Feet swelled and toes curled under | Arthritis Information

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 Sorry guys but my feet, hands are curled under. My hands and feet are swollen. My back hurts, my knees hurt and my hips hurt! I have an appointment with my Ra. the 5th. Soupsed to go camping tommorrow and Geocaching 4 miles. Dont' want to let my hubby down, but I don't think I'm able to hike 4 miles. Sorry for whinnig...but I don't think I can make it fun for him. I will try though.

Any suggegions?
Call your rheumy for a medrol dose pack? It is a 6 day pack of Medrol, which is similar to prednisone. It will help you get over the flare hump, well it should. And by the first dose you should be feeling better, but some times it does not work like that for some people. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones.
 
Hope you have a good camping trip either way.
 
Is there water nearby? Maybe get a nice floatie and float instead of hiking??? A air mattress would be a good idea. Are you one those campers that rough it in tents or have a air conditioned motor home?
It sounds like you're in a huge flare and it sounds so painful.  Sometimes we have to push through the pain and do things because they mean so much to us, but.....there is a limit to pushing through and I personally think a 4 mile hike would be the last thing I'd try if my feet were painful. 
 
You're taking a chance on hurting yourself, having an accident, falling down, and failing.  Sometimes it's better to not try than fail.  That only frustrates one even more. 
 
Pick and choose the things that are easier on your body to do with your husband or do an easier geocaching.  You don't have to hike in 4 miles to geocache. 
 
You take what you love, modify, and then do it.  With modifying our behavior we can still enjoy the things we love to do.  I can't hike 5 miles any longer but I can hike an easy mile. It's all about balance.  It takes years of dealing with this disease to learn what you can do and what you can't do.  Next month you may be able to do it,  but this month you can't. 
 
I hope you can find the balance with geocaching and that your husband understands.  Lindy 
[QUOTE=LinB]
 I can't hike 5 miles any longer but I can hike an easy mile. [/QUOTE]
 
You can hike a mile?! Man... I would be ded at a half mile! I am glad to hear that you can hike a mile, Lindy and better yet you called it an "easy mile".

What is medrol?

It is a steriod, like prednisone. Except you take it for short bursts to help you get out of a flare. Well, that is the way most people use prenisone too, but some like me would be up the creek without a paddle if it was not for the everyday pred usage. It is meant for short bursts of help, not long term like I am on.
 
Hope you make it thru the trip!
I can identify with curling toes and swollen feet making it difficult to walk let alone hike.I am fortunate as I only  have this bad at times and not ever present. I have over the past years really enjoyed hiking and photography of nature's slendor ..but a couple of years ago I conceded that I just can't to that anymore..I walk much less and try not to stand on my feet as much either as it just makes the pain and swelling even worse. When I did walk frequent breaks along the way and using a shoe that was easy to take off while I rested and  I would massage my feets some with my hands a few minutes ...it seemed to help the situation greatly, low cut shoes like tennis shoes are not ideal for certain when it comes to hiking but boots normally used for hiking with the firm lace ups (designed of course for anke support) really make the swelling unbearable ...hence pain as well... I hope you can make the best of it and have some fun, even if it is not as much fun as you  had hoped for. To me one of the saddest days I ever had was when it really hit me that I could not do what I wanted to anymore and that was going to be permanent from now on...I always stay positive in my mind but my body sure has limits these days ...
 
Best of Luck
Russ
Be careful, you could really damage your ankles and feet, doing too much. Add swelling in squished boots and that toe curling could get worse.

Don't you have a regular doctor to get some pred?   I recommend everyone keep a bit of pred in the house for travel, parties etc. If you only take it a couple days you can get off it quick.

I can't imagine walking miles like that. Good ankle support is right. Hi Lostpoet,
 
Please be careful hiking while you feel so bad.  Do you think that you can stay home and let hubby go off and do the trip with his friends?  I love hiking and backpacking but when I'm in pain I don't go.  I'm more afraid of hurting myself out there and being so far away from help.  Hubby and I also take the horses for overnight trips, but, if I don't feel well, we skip that trip and go as soon as I am feeling up to it.  There were a couple of trips that I sent hubby on with our friends and I stayed home.  Please, if you do go, be very careful.  I just wouldn't want you to do any permanent damage should you overdo it or fall.  Take care, Hiking_gal

I know how you feel.  When my hubby wants to do something and my body won't let me do it.   But, a 4 mile hike would definitely be out of the question and my husband knows this.  I wish I could hike a mile, I'd be happy.   We are thinking of buying an ATV for me to ride while he hikes, that way I can go along too.   Try putting ice bags on your swollen feet and hands.  That helps me a lot.  I have like 6 icebags in the freezer for these occasions.  I hope you feel better and are able to enjoy your weekend.

Thanks everyone. I told hubby if I can't hike that far I will have to return to our tent for some rest. Really don't know how far I can walk, but I will take it easy and be careful.
Thanks again everyone for caring and you input. Will let you know how it went when I get back Sunday. Have a great weekend everyoneHey Joonie, yes I can hike a mile or even longer since I'm in remission.  That is if my knee allows it.  Right now that's my problem and I'm trying to hold off on the knee replacement till next year.  LindyWell, that is great news, Lindy! I am happy you are able to. And just think if you get your knee replaced next year you might can walk 4 miles! That just sounds awsome.
 
Sometimes when I am having a hard time walking around and go to town, I sit on the bench and envy everyone that walks pass me. And think they just do not know how good they have it, being able to walk around pain-free and "normal". I mostly think that when I am having a really ruff time, probably the times I should not even be out & about. But it does make me greatful that I can walk a little.
[QUOTE=Bird Girrl]Be careful, you could really damage your ankles and feet, doing too much. Add swelling in squished boots and that toe curling could get worse.

Don't you have a regular doctor to get some pred?   I recommend everyone keep a bit of pred in the house for travel, parties etc. If you only take it a couple days you can get off it quick.

I can't imagine walking miles like that. Good ankle support is right. [/QUOTE]

I agree about the medrol stash - I always have a spare medrol dosepak in my med toolbox, and an active script at the pharmacy.  If I travel, it's one of the first things that goes in my carryon backpack.  I only need the medrol pack a few times a year, but if I don't have it with me, I can be guaranteed of a flare when I'm 2000 miles from my home and my rheumatologist.  Carrying the medrol pack seems to ward off the evil flare spirits.
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