!

There were some machines she could not do. She could not do weight

assisted chin ups or dips, and I doubt she could do free weights...

but most things she could do fine. It's been a couple months and

it's made a great difference in how she feels.

So I just wanted to say that weight bearing exercises are not out of

the question for most of us. It's just most of us haven't tried it

and assume we can't. You don't have to do a lot of weight and most

machines do not require grip strength or put undue pressure on your

feet. There are also lots of strength training programs which can

be done at home with 1 or 2 lb weights.

It's amazing how much better I feel when I work out and how much

worse when I can't. I know because I can't go to the gym when I

have my daughter, only when she is with her father (every other

week). I have exercises I can do at home (probably should be doing

them right now instead of typing) but I have a hard time motivating

myself after a long day at work and a long evening playing with a 4

year old.

Jennie

> June,

> So sorry that your spine is affected. I also have osteopenia and

have been

> making sure I get enough calcium and vitamin D. Weight bearing

exercises

> are the best thing to build bone, but for most of us that is out

of the

> question. Bless that wonderful husband of yours. I'm so glad

you have

> him! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes.

> a

>

> > Well, I had my appt with the neuro today and it is confirmed

that I have an

> > unstable spine. Next I have to have a catscan and MRI because he

believes

> > something is happening in C6 and 7. I phoned my GP and although

he has not

> > personally called yet (maybe tonight) his nurse said I have

several osteopenic

> > bones(never heard this word before). My foot is getting fatter

so hopefully

> > the bone scan I have on Fri will show something. I am getting

around in a

> > wheelchair inside and my scooter outside so things are not all

bad. My

> > wonderful husband of 53 years is doing everything including the

cooking and I

> > do appreciate him.

> >

> > Hugs

> > June

> >

August 18, 2004

a,

I posted about this before but I'm not sure if you saw it. I was

surprised to learn just how many machines at the gym I could safely

operate. My RA is pretty well under control with medication, and I

can lift quite a bit of weight. I have osteopenia and I am very

glad I'm able to do this.

Recently my mom and I went to the gym together. She has no joints

in her hands and feet, her wrists and ankles are collapsing, her

feet are so disfigured it's amazing to me that shoes fit on them and

her hands look like hands of a 99 year old woman. She is on

disability and cannot work. If she goes anywhere, like to visit my

sister or my grandmom, she has to take the next day and rest because

driving (turning the wheel, pushing the pedal) causes so much pain.

In addition to having RA for over 20 years, she's had a brain

anurysm that was successfully operated on but the scar tissue caused

seizures so she's on medication for that, she has severe

osteoporosis (not helped by decades of prednsione and really

advanced after starting a certain seizure medication)... you get the

idea. She is on Enbrel but it can't really help the bone-on-bone

pain she has from joint erosion.

My point in telling you this is that my mom can live weights at the

gym! We had no idea she could and were both surprised that day!

There were some machines she could not do. She could not do weight

assisted chin ups or dips, and I doubt she could do free weights...

but most things she could do fine. It's been a couple months and

it's made a great difference in how she feels.

So I just wanted to say that weight bearing exercises are not out of

the question for most of us. It's just most of us haven't tried it

and assume we can't. You don't have to do a lot of weight and most

machines do not require grip strength or put undue pressure on your

feet. There are also lots of strength training programs which can

be done at home with 1 or 2 lb weights.

It's amazing how much better I feel when I work out and how much

worse when I can't. I know because I can't go to the gym when I

have my daughter, only when she is with her father (every other

week). I have exercises I can do at home (probably should be doing

them right now instead of typing) but I have a hard time motivating

myself after a long day at work and a long evening playing with a 4

year old.

Jennie

> June,

> So sorry that your spine is affected. I also have osteopenia and

have been

> making sure I get enough calcium and vitamin D. Weight bearing

exercises

> are the best thing to build bone, but for most of us that is out

of the

> question. Bless that wonderful husband of yours. I'm so glad

you have

> him! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes.

> a

>

> > Well, I had my appt with the neuro today and it is confirmed

that I have an

> > unstable spine. Next I have to have a catscan and MRI because he

believes

> > something is happening in C6 and 7. I phoned my GP and although

he has not

> > personally called yet (maybe tonight) his nurse said I have

several osteopenic

> > bones(never heard this word before). My foot is getting fatter

so hopefully

> > the bone scan I have on Fri will show something. I am getting

around in a

> > wheelchair inside and my scooter outside so things are not all

bad. My

> > wonderful husband of 53 years is doing everything including the

cooking and I

> > do appreciate him.

> >

> > Hugs

> > June

> >

August 18, 2004

Jennie,

I did see it and I'm very impressed with your mom's efforts! What I mean by

weight bearing exercise is walking. Walking is one of the best exercises,

but those of us with feet and ankle pain can't walk any long distances.

Weight training is excellent and you're right that just a few pounds is all

that is required. Exercise is one of the most important treatments for

arthritis.

a

>

> a,

>

> I posted about this before but I'm not sure if you saw it. I was

> surprised to learn just how many machines at the gym I could safely

> operate. My RA is pretty well under control with medication, and I

> can lift quite a bit of weight. I have osteopenia and I am very

> glad I'm able to do this.

>

> Recently my mom and I went to the gym together. She has no joints

> in her hands and feet, her wrists and ankles are collapsing, her

> feet are so disfigured it's amazing to me that shoes fit on them and

> her hands look like hands of a 99 year old woman. She is on

> disability and cannot work. If she goes anywhere, like to visit my

> sister or my grandmom, she has to take the next day and rest because

> driving (turning the wheel, pushing the pedal) causes so much pain.

> In addition to having RA for over 20 years, she's had a brain

> anurysm that was successfully operated on but the scar tissue caused

> seizures so she's on medication for that, she has severe

> osteoporosis (not helped by decades of prednsione and really

> advanced after starting a certain seizure medication)... you get the

> idea. She is on Enbrel but it can't really help the bone-on-bone

> pain she has from joint erosion.

>

> My point in telling you this is that my mom can live weights at the

> gym! We had no idea she could and were both surprised that day!

> There were some machines she could not do. She could not do weight

> assisted chin ups or dips, and I doubt she could do free weights...

> but most things she could do fine. It's been a couple months and

> it's made a great difference in how she feels.

>

> So I just wanted to say that weight bearing exercises are not out of

> the question for most of us. It's just most of us haven't tried it

> and assume we can't. You don't have to do a lot of weight and most

> machines do not require grip strength or put undue pressure on your

> feet. There are also lots of strength training programs which can

> be done at home with 1 or 2 lb weights.

>

> It's amazing how much better I feel when I work out and how much

> worse when I can't. I know because I can't go to the gym when I

> have my daughter, only when she is with her father (every other

> week). I have exercises I can do at home (probably should be doing

> them right now instead of typing) but I have a hard time motivating

> myself after a long day at work and a long evening playing with a 4

> year old.

>

> Jennie

>

>> June,

>> So sorry that your spine is affected. I also have osteopenia and

> have been

>> making sure I get enough calcium and vitamin D. Weight bearing

> exercises

>> are the best thing to build bone, but for most of us that is out

> of the

>> question. Bless that wonderful husband of yours. I'm so glad

> you have

>> him! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes.

>> a

>>

>>> Well, I had my appt with the neuro today and it is confirmed

> that I have an

>>> unstable spine. Next I have to have a catscan and MRI because he

> believes

>>> something is happening in C6 and 7. I phoned my GP and although

> he has not

>>> personally called yet (maybe tonight) his nurse said I have

> several osteopenic

>>> bones(never heard this word before). My foot is getting fatter

> so hopefully

>>> the bone scan I have on Fri will show something. I am getting

> around in a

>>> wheelchair inside and my scooter outside so things are not all

> bad. My

>>> wonderful husband of 53 years is doing everything including the

> cooking and I

>>> do appreciate him.

>>>

>>> Hugs

>>> June

>>>

August 18, 2004