exercise

[Guest guest]

brent, i went to the gym and tried the elliptical. i think i lasted oh.......4

min. i was so embarrassed that i havent been back. which i know is wrong. but

they asked me if i was ok....... LOL. so do you have any advice for me?

......casey

skrewtz <brentherman@...> wrote: As going to the gym and the pool

both seem to be too time-

consuming/energy-consuming, we just bought an elliptical execiser with

digital readouts of heartrate and preprogrammed courses based upon

magnetic resistance and target heartrates. It is so cool, and so low

impact, even my sore feet are not complaining. I recommend one to all

who have any knees, ankles and hips left. We found our's on sale at

Canadian Tire, but I have also seen them on ebay. best wishes ...brent

---------------------------------

We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love

(and love to hate): TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

[Guest guest]

Hi, I was wondering about exercise and regular activities. What is

too much and what is too little? In other words, when do you know to

let up a little? I guess the reason I ask is because I had a lot of

baking to do and I pushed myself to get it all done. It required a

lot of standing up and kneading with my hands, etc.. I was really

tired, but happy with my accomplishments; however, when I got up this

morning I could hardly get out of bed. The normal length of time to

get " greased back up and moving " took me at least twice as long and I

am still much more uncomfortable than usual after being up 3 hours. I

want to keep busy and doing things, as I know that it isn't good to

become stagnant, but I don't want to do too much and cause damage to

my joints that can be avoided by using common sense. I am new as a

patient and am still in the phase of determining what medications work

for me. Now, I am only on Mobic and a mild muscle relaxer. I don't

have another appt. until May and the Mobic does not seem to help much.

I intend on cleaning house today and getting caught up, and I will

push until I get it done, but I don't want to do myself more harm than

good. Help!! Some advice please.

[Guest guest]

If you're only on Mobic and a muscle relaxer, you're not yet on anything that

will help prevent damage to your joints. Sounds like you're doctor is just

treating the pain at this point which is a little strange if you've been

diagnosed with PA. I would think you would already have started on one of the

DMARD's, at least. And 3 months more is pretty long to wait! But you certainly

should ask your doctor, whenever you see him/her, why you aren't on something

that specifically targets PA joint damage. I hope you're doing some

research/reading on your own. There's lots on the web and you owe it to

yourself to know enough to ask the right questions so you can determine for

yourself if your doctor is a " good " one who knows what he/she is doing. If

you're only being treated by your regular family physician or internist, you

must see a rheumatologist and the sooner the better.

Obviously, you've just learned from experience at least something about your

limits. There are no general rules because everyone's disease affects them so

differently. So, just listen to your own body. I was only diagnosed last

spring but am on Enbrel and am now back to working out an hour a day, five to

six days per week. I alternate between a rigorous water aerobics routine and a

fitness floor regime that includes a half hour of some combination of aerobics

equipment and a half-hour of weight training - and I'm 70 years old! (I'm told

I look more like 50, though, and the only time I actually felt my biological

age was when I first developed this disease. At that point, I could hardly walk

or get up out of a chair.)

Good luck to you . . . . .

Joanna Hoelscher

630-833-7361

[Guest guest]

- about exercise you ask:

<<What is too much and what is too little?>>

and then describe a bread-making marathon which made it hard for you

to get out of bed and suggest that you were

<<still much more uncomfortable than usual after being up 3 hours.>>

I think you've answered your own question; making a lot of bread is

to much for you!

Exercise is not only important for people with arthritis, it is vital.

But I am not clear that bread-making qualifies as exercise. What you

need is low-impact exercise that gets you moving all over and, in the

best of all situations, stimulates your cardio-vascular system as

well. Some people use yoga or tai chi, but I swim. I swim 1-2 miles

four times a week. That may sound like a lot but without it I'd be in

deep doo-doo.

I love bread-making as wel, but I can't remember the last time I did

it. My hands just can't take it. Like me, you'll have to learn your

limits. Maybe you'll be able to make a little bread, or maybe your

bread-making days are over. None of us can tell you one way or the

other; you've got to keep working at it and see what works for you.

The disease manifests itself differently for all of us, and each one

of us has to work out what are our limits. One thing I'd encourage

you to do is to take your exercise easy, but take it!

RA , North Jersey

[Guest guest]

Hi --

I have the same problem. My knees are bone on bone -- and I suffer from

terrible problems with excess fluid and water retention.

My orthopedic doctor went in a year ago and tried a new medical procedure

designed to " regrow " cartilage. It actually worked on the new they tried it

on...except they forgot to check how I stood and walked before the surgery. As

a result, one area couldn't regrow cartilage very well. So I'm still having

some pain from the bone striking the bone. But it's much better and will

supposedly improve over time. They also gave me Euflexxa shots in that knee to

add more cushioning. And that helped. You might want to look into other

options. There are some good docs out there. One of my friends also told me

that there's a great new orthopedist at St. Helena's (Napa Valley) who has come

up with a knee replacement surgery that's not as intensive.

That said -- my body went into massive PA overdrive after my knee surgery. It's

taken more than a year for my latest flare to calm down enough so that I'm even

able to function.

My ortho, rheumy and general practitioner got together and came up some options

for me that have really helped. For the fluid retention, they put me on Lasik.

It's typically given to heart patients. But I had so much water retention from

the inflammation that I was going up and down 8-10 pounds per day in water

weight. The Lasik has worked really well -- and has helped lower the fluid

level in my body (caused from inflammation) dramatically. I can easily go down

five pounds within an hour or so after taking it. But I do have to say it's

made life bearable.

In terms of exercise, my doctors recommended the recumbent bike for my knee (to

strengthen the muscles around it). I also go into a hot spa every day and

literally do basic ballet exercises. It's really improved my body tone (I can

see the inches coming off) and the exercises don't impact my joints.

You also can try using a big ball for support on certain exercises with weights.

Just watch putting too much weight on your knee.

Another thought -- has your doctor taken an x-ray to check your body alignment?

My doctor did and discovered I tend to roll my foot out a bit when I walk. That

puts more pressure on the damaged part of my knee (making the bone on bone areas

hurt more). He recommended a simple insert that was handmade for me at medical

supply company -- and I wear it inside my shoes. It forces my foot to roll the

right way -- and takes pressure off my knees!! Definitely worth researching!

Good luck!

Patty

-

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Have you tried light Yoga (specifically avoiding all knee-related poses)?  I

found Yoga to be my absolute *best friend* when recovering from my initial

flare.  My mobility was severely limited at the time, and I just did what I

could.

As far as cardio goes - can you invest in a Wii and try the boxing and other

similar games to get your heart rate up - or simulate that motion without the

Wii?  In your position, I wouldn't even try the bike.

Hope you're helped,

 

[Guest guest]

I really enjoy Chair Dancing. Found the videos at my public library.  It's

aerobic exercise in a chair and you control every movement based on what you can

do.

Janette <janettemorgan@...>

[Guest guest]

They make little (and fairly cheap) step machines that you can sit and pedal. A

recombinant bike would probably be OK but only on days your knees weren't *too*

bad.

Hand weights and office style exercises might be your best bet. You also may

want to focus on core muscles and do things like wall push ups that wouldn't

bend your knees.

" sfm2004 " <flamin.rose@...>

[Guest guest]

I have that too . Is it the one hat u use the paper plates as props ? its reall

y good and has great music . cathy from ma

[Guest guest]

Hi Janette,

That's not anything like Pole Dancing, is it?? !!

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

I think a regular stationary bike would put less pressure on your knees than the

recumbent bike. The recumbent requires that you really push pretty hard to get

that pedal to go around . . . . . . I find it much more difficult than an

ordinary bike. And after I had knee replacement surgery, that was the first

piece of equipment they put me on, even before I could make the pedals go all

the way around. You might also try an elliptical trainer which is very easy on

your knees, though it gives you a really great workout. (First time I tried

it, I think I was able to do about two minutes!!!!!) The bike and elliptical

are what my ortho recommends for people with bad knees. If you have access to a

gym, try them both and see how they feel. But I hope you can get access to a

pool soon. A lot of Y's have them and a hospital not too far from me has one

specifically designed for patients with arthritis in that the water is a little

warmer than usual. But

it's not advertised and I heard about it only by accident. Ask around . . . .

.. . There might even be a hotel pool you could gain access to.

Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

the y has a great water program for arthritis sufferers. or, just sometimes i go

and get a noodle and just vege in the warm pool. it is a nice relaxing

time.

[Guest guest]

Ha Ha ......  Chair dancing was started by Jodi Stolove, an aerobics dance

instructor, who broke her ankle.  I like her videos because she always has a

wide variety of participants - children, seniors, pregnant women, men, all sizes

and shapes everybody can do it. Yes , it's the one  with paper plates. You

can get the videos online at  http://www.chairdancing.com/products_new.php

Janette

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I use the NuStep Recumbent bike instead of a regular pedal bike. Its

easier on my knees that are bad, It strengthens them and it also

prevents the pulling sensation that I got with the pedal bike. Its like

swimming above water and worth every penny.

[Guest guest]

Can you wear elastic stockings?