Hi guys!!!!

By Jeanne Sunday, February 20, 2011

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Hey everybody!! Well, I'm getting ready to begin working out. I've been totally not active at all for quite awhile now. Between having the side effects of barfing all the time in the past etc my body has slowed wayyyyy down. Finally, here I am in remission. I have the RA in my left knee which is killer. It doesn't bother me most days but the other day I was walking the mall and the next day my knee hurt soooooo bad! I was out of order for like three days. Okay, now is this going to be normal? Is this the arthritis or is this my body just hurting from going from not being active at all to being active? My legs felt like they were going to fall off! I've heard people say that when you first begin working out again that it "hurts." I don't want to do anything to hurt myself and I'm wondering if anyone can give me any recommendations for beginning to work out with rheumatoid arthritis...Any things I should expect or look out for?

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V, Health Guide

2/20/11 10:04pm

Hi, Jeanne,

I'm not a doctor, but I have really bad knees. The only exercise my doctors want me to do is swimming or walking...and no walking uphills. Has the RA damaged your knee a lot? You might want to do some muscle strenghening exercises before you start a full-out exercise program. I have gone to PT for my knees from time to time, and it does help a lot. Keeping the muscles in your legs strong help keep the knee joints stable.

Hope this helps.

Lene Andersen, Health Guide

2/21/11 12:28pm

A couple of things. As with any exercise, whether you have RA or not, moderation is key, as is gradual increase. Doing too much too soon can definitely end up with you sitting on the couch for several days. As well, hurting after exercise can be a sign that you're doing too much or the wrong kind of exercise. Ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist who can help you put together an exercise program that can get you fit without putting too much stress on your joints. Exercising in water is a terrific idea, as it is easy on the joints yet still provides the resistance of the water. Later this week, I'll be publishing an interview with a physical therapist talking about how physical therapy can help people with RA, so keep an eye out for that.

What medication made you throw up that much? It may be a good idea for you to fill out your profile with details on the meds you take, etc., as it can make answering questions easier, getting the answers to you quicker. I know you're on Humira, but it shouldn't have that much of an impact on your stomach. You may want to talk to your family doctor about getting a medication for your stomach, such as Losec, Pantoloc or Nexium. RA meds can be hard on the stomach and these types of medications can be very helpful. Also, you may want to check out my post on managing side effects for tips on how to keep things down to a dull roar.

Nan

2/21/11 3:02pm

I too have been struggling with exercise. I used to exercise everyday and stayed active but the RA sure puts a damper on it, don't it. My doc says keep trying but it's hard, it hurts and not the good hurt you expect from exercise. I have been walking on my treadmill several times a week and slowly trying to either speed it up or lengthen the time. It's been a couple of months now and not alot of success. It takes me 27 minutes to walk 1 mile at 2.2 mph, pathetic huh?L LOL I watch a tv show while I do it and would like to be able to watch an hour of tv which should be 2 miles. That's my current goal. It's my upper body I have the most trouble with which is where my RA is the worst. Shoulders, elbows and hands. Even movement with no weight is difficult. I'm gonna try the Tai Chi and see how that works out. Good luck and keep posting your success I, at least, need the encouragement and ideas.

Hi guys!!!!

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