Sweating Voluntarily: Exercise and RA

I finally went outside and rode around for 10 minutes.  I hated the bike seat, went looking for a better one, ended up with a new bike - low bar so I couldn't fall or trip on it.  I worked up to an hour a day 6 days a week, 40 lb weights on the universal. I am in better shape than all my friends who aren't sick. I fell once really badly, hurt my knee and foot. The orthopedic surgeon said, that the best thing I could do was ride long and hard (as long as there was no sharp pain) because the stronger the muscle, the more support for the joint.  My foot was another story.  I am just recovering from major reconstructive surgery from the accident, and RA damage. I miss riding so much it hurts - I love the endorphins you get from exercising, and was able to get off all my anti-depressants.  I am still doing upper body weights, and leg lifts etc. but I am facing the fact it will be along time before I can ride.  My ankle is immobile because of the cast, so it is going to require a lot of physio.  But I am hopeful. 

Besides, my hubby just developed diabetes, and is biting the bullet and learning to exercise. Exercise is also preventative for heart disease etc., etc.  God made our bodies to work, to exercise - and that is what works for me. 

I urge everyone to get the meds to get the flares under control, and then start slowly and you will be surprised.  You may even find, like me, you get your life back.

My rheumatologist had been on me to exercise more and lose weight.  Well, I'm on the exercising bit, but the weight hasn't exactly dropped off.  What I needed to do was request physical therapy from my neurologist to address some balance issues, spasticity, and deconditioning.  Best thing I ever did (and continue to do). 

Riding the stationary bike has become my knees' favorite exercise.  I can't afford to break a sweat, because if I did it means that I've overheated.  If I'm overheated (with my case of MS), I can't trust my legs to walk safely sometimes.  It increases my risk of tripping and falling.

So stretching, weight resistance machines, stationary bike, treadmill, and Wii have become my preferred forms of exercise.  It really does feel good the more it is done.

Hi Amy, I hope this works out for you. I'll gladly cheer you on. But from the sidelines.

I wonder whether you know that there are those of us with an opposite problem? My dad was a  USMarine. I always loved keeping myself strong and showing my kids my muscles. Doing push ups at bedtime made me smile. Sit ups were fun if I was watching TV. Running on the beach was my favorite thing in the world. Weight training - now that's a real thrill.

Then, I woke up one day disabled. Within a couple of months the RA had reached every joint. Since then, I have never had one hour without extreme pain and disability. If I cannot lift a plate to wash dishes, then I can't lift a dumbell. 

As soon as I could get a diagnosis, I went on the strongest meds. I inject myself at home - very high doses. I'm doing all that I can. I remember telling my doctor how worried i was that my muscles would become atrophied from such extreme stiffness.

 Amy, I would love to go for a walk with my dog. My dog was dying and I could not take care of him or hold him any more because of RA. The details are too horrible to share here. But, it was heart wrenching that, because of RA,  I could not hold him at the end of our 19 years together. Since he died a year ago, my little boy asks me constantly for a new dog. I can't take care of a dog, so I have to tell my son, "Momma will get better and then we can get a puppy. And you will get older so you can help me." I could not even take care of my son without the help of my teenagers. 

My dream for a long time has been to have a standard poodle, Amy. The picture of your puppy reminds me of the apricot one I had as a kid. Have fun with him.

Hope we can still be friends, Kelly

Great post!

And your exercise equipment? Adorable.

The entire post and responses were wonderful!  I love just love your sense of humour...my favorite quote from your post is "I'm quite proud that I remain rather immature"!  You remind me of myself in some ways!

I helps to read about experiences and suggestions.  I have been reluctant to get back into the exercise mode for fear of injuring my joints (I've never been a huge fan of voluntary sweating...at least not since my teens).  Last night I got back on my Wii Balance Board for the first time in 2.5 months and discovered that I can still do a lot of things!  I put in 20 minutes of mixed exercise and I am so proud of myself!  I even got my hubby back on it too and he called me today and asked if we would do it again tonight.  He gets a lot more exercise on a daily basis but is doing this with me to help keep me motivated and so I enjoy it.  It's something we can do together and it keeps me going since I'm competitive!  :o) 

Last Wednesday the doctor told me I had RA at the tender age of 31.  It all started with my thumb.  I thought it was broken, the pain was so bad.  Then it subsided after a couple of days and I ignored that incident thinking that I had banged it or something.  Then my shoulder acted up and I thought "wow, what A/C draft put me out of commission!?"  That too went away after 5 days, some Vicodin, and a muscle relaxant.  Then my fingers started up and I knew (finally, what a moron am I?) that something was wrong.  I got a new doctor, one who wouldn't ignore me when I complained, and she did some blood work and said that my body was highly inflamed.  (my husband never knew how hot I was!)  She told me to get a rheumatologist; I have an appointment this wednesday and I'm hoping for the best.  Part of me is hoping that it's a wrong diagnosis and it really is something else where I can take a pill every day and keep the pain at bay.  But that's probably denial.

The diagnosis was last Wednesday.  The pains started two months ago.  I now have pain in 11 joints including my fingers, PLUS all of my toes.  I worry I'm progressing rapidly.  Is this what you would call a flare??

Advils and Tylenols dull the pain a little, but it's always there.  I roll myself out of bed each morning and stand still for about 3 minutes before I can take a step.  In the mornings, I walk around like I should really be using a walker.  In the afternoons the pain subsides a little.  And in the evenings I want to kill myself, the pain is so bad.  But, I wonder, as I lose weight, will the flares subside?  Will the pain dissipate?  Is it because I'm fat!?

Anyway, perhaps I should have written my own post seeing as this reply really isn't a reply.  Thank you for sharing your humourous stories about your RA.