Re: methotrexate & riding

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathe,

So far, I don't seem to be a lot more uncomfortable after riding

than I was before hand... But then I'm pretty uncomfortable all the

time. I've just decided that as long as the riding isn't making it

worse, I might as well ride and be in pain than NOT ride and STILL

be in pain.<g>

Your rope reins sound great too. If the rubber reins get too much

for me, I might look inot them. At that point, I probably won't

care that they " go with " an English bridle. ;-) I usually ride

Oliver in a pelham when I jump him, so I'm used to double reins.

I actually put the pelham on Dillon yesterday to see if it would

stop him from lugging on my hands, and it did. My hands weren't

nearly as sore after riding him. He's so good in every other way

that I really want to solve that problem (which, of course, wouldn't

really be a problem if it weren't for the RA!) I even got him to

stand at the mounting block for me to get off yesterday (the way

Oliver does) so that I could get off without the jar of jumping down

to the ground. Jumping down is what kills _my_ knees! (and feet!)

I can't wait to go to the doctor on Tues and see what we can do

differently. I know it can take a while for the methotrexate to

kick in, but I'd think that after 6 weeks I'd be seeing _some_

improvement, and there really isn't any at all. Even still taking

the prednisone, and having increased the amount of Diclofenac I'm

taking, I'm still having to take Tramodol almost every night and

even during the day a lot of the time. It just seems that we should

be able to do better than this so early in the game. If not, where

will I be in 5 years? Maybe she'll tell me I still have to wait

longer and give it a chance, but I hope not!

Have a nice Easter!

--- In , Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi :

>

> Good for you to get out on your own! Yes, riding is a

> lot less pain on the legs, but when I get off, I have

> more pain in my knees from holding them in position as

> I ride! But it's still the best therapy for me!~ My

> reins are large round cotton braided reins, and I love

> them because I don't have to grip as hard, but if

> Shekar tries anything, I have them right in my hands

> and can give him a tug easily. They are single reins

> - I can't stand double reins, I could never figure out

> how to hold them right, my daughter loves them, but I

> would be constantly trying to keep them equal on each

> side! These round braided reins are great! Don't

> know if they are quite English riding attire however

> lol.

>

> Yes, that is how RA is, one day good, one day bad, one

> day the knees, next the wrists, etc. There is no way

> to tell from day to day, and sometimes even hour to

> hour, what is going to start hurting. That is why its

> so hard to make plans in advance. Well, with all the

> side effects you are having from the Mtx (have your

> raised your Folic Acid intake?), maybe you should

> consider another medication. I had very good results

> on Plaquenil - it was my first medication. There are

> also antibiotic therapies or Arava (but I had problems

> on that, did me very well too, but had to quit it).

> But ask about trying Mtx with Enbrel.

>

> Well, best of luck with the Mtx - maybe this time the

> side effects won't be as bad - fingers crossed and

> prayers coming your way!

>

> Kathe

>

> -

>

> Kathe

>

> " To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>