Hi everybody here is my problem before I got sick in may I exercised 6 days a week. About a month ago in between flares with my dr appr. I started to go to the gym just the exersise bike for 40 min now my problem is how often should I go I was walking also to pick up my son on the nice days but the weather has turned.I went to the gym yesterday and the only thing stiffer as everything hurts in the morning is my legs. I guess mabey it is okay to go today. I do not want to make anything worse as my meds do not work yet so some parts hurt all day what do you guys think I should do?.....Thanks TERESA
Out went the elliptical, the treadmill and the rower.
the bike is still okay and the swimming
I wonder what we are supposed to do for muscle to build it my husbands plan has phsio I found a guy who works with ra I think I will go to him and learn how to take care of my body cause really nobody is telling us how to do that they are just working on stopping the disease......TERESA
Good idea Teresa about the physical therapist.
I try to swim every day. I especially push myself to get into the pool when I feeling rotten. I don't swim as long or as fast when I feel bad, I just try to get moving to limber up a little bit. Usually I feel a little bit better afterwards.
You probably have to answer that for yourself because i think everyone is different. When I first got RA I was in too much pain to exercise. Once the meds started helping, though, I began walking on a treadmill. The treadmill was much easier than the sidewalk because of the curbs and uneven pavement. When I first started I moved very very slowly (my daughter used to tease me that if I was going any slower I would be moving backwards), but I kept it up and tried to increase my speed.
Now I try to walk every day. I've lost 130 pounds (not a typo) with Weight Watchers since I was first diagnosed, and the exercise has really helped. I try to pay attention to my body and how I'm feeling. I try to challenge myself a little bit, but not so much that I'm feeling lousy afterwards. I really find a big difference if I've exercised. If I DON'T exercise I get so stiff I can't move well/easily. Even on bad days I try to walk, even if I have to go slower.
I used to lift weights, but had to stop because it was really messing up my shoulder joints, elbows and wrists. I really miss the weight lifting, but it's not worth having extra pain in the joints. I still do sit ups, leg lifts, that type of thing.
Good luck!
Lois
Lois you thin thing! You are my hero!